🎙ToffeeWeb Podcast: “Goals Are the Currency of Football”

Maybe so, but not at Everton.

Infact it's been a very long time since Everton were a team that ever really scored enough goals or looked attractive on the eye going forward.

I like the defensive signings we've made this summer don't get me wrong BUT where are the creative attacking sources or the striking options?

Answers on a postcard.

I don't think we've scored enough since the Martinez days when we had a three pronged attack of Lukaku, Barkley, Deulofeu or Mirallas, only trouble is we couldn't defend our dinner.

Is there a secret game out there between managers. “It’s your turn to go to Everton for a couple of seasons destroy them as much as you can then get a payout and leave.”

Now our two best attacking players left, are going to be loaned out and sold, wow and now Frank you just get a headache trying to make reason at what is happening to this once-proud club.

I have it on good authority that selling Gordon will free up much needed funds to purchase an exciting thoroughbred striker by the name of 'Dobbin', currently still on the books of Rentaghost FC (must be a Portuguese club).

Apparently a dream partner for Rondon, with these two the 'in-off' potential will terrify the opposition.

For example his pass to Richy v Liverpool. He also scored some good goals through his ability to strike the ball with such quality.

Defenders playing against must always have been in edge knowing that he could open up even a well regimented defence in a flash.

Rodriguez, Richy, a fit DCL and Digne with a target for his crosses. We didn't know how lucky we were.

I was really excited when Lampard took over from Benitez and in his first 2 games we beat Brentford 4-1 in the cup and followed that by beating Leeds 3-0 in the league. I thought at last we have a manager who wants to play attacking football. But a couple of months later we are playing 5 at the back and narrowly escaping relegation. I know Lampard said he had to play this way because of the type of players we had and the position we were in, in the league. All perfectly understandable so why having signed 5 new players are we still persisting with 5 at the back and playing what can only be described as a very negative approach to games. I can understand being a bit cautious against Chelsea but we adopted that same negative approach against Villa who I think will be in the lower half of the league this season.

I really think that Lampard is in danger of losing all that respect he got last season if he continues to adopt these defensive tactics.

We have two fast young full backs that are still bedding in but are showing a lot of talent. He is rebuilding a midfield that was dysfunctional and slow and, if we get Gueye, it needs one more ( a schemer it was called once) and we need a player who can spread the ball around and see a move in the making. Rodrigues was good but couldn't/ wouldn't run. great skill but where is he now.

Since we sold Lukaku, as he wanted to go to United, we haven't had a goalscorer to match him. Richarlison was the nearest we had. DCL, well once the opposition teams worked out the crosses moves, he hasn't shown to have the goalscoring skills score form outside the box or score enough of half chances.

Jim (1) has asked where are the creative and goalscoring players? Well, that's the gold dust of football and consequently are the most sought after and costly.
I think Gray can score goals and make them. Not sure about McNeill or Gordon to score many but McNeill may be able to make them.

Can we get one, let alone two players who can bang in 15- 20 goals a season? Well we'll be lucky unless we sell someone.

You watch Brighton and player for player they aren't world class but every week they play a style of football that I enjoy watching, they are at least showing intent to try and win.

All we do is sit deep with an abundance of defensive players that don't cross halfway.

But the key point I took from the discussion is our lack of goals from midfield. That is what differentiate's successful teams. Sheedy and Steven. Roy Keane's late runs into the box to connect. Even that gobshite Henderson. They contribute. We don't have that now.

I like how we've sured up the defence. We actually look okay there. I like the look of Onana. Frank seems to be building from the back, which is probably what Everton has needed.

But goals win games.

I've grumbled for a long time about the lack of goals from our midfield.

In an ideal world you want two central midfielders scoring say 8 each and another two wide players with at least 5 apiece.

Plus at least a combined 10 goals from centre halves and fullbacks, again, not really asking the world is it?

Ideally you'd have one striker hitting 10-15 and maybe a stopgap coming in getting 5 or 6.

The squads we had between about 2007/2013 always contributed with this kind of goal return hence why we had more top 7 finishes than bottom 7.

The one man to be able to score regularly from midfield is Gray, with Docoure, Iwobi and Gordon scoring 10 or so between them. I don't think we can count Gomes, think he's got about 2 in two years; and Davies not many more.
Allan may be able to create more alongside Onana. Gbamin??? who knows what he can do. Townsend, we wont see for a while due to injury.

It will be interesting to see if we do get Gueye; if not, we could do with a midfielder who can create chances regularly. Goalscorers, I hope we can get a couple who don't just depend on crosses plonked on their heads. Maybe Rondon can score more, haven't seen enough of him, while fit, to say.

Again though hasn't Kenwright always left it to the last minute to "pleasantly surprise us," or so he thinks!