Our worst performers today were:
- Baines
- Schneiderlin
- Siggurdson
- Besic
- Holgate
From my perspective this isn't surprising because:
1. Baines is over 30 and yet still expected to start every single match; both Domestic and European. At the very least, we should have obviously splashed in the transfer market on a capable backup, or kept Galloway in the squad for relief. This infuriates me because two years ago we had time to groom a replacement. Unfortunately,
we must now pay for first team quality at this position.
2. Even though Schneiderlin was our darling transfer of last season, he was already a bit redundant upon purchase because despite his quality (questionable so far this season) at no point has he ever performed the functions of a CDM better than
Idrissa Gana Gueye.
They should not play as a pair; especially with zero pace for us to launch a counter from. We are crying out for a true quality Box to Box CM. I prayed Klaasen may become this man but it appears instead he is 1 of 4 other number 10s on the squad. Davies may be that man in 2-3 years, but he is not now; although he can play the role sporadically as he develops. (This need is where the Lukaku money should have gone.)
3. Siggurdson is a number 10, as is Rooney, as is Klaasen. None of the 3 are better than Barkley. If Barkley wants to leave as it appears, Okay that is football
; However,
you must pick only one of the three remaining in any given side. Ultimately, even given the price tag, we can not expect more from Gylfi if we continue to play him out of position. Most importantly,
If we continue to play #10s in winger positions I have no hope for the squad this season.
4. Besic is a squad player to be used in away legs in a two DM pairing in which we have miles of pace ahead of him to launch a counter. At this stage of his career that is his only functional role. Unfortunately for Mo, he is the 3rd name on the team sheet in that position behind Gana and Schneiderlin.
Therefor baring injury he should not see the field.
5. Holgate is not a wingback, and he is not a right back. He is an undersized CB. Either he bulks up with age and training or he doesn't see the field. This positional problem is runnerup for Koeman's biggest error. He is not doing Holgate's development any favors by playing him out of position. Cuco is not first team quality, and Coleman may or may not ever return to 1st team quality after such a horrendous injury.
We needed to approach this position as if were replacing Coleman. Leave it up to the lad to earn his place back.
The largest error is without a doubt that the following signings are most functional with a target man CF who displays excellent holdup play and aerial prowess. Unfortunately we do not have that man on our roster making this list of players nearly ineffective in their most comfortable roles.
- Pickford
- Keane
- Sandro
- Siggurdson
- Klaasen
How this positional and scheme mistake has transpired is unforgivable; especially in light of the fact that we have known of Lukaku's likely departure for years, and Koeman's plan to switch to a target man focused squad since his appointment as manager.
We have some pieces to run a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 but we lack in critical areas of both formations. I genuinely cannot see better than 10th in league play or surviving the knockout rounds in Europe. Yet still I'll watch every minute of play clinging to hope; Everton that. The worst part is that we can't say that Davek didn't warn us every step of the way.
