The Obvious Problem Areas

[GoldenToffee]

Most teams can carry a couple of players and still put in overall respectable performances and grind out wins against poor position, but we are currently not doing that and are looking terrible both offensively and defensively. It's not difficult to see why:

1. We have quite possibly the two poorest strikers in the entire division and no alternative options. The manager clearly knows this, but refuses to try anything else either in terms of personnel or tactics. Absolutely nobody would or at least should disagree if I said Kieffer Moore at Wrexham would be a huge upgrade on these two, and he is awful.
2. Dewsbury-Hall is not at all performing well as a number 10, and Alcaraz hasn't been given any real time to show what he can do. KDH has been terrible the past month.
3. Grealish is not a problem, but the left hand side is with us having a woeful left-sided full back in Mykolenko who does not overlap, whose first thought is to pass backwards and in any case is not trusted by Grealish. That's why we're not seeing Grealish have a big impact on the games — and no surprise with Myko behind him and an ineffective KDH alongside him.
4. O'Brien is an absolutely terrible right back and offers even less than Mykolenko does going forwards.
5. Clearly we are missing Branthwaite, and this is being compounded by the way below par efforts of Tarkowski, who is being completely shown up by what ought to be our fourth choice centre back in Keane.
6. The manager is putting the team at a huge disadvantage with his 'try the same failed things and hope for better' approach. He publicly stated that any player brought in was approved by him, yet leaves £70m of talent on the bench unused yesterday in Aznou, Dibling and Röhl in a game we were getting dominated.

I am at a loss as to why he isn't changing the approach, but fear it will get worse before it gets better. Fulham next which is basically must-win because United are absolutely battering us after that.

Why won't the manager at least try playing his new signing Röhl alongside Gueye and Garner at right back? Did Tarkowski's new contract guarantee him a start every week or something? Why won't he give Dibling a start and shift Ndiaye into a false 9 position? It's been proven several times if the players are good enough, it can work in this division — We just saw him dance past five defenders last night and score a goal no striker in 10 years has been able to produce for us.

One point from the next two games and we're very, very likely 3 points off 18th (West Ham will beat Burnley at home) and 4 off 19th (Forest will beat Leeds at home) after 12 games — a diabolical 'start' to the season in what is supposed to be a new, bright, era for the club.

 

[SuperKev91]

What’s been startling to me is we instantly look better with Iroegbunam in the side every time.

It highlights the clear lack of physicality in the side because I don’t really rate Tim tbh, he’s hit and miss. Gana, Garner, KDH is feeble though physically.

 

[Portoman]

You're missing the fact that Gueye seems to be getting a free pass to play. What is his role now? DM - no, too slow to press and interrupt play like he used to; CM - never was. He's ineffective and just seems to sit back, hence why teams are easily coming down the middle. Put someone with energy in there, who at least seems capable of playing a full game

 

[Portoman]

What’s been startling to me is we instantly look better with Iroegbunam in the side every time.

It highlights the clear lack of physicality in the side because I don’t really rate Tim tbh, he’s hit and miss. Gana, Garner, KDH is feeble though physically.

Maybe he'd be a better starter than Gueye

 

[barneygumble]

The manager is putting the team at a huge disadvantage with his 'try the same failed things and hope for better' approach. He publicly stated that any player brought in was approved by him, yet leaves £70m of talent on the bench unused yesterday in Aznou, Dibling and Röhl in a game we were getting dominated.

Theres your problem.

"If it aint broke dont fix it", is usually the case, but in our case its "if its broken, still dont fix it".

Persisting with Mykolenko, who completely hinders Grealish game is a waste of the wages were spunking on him.

Dewsbury Hall is not a 10, hes clearly most effective as a 6.

O'Brien as a full back, had its day, retire it. Play Garner there until theres a replacement.

Pick Barry or Pick Beto... stop this changing straight into second half. Nurture your strikers, build their confidence. Found a good combo with Beto, Alcaraz... this season, he doesnt bother

Same dour tactics every week. Teams are onto us, we arr slow to build up, we pass it arpund and then hoof it... is this really any better than Dyche?

