3 issues to be addressed

[diggerdestroyer]

They're reappearing again and again even before Carlo was here because the players in our team are largely crap. We need a really good summer window to cement ourselves as a top 6 side. We're probably 3 windows away from being a top 4 side. That's the reality imo.

Agree. We are in our current position due to spurs, liverpool and arsenal under performing. We really need to take advantage of this. Top 6 would be great this year. Go again for top 6 next year. Squad needs improvement in quality speed ability and depth to genuinely challenge for top 4 and we are some windows off that yet.

 

[Toffeeslam]

We lack energy and intensity.....which is what Dacoure gives us that but if he isn’t there we look like a team running through treacle.

if you look at Chelsea they worked harder than us off and on the ball and we never got close to them.

We got to get energy and intensity along with pace into this team pronto

 

[Dixie1sixty]

The passing back point is spot on. There are numerous occasions in our build up play where we have the opportunities to play incisive, forward passes but opt to go safe to centre backs. It is incredibly frustrating and just an issue of bravery for me. It allows opponents to reset their shape and we lose any gained ground.

 

[optatom154]

It’s the speed of the passing back that is probably frustrating, it’s very three/four touch and I don’t think we have players who are able to play one and two touch passing in midfield under pressure and manage to keep it 90% of the time (Gomes, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Holgate, Coleman all misplace too many passes imo). I think Davies has come on leaps and bounds at this though tbf

Carlo is doing a fantastic job grinding out results with the injuries, the amount of niggles everyone has had that make it harder to play 100mph stuff. We’re much better going more direct to DCL atm and pushing players around him for second balls, like the Southampton goal

 

[Bluerover]

We lose one game and instantly these sorts of threads appear. Our squad is trash and Carlo is doing everything wrong.

Shocker.

I am delighted with our achievements so far, but I agree with the frustration that is felt by going backwards so much, and losing possession innumerable times, mostly unforced errors.

 

[Bluepablo]

It’s the speed of the passing back that is probably frustrating, it’s very three/four touch and I don’t think we have players who are able to play one and two touch passing in midfield under pressure and manage to keep it 90% of the time (Gomes, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Holgate, Coleman all misplace too many passes imo). I think Davies has come on leaps and bounds at this though tbf

Carlo is doing a fantastic job grinding out results with the injuries, the amount of niggles everyone has had that make it harder to play 100mph stuff. We’re much better going more direct to DCL atm and pushing players around him for second balls, like the Southampton goal

Agree with this. Think we need to play 3 up using King & play into the channels to get up the pitch because we are incapable of building through midfield. Think it would suit the players we have & would reduce the reliance on defending.

 

[Richard Alex]

Our squad cannot keep carrying sick notes like Delph, Coleman, Mina and James
That’s just short of half a million pound a week!
At least James offers a bit of class when he plays but these players need shipping out this summer
Proper players and the right investment needed

 

[BlueToff]

The biggest issue for me is the forward passing. We don't get the ball forward enough without launching it at DCL's head.

Then probably chance creation from open play. We don't really do it. Without our exceptional record on corners we'd be in a poor spot.

Third at the minute is probably defending on the right. Today we had a combination of Iwobi and Holgate at RB which is bad and Coleman isn't good enough now either.

This, and players who run with the ball. Lingard is doing it brilliantly for West Ham (and i'm not saying I'd have been thrilled had we signed him).

Football is a very, very simple game.

 

[Del-boy]

Lack of movement up front forces us to go back. Or the forward pass needs to be played with such precision that only James can pull it off. When he ain’t on the pitch we tend to go backwards with the ball.

 

[Egil Olsen]

The passes are a consequence of the positions of the players, and the positions of the players are a consequence of Ancelotti not wanting to take any risk. We will continue this style for the rest of the season, and if we get better players next season, then maybe Ancelotti will take a bigger risk.

 

[DanB90]

Too many players unwilling or unable to play through the lines or wanting too many touches of the ball leads to us going backwards only to then punt it long.

I appreciate tonight wasn’t really the game we were going to showcase our footballing talents, but even in previous games, you see our forwards making runs off the ball and the player in possession dithers too much and the pass is no longer on, or we have a chance to catch a team out of shape on the counter and nobody seems to want to make runs from deep or spread the play and the chance to attack goes.

 

[TheBigIguana]

This, and players who run with the ball. Lingard is doing it brilliantly for West Ham (and i'm not saying I'd have been thrilled had we signed him).

Football is a very, very simple game.

Yeah, my first point should have just been players who get the ball forward. Passing it or running it, same concept.

 

[bicycleheader]

The passes are a consequence of the positions of the players, and the positions of the players are a consequence of Ancelotti not wanting to take any risk. We will continue this style for the rest of the season, and if we get better players next season, then maybe Ancelotti will take a bigger risk.

whilst I’m sure tactically he is leaning more towards low risk options for now, we have watched most of these players bricking it in possession since before he came. Some have gotten a bit better at it even tho better than awful isn’t much

I don’t think there is any doubt we will see better movement into final third when we make that next upgrade of the squad. It’s been a problem for years and I think it’s odd to see it solely as a consequence of positions/tactics. I think it’s a presumptive view rather than anything quantitative

it’s like in some people’s minds, as soon as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game took over at Everton his whole history gets revised as if he was some % football dunce

 

[Egil Olsen]

whilst I’m sure tactically he is leaning more towards low risk options for now, we have watched most of these players bricking it in possession since before he came. Some have gotten a bit better at it even tho better than awful isn’t much

I don’t think there is any doubt we will see better movement into final third when we make that next upgrade of the squad. It’s been a problem for years and I think it’s odd to see it solely as a consequence of positions/tactics. I think it’s a presumptive view rather than anything quantitative

it’s like in some people’s minds, as soon as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game took over at Everton his whole history gets revised as if he was some % football dunce

I'm not criticizing Ancelotti, but he wants balance in the team (everyone wants it, but you see what I mean), and is waiting for opportunities rather than provoking it. It is a choice and has worked very well so far. The fact that we are one of the teams that have created the fewest goal chances supports this. He has also never been a particularly offensive manager, but there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone has different philosophies, but I do not think we should expect to suddenly be Brazil from 1986.

 

[zukai12_]

lost away to one of the most in form teams in the league, with several important players out

don't wet the bed please