Seasons2020-21Everton News
Hope that Allan won't face long lay-off

Carlo Ancelotti's initial assessment of Allan's injury suggests that he doesn't foresee the Brazilian enduring as long a lay-off as many feared but it is likely that he will miss the bulk of remaining games in December.
The 29-year-old left the field at the King Power Stadium on a stretcher after he pulled up in pain clutching the back of his thigh, with his body language suggesting he had suffered a tear to the muscle.
His manager was asked about the player's condition after the 2-0 victory over Leicester and he said that they will await the results of a scan before offering a full prognosis but he didn't think Allan was facing “so long” on the sidelines.
"It's a hamstring injury,” Ancelotti confirmed. “We have to check in the next few days but, for sure, he will stay out, although not so long, I think.
"But we have to consider that Gomes came on the pitch and had a good performance."
Everton had to deal without the combative midfielder for more than 50 minutes against the Foxes but, thanks in large part to an excellent display by Abdoulaye Doucouré, they held on to the lead handed them by Richarlison's 21st-minute goal and made the game safe when Mason Holgate struck with 18 minutes to go.
Reader Comments (39)
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2 Posted 16/12/2020 at 23:45:08
Come on get yer "quotes" right at least.
3 Posted 16/12/2020 at 23:46:10
5 Posted 17/12/2020 at 03:09:56
Gbamin could be the answer, but we don't know how he will recover from that dreadful injury or when he will be performing to a level to play in the first team. Gomes has not recovered to an equivalent level from his injury yet, technically or physically.
6 Posted 17/12/2020 at 03:41:07
7 Posted 17/12/2020 at 05:05:47
I would slip Holgate into the defensive midfield role and replace him at right-back with Jonjoe Kenny, Godfrey has been excellent so far in the left-back role, so I would keep him there at present.
8 Posted 17/12/2020 at 05:21:57
Phil and Keith, no thanks on Kenny. Do NOT change the backline under any circumstances... not after two straight clean sheets. I hope and expect Carlo will go 4-1-4-1 if necessary with Doucouré as the holding mid, ad libbing any way necessary with the rest of the midfield, but keep those four CBs exactly where they are, thank you. In the midst of all these injuries, for god's sakes don't change the one thing that's working great.
9 Posted 17/12/2020 at 05:51:17
There is a high possibility Coleman will be ready on weekend against Arsenal...
It is very interesting to see what Carlo Ancelotti will do?
10 Posted 17/12/2020 at 06:57:44
I didn't see the game so can't comment about Gomes, but I do feel that we'd be better off with Tom replacing Allan for now.
I agree with Mike that the back 4 should not be touched... when a manager stumbles upon a winning formula, keeping clean sheets, change as little as possible. Having said that, Mason was brilliant in his midfield cameos last season.
11 Posted 17/12/2020 at 07:00:09
12 Posted 17/12/2020 at 07:20:50
Steady as she goes, one game at a time, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
13 Posted 17/12/2020 at 07:22:15
I'd prefer to see Davies or, as some suggest, Holgate.
No doubting Allan is a huge loss.
14 Posted 17/12/2020 at 07:41:09
15 Posted 17/12/2020 at 07:48:07
On another note if Digne, Coleman and James were fit tomorrow, thered be an argument that none of them get straight back in the team. I wouldnt have predicted that before the Chelsea game.
16 Posted 17/12/2020 at 08:07:28
17 Posted 17/12/2020 at 08:09:06
18 Posted 17/12/2020 at 08:21:25
As long as Doucouré stays fit, then I have no problem with Gomes filling in or Tom Davies.
19 Posted 17/12/2020 at 08:40:51
And Bobby, let's give Gbamin a chance to prove his fitness.
20 Posted 17/12/2020 at 09:12:53
As the dust settles on the game last night, I think Sigurdsson played better than I gave him credit for. He didn't create anything much but he did keep showing for the ball, was disciplined in protecting the flanks, making himself available as a passing option and cutting out passing options. So he probably was a key part of our defensive strangehold on the game – and he was probably the most likely to make something happen along with Iwobi.
21 Posted 17/12/2020 at 09:16:56
22 Posted 17/12/2020 at 10:06:18
Many have been critical of Doucoure but what a game he had last night! He played like a man possessed and suddenly underperforming players seem to be finding their feet. Siggy hasnt been brilliant but he has done a decent job in the last two games. Richi is coming into form, Ben is looking very strong and I love the speed and aggression he and Holgate bring. Mina has played two excellent games on the trot, Keane looks imperious, Mason is getting it together again,Iwobi is unrecognisable playing with workrate and determination- something has happened to this squad and I just hope it continues with another win on Saturday.
23 Posted 17/12/2020 at 11:02:26
So its Gomes or Davies who replaces him. Davies has, vaguely, more similarities to Allan than Gomes does. But Gomes is stronger and can shield the ball better than Davies.
