The Highs and the Lows – TW Podcast Episode 2

Some very interesting points raised this episode, though for me, not so much of the playing/coaching side, but again the lack of a 'vision', strategy for the club. This has all been said ad nauseum, and until this is addressed and rectified, the manager musical merry-go-round will continue; in my opinion anyway.

This is what I heard about the sticking points for Lamps' final contract sticking points; firstly, Barnacle Bill wanted DF to stay in the 1st team coaching setup, and secondly, Moshiri only wanted to give Lamps a six month contract, with an option for extra time.

With this sort of higher management issues, is it any wonder that we are where we find ourselves?

Going back to Ell's point about when Chelsea first came into money, they addressed the shortfall of cover in their squad; whilst all we seem to have done is over-cover, see #10 under Koeman/Walsh/Moshiri/Kenwright, sell our best assets without replacing them adequately, see Lukaku, and Digne, or make panic buys (or vanity/Joorbachian buys) see Tosun, Walcott, and Iwobi.

The only two managers who actually seemed to buy with a plan in place were Ancelotti (James, Allan and Doucoure) and Benitez (Gray, Townsend, Begovic and Patterson.)

Speaking of Patterson, why haven't we played him? He is a full international, has been highly rated by Robertson of Mordor, well before we bought him, and he can and has played both RB and LB for Rangers and Scotland!?

Why in the name of Hades we aren't at least trying him is beyond me?

Lastly from me; regards your conundrum of what the squad could be, I'd go with a 4-3-3 from the off due to lack of CB's to cover a 3 at the back;

Pickford

Patterson, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko (if fit) or Patterson if not, and put JJK at RB

DvdB, Allan, Gordon

Gray if fit, or Townsend, DCL, Richarlison

Begovic, Coleman, Holgate, Townsend(?), Dele Alli, El Ghazi (NB He's a Rf RW), Dobbin, Tosun/Rondon, Onyango/Iwobi (Or whoever is still standing?)

In the main there is no shortage of individual effort. But there is a distinct lack of synergy, a lack of collective awareness and ownership of risk. For example much of our passing in our own half at Newcastle was high risk leaving little margin for error. It was sloppy and handed the initiative to the home team.

The discussion about André Gomes rightly highlights his inconsistency. He is a player who can dictate a game but only when he is allowed to. So poor is he defensively he cannot cope when the team is on the back foot which we usually are away from home. I agree therefore he needs to be kept as far away from our defence as possible. Using him in a formation where the team is compact and he can influence play in the opposition half is the only viable option.

I'm working on the principal, that in that line up you have a 'veteran' in Keane, who could hopefully step up his game to help Jarrad, like he did in the few games Jarrad played with him, at the end of the 2019-20 season under Don Carlo. He didn't do too badly with Keane then.

Then, we have two International full-backs in Patterson and Mykolenko. To me, after some thought, I think that Viti is really the best option now at left-back now, so play him. Or recall Nkounkou?

As for Patterson, knowing two fanatical Rangers fans, they are dumbfounded that Patterson hasn't been played. They say that he is currently our best fullback in the squad, and needs playing.

They do admit that he is much better going forward but, his defence can be 'loose' sometimes. However, what are the options at right-back? A 5.5-6.5 player in Kenny, or an ageing and error-prone (worst stat in the Premier League now for leaking goals) Coleman.

Go with Patterson, and if he fails, then flip-flop between Kenny and Coleman.

It's all just my opinion though, and I'm sure Lampard and Lambert will go a different direction anyway.

At least we get to know how the 'kids' will play?

Probably with no fear, and they should play for their position (Hopefully?) Could it really be much worse in our current injury riddled situation?

After all, we have Cole an Baines coaching the kids! :D

PS And Patterson has genuine pace to recover from defensive mistakes too!

Do we have any Sports Psychologists at Finch Farm? If not, along with a whole raft of additions, over-hauls, dismissals, stream-lining and a fully focused approach; we certainly need some! Time for Dr Steven Peters and his organisation to get involved methinks.