How can the young lads settle into the team if they dont get minutes? If Dyche had brought on McNeil over Dibling last night there would have been outrage.

 

[maccavennie]

Far too many avoidable issues.

A centre half playing dreadful but getting selected week on week out
A centre half playing right back massively struggling out of position
A midfield 2 offering no protection to the defence and offer nothing in an attacking sense. No physicality at all in there.
KDH having the game completely bypass him doing a role he's not cut out for
Both strikers are absolutely garbage

 

[Gilbert..]

Fullbacks
Fullbacks
Fullbacks

How many times did mykolenko or obrien overlap grealish & ndiaye last night. Even if not used it pulls the opposition players out of position.

We've decent players there but we're as stale as last weeks bread tactically and it makes those decent players role twice as hard.

 

[hkb6970]

The main problem at Everton is there has been too much sentiment at the club and sadly these new owners have just continued it by bringing Moyes back then dishing out new contracts to long standing players who have been part of the relegation era. Until we find a new identity then nothing will change from this celebrating staying up or mid table obscurity. We have become the Coventry City of the late 20th century.

 

[sbbefc]

We need new wing backs on both sides. Despite having about 6 windows to resolve this, especially RB, we've done nothing. Mykolenko isn't terrible but doesn't offer much going forward. He's lower prem/ championship level.

Then there's the striker debate.

The rest of the squad isn't too bad and can be made to work.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

What’s been startling to me is we instantly look better with Iroegbunam in the side every time.

It highlights the clear lack of physicality in the side because I don’t really rate Tim tbh, he’s hit and miss. Gana, Garner, KDH is feeble though physically.

THIS is our problem, for some reason, every single one of our forwards and midfielders are incapable of performing for 90 minutes. Any of them can come on as a sub and look great but poor if they start.

Moyes needs to earn his corn here, as it is ALL on him as manager

 

[MACCA75]

I remember the ‘Unconcerned’ thread in which the smuggest of posters kept telling us the transfer window was going fine, and had been a success.

One win in our last 8 games lads.

 

[SuperKev91]

THIS is our problem, for some reason, every single one of our forwards and midfielders are incapable of performing for 90 minutes. Any of them can come on as a sub and look great but poor if they start.

Moyes needs to earn his corn here, as it is ALL on him as manager

I think a massive part of it is the shape of the team/balance.

Midfield three are all good at various things but as a collective they’re too lacking physically. Mykolenko is a dreadful full back and JOB has had his time there and served a purpose.

For me it should be

Pickford

Garner JOB Keane Mykolenko

Rohl KDH Iroegbunam

Ndiaye Grealish

Barry

 

[Rodebaard]

When Sunderland worked out they just needed to press us, we were in trouble. We couldn't get up the pitch. I think this down to the chronic lack of pace all over the team but particularly in the defence which means everyone is so deep. We also have no speed or control to counter. Yes Grealish and Ndiaye can be magic with the ball at their feet, but they're not sprinting away from anyone. Beto and Barry are average in pace department (might be generous), but I can't imagine one of them running with the ball at their feet from the half way line and scoring. Beto can score if all he has to do is shoot, but we're too far away from the goal most of the time. A striker with real speed (and to be frank, nothing else at the moment) and we might start looking better. But we're struggling with the defence being so slow. They're also terrible yard dogs with the ball by the way, but the pace issue is probably more important.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

I think a massive part of it is the shape of the team/balance.

Midfield three are all good at various things but as a collective they’re too lacking physically. Mykolenko is a dreadful full back and JOB has had his time there and served a purpose.

For me it should be

Pickford

Garner JOB Keane Mykolenko

Rohl KDH Iroegbunam

Ndiaye Grealish

Barry

We 100% need to get the physicality of tim and rohl in there and, both like to drive forward. There’s still issues with creativity through the middle

 

[ElGato]

I remember the ‘Unconcerned’ thread in which the smuggest of posters kept telling us the transfer window was going fine, and had been a success.

One win in our last 8 games lads.

Did someone say smug?