I would come down on the Tom Davies side of the fence, he has looked improved a bit this season and may well take his opportunity to impress. Gomes has looked still not sharp enough and not up to speed. Looked, to an extent, not on the same page energy wise as the rest of the team.
One of our transfer priorities should be sourcing a young “Allan” with huge potential to become as good. I think Brands needs to be looking long and hard to sign that young midfielder in the summer.
24 Posted 17/12/2020 at 11:14:25
I wouldn't say that he was good though when he came on but Carlo has to try talk him up for the player's confidence given he is likely to be needed in the next few weeks.
Poor Gbamin is very unlucky, none of us can say if he is the answer or not because we have barely seen him play.
Have we found out what is going on with nkounkou yet? I wonder if there has been some discipline issues not released to the press (which I like if so as it means the dressing room is a closed shop and can be trusted).
I wanted 7 possibly 9 points from the games leading up to Chelsea and we got 4, so 6 from 6 against the latest 2 means we are about where I thought we would be anyway. As frustrating as it is with the inconsistency, at least we are still competing up close to the top 4. Long may it continue.
25 Posted 17/12/2020 at 13:12:01
Gomes, tracking back, always reminds me of Reid chugging after Maradona in the World Cup. Never, ever, gonna catch the opponent.
[BRZ]
26 Posted 17/12/2020 at 13:41:23
'Have we found out what is going on with Nkounkou yet? I wonder if there has been some discipline issues not released to the press.'
Carlo twatted that one away this very week:
27 Posted 17/12/2020 at 15:06:42
28 Posted 17/12/2020 at 15:17:11
I just hope Carlo goes with our strongest and fittest line-up against Man Utd in the Cup, a great chance to get into a semi-final and beyond.
As from today, he can name nine subs on the bench, so it looks like, with taking into account injuries, the entire squad will be involved on a match day.
29 Posted 17/12/2020 at 16:15:09
30 Posted 17/12/2020 at 16:37:35
31 Posted 17/12/2020 at 17:02:27
32 Posted 17/12/2020 at 17:30:38
Also, Ancelotti said that he thought Coleman would be ready for the Arsenal game. Does he leave the back 4 that played last night unchanged or is it possible he brings back Seamus and moves Mason Holgate to cover for Allan?
We are entering a very busy period and Ancelotti has said that Calvert-Lewin, who has played every game, will need a rest. Also, I think Keane has started every game.
I don't envy Carlo having to give players a break while having to cope with injuries and suspensions, while not weakening the starting line-up too much.
I don't see Tosun being an alternative to Calvert-Lewin; the only option is move Richarlison to give him a break, the trouble with that scenario is we lose so much that Richarlison gives us out wide plus tracking back.
Will it mean changing formation as well as players when he rotates during the holiday, or can we get another striker in early in January? Just makes allowing Kean to go on loan very strange, especially with not bringing in a replacement.
33 Posted 17/12/2020 at 18:07:31
34 Posted 17/12/2020 at 18:20:49
Leaves us with a dilemma for Allan's place which we could bring Kenny in and play Mason as the holding midfielder. We will need strength in midfield against Arsenal and Gomes doesn't cut it for me.
Is Xhaka ruled out because of his red card and I think Gabriel is too so the 3 points are there for us to have a go at winning 3 in a row.
35 Posted 17/12/2020 at 18:57:14
Yes, I think you are right, I mentioned it on another Everton website and one fan said he thought the injury versus West Ham was more of a groin strain, so much simpler.
Pity, he will be missed more than most, especially in that central midfield position.
36 Posted 17/12/2020 at 19:04:48
37 Posted 17/12/2020 at 19:57:50
I don't know the full story, but Kean never played much last season, and if that was going to be the case again, then that would have been really bad for the youngster's development. That must have also been taken into consideration before he was allowed to leave.
38 Posted 17/12/2020 at 21:52:12
It's a bit like Danny Williamson back in the 90's. If he is passed fit next month, its going to be at least a year (if at all) before he is anywhere near the quality that he's meant to have been when we signed him.
Just look at Gomes, he's still struggling to get back to his pre-injury level and he was only out for a few months.
39 Posted 17/12/2020 at 22:28:16
Doucouré did a good job covering as the main defensive midfielder when Allan went off. So I think he'll try and stick with a winning team.
Loving having Holgate back in the team as has that bit of needle we need in the back 4 and so wouldn't want to change it around when we've started looking so solid at the back. If we are struggling in midfield to get control, then bring Coleman on and maybe push Holgate in there.
41 Posted 18/12/2020 at 16:47:08
Big call for Carlo he needs to get this right. A midfield with Gomes and Siggy is too slow, and Doucoure cant do everything back there.
Well see.
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1 Posted 16/12/2020 at 23:40:15