Have a read of this, and replace rider or cyclist with EFC Footballer.

Dr Steven Peters

Maybe he could have a word with Moshiri too...?

Our defence is worrying me now. Before the Newcastle game, I was certain we would avoid the drop; now, I'm not sure. We should be okay though, but we badly need a win to change the run we are on.

The bottom 7 clubs are all in this fight, Brentford can't win a game, Leeds are inconsistent, the bottom 3 are likely to finish there at the end of the season I think, but who knows!

Oh for a win on Saturday, but I can't say I have much confidence the way things are going.

Yes understand your reasoning and wouldn't question them in a cup game but all the forthcoming league games are vitally important as I'm sure you realise. Putting three relatively inexperienced players in at one time is a big gamble.

I'm not a big fan of Keane so I would say a gamble too far but every fan has their own opinion and it's as good as anyone else.

Lyndon where is your accent from? Is it slightly South African?

How do you perm a problem in defence like Evertons'? To paraphrase the title of a TV show?

RBs SC, JJK or NP?
CBs MK, MH, or JB?
LBs VM (NN if recalled?)

We have no injuries to a RB, at CB we have Mina and Godfrey out, plus Lewis Gibson if recalled is injured, and our cover at LB, Godfrey and Delph are injured.

So, playing a 3 at the back could be an option with SC playing at RCB maybe? Then perm our three CBs for CB and LCB?

Let's say SC-MK/MH-JB/MH, then play JJK at RWB and VM at LWB
NB Please, don't try and play a midfielder there.

So, that's with a 3-4-3, or 3-5-2

If we play a 4 at the back,I would trust the kids and play them.

I wouldn't trust Seamus against Ward or Klich; I just can't see beyond the four (five I've mentioned)

If we played NP-MK-JB-VM, then that only leaves us with JJK and MH as proper cover, and a rapidly deteriorating Seamus as cover.

IF VM isn't passed fit, then you have to decide between SC, JJK, or NP at RB and between JJK or NP at LB, as Harrison would murder Seamus all day long.

Dave, what would your choice be,considering where we are now?

There is no easy answer and I have thought about the defence and centre midfield since the game finished at Newcastle on Monday night and the only thing that I am positive about, unfortunately, is we are very weak in both areas and that doesn’t help anything by saying it!!

And, yes, the accent is South African, although when I listen back it sounds more than "slightly" to these ears. I was the elder of three brothers when we left SA and the only one who retained a lot of the accent!

BTW, Ell, Paul and I are really pleased at how well the first two episodes have been received so thanks to all for listening and for the feedback. We'll be doing them weekly at least moving forward so keep those topic/spot suggestions coming.

We rested on our laurels because we thought we were at the top table and always would be. Standing still is effectively walking backwards. That's what we've done. Goodison is still in a pretty similar state to what it was when I was a kid apart from the Park End. St James' Park looks nothing like it did in the same period. Nor Old Trafford and even the really big stand ground across the park. Villa have transformed Villa Park and Tottenham have arguably the best stadium in the world right now. Arsenal have the Emirates, City have the Empty-Had and West Ham an Olympic Stadium in the heart of a regenerated area.

We still have Goodison - as much as I love it and the Goodison Supper Bar. It sums up how little we've moved on. I know we're getting there but we've wasted generations and decades.

In the clouds at Newcastle on Tuesday night I really felt for those young Evertonians alongside me and I admired them far more than me or my generation. At least I've seen success. They only have stories to go off as they get mocked by countless supporters of other lesser clubs.

Poor bastards. But their day will come. So will mine. And when that happens, the good lord can take me there and then with a smile on my face.

There is no plan, there is no expertise but there definitely is complacency and smugness in our board room. They think we will go away but we are just starting.

Thankfully the Leeds win eases the pressure for now but we need to get our act together on the road for more valuable,much needed points.

COYB