2021/22 Ben Godfrey

[Yarrgh]

What are Godfrey's qualities at CB?

...you know, seeing as it's a "no brainer" that he's "clearly" a starting CB?

What do you see him having done for Everton in that position that suggests that?

He's not any of the other centre backs at the club would be my go to for a reason. The others inspire less at the moment.

 

[Blue Roo]

Its interesting Godfrey was played in the centre of the three.

(Is Rafael scaffolding and grooming here?
Did he know he was gambling on a poor hand (back 5)? Was he reaching for a plot, or has he lost it already?)

The lad must of played every combination by now. That could go either way, but you think with his focus, attitude, passion that experience will work for the better.

His natural position seems to be LCB in a two.
Problem is that leaves Mina and Seamus on the right side of back 4 and lacking pace.

Wonder whether we'll see Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Coleman again.
Wouldn't mind seeing Digne play as a proper LCM alongside Alan and Doucs, on top of that 4.

 

[4737carlin]

It will be, looked like Benitez had him as a starter in pre-season but then he got the rona.
Just mental that people are doubting him in here after one game back in a three against Burnley.

Yeah but some doubted Rafael too, that's how clueless they are

 

[Brett Angell Delight]

Sometimes a player's versatility can be a downfall. He seems like a cut and dried "small man" CB in a big/small pairing, the type of thing that worked well for us under Moyes.

Godfrey/Holgate = small; Keane/Mina = big. The problem the other day arose when we decided to play 3 CBs. I am not sure a single one of our CBs suits that system and yet under the last couple of managers it keeps rearing its ugly head.

 

[Eggs]

Yeah but some doubted Rafael too, that's how clueless they are

….whilst we hope our good start continues & Benitez brings a bit of stability, it is a bit of premature evaluation to deem his tenure a success. Fingers crossed, though.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

Yeah but some doubted Rafael too, that's how clueless they are

I doubted Benitez because his Newcastle side played horrific football and he’d been dossing in China. Thankfully he’s proving me wrong so far.
Godfrey on the other hand had a whole season for us looking boss and rightly being held in the highest regard so dismissing him after one game back is not the same thing!

 

[johnjoeefc]

I personally can't see Godfrey being a centre back long term. I worry about his positioning as well as his height. I think with his pace he's best suited to playing right back. He should base his game around Kyle walker who also lacked strong technical ability in his younger days and has improved it and become one of the best also given his excellent speed and tackling attributes.

 

[Dixie1sixty]

I doubted Benitez because his Newcastle side played horrific football and he’d been dossing in China. Thankfully he’s proving me wrong so far.
Godfrey on the other hand had a whole season for us looking boss and rightly being held in the highest regard so dismissing him after one game back is not the same thing!

But most reasoned that he played horrific football at Newcastle because he had horrific players and it was the best way to win points...

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

I doubted Benitez because his Newcastle side played horrific football and he’d been dossing in China. Thankfully he’s proving me wrong so far.
Godfrey on the other hand had a whole season for us looking boss and rightly being held in the highest regard so dismissing him after one game back is not the same thing!

Still do doubt, one of the easiest start as in fixtures you could hope for. Monday night, had that been the champion league contingent, the game would have been beyond salvageable even before Keans equaliser, let alone introduction of Gomes.

Not match Godfrey is all.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

But most reasoned that he played horrific football at Newcastle because he had horrific players and it was the best way to win points...

I said I’m being proven wrong and I’m happy to be. The same argument was thrown at Nuno because of the way his Wolves teams set up and guess what, three wins out of four ain’t bad but Spurs are playing crap football even though they have far better attacking players.
I hope we win every game and Benitez becomes our most successful manager in history because all I want is to see Everton win but you can see how some we’re not enthused at hiring Benitez off his most recent performances.

 

[gianthogweed]

He can play CB it's not all about height Kevin Ratcliffe was not tall and did the job plus every team does not play like Burnley
his speed and aggression is something the others in that position do not have

 

[davek]

Well, I don't know David, but perhaps being selected for England in the Summer, only to just miss the cut would have to provide some minuscule piece of evidence that the lad has quality.

You don't make the England squad unless, you know, you're actually playing and are a starter...

And on the quality front, he is aggressive, was rarely dribbled past (a league leader), and actually has the kind of sh*t in him that makes him an Everton-style player. May I remind you the tackle he laid at the tin-shed when we beat them for the first time since Jesus turned water into wine.

I am utterly baffled this thread is even alive at the moment. But then again, nothing surprises me in the deluded world of the Davek types...

...and had two nightmare games as CB with sloppy play.

So you have no assessment of his qualities for the CB role other than he's aggressive?

 

[davek]

I'm baffled by your recent viewpoints. You hate the RS more than most but when RB was hired you shrugged .
Now you question our arguably best defender last season . Don't tell me some of those tackles last season weren't almost pornographic .
He's young and has time for his positioning and reading of the game . At the moment it's not the end of the world as he can get back fast and twonk some useless lump .

Benitez: easy - he was their manager and acted the way he did with them and he was a target; he's now our manager and can act the same way and he'll get support as long as he's steering this club in the right direction.

Godfrey was best on the left last season. His games at RB were poor because of James not working and exposing him.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Its interesting Godfrey was played in the centre of the three.

(Is Rafael scaffolding and grooming here?
Did he know he was gambling on a poor hand (back 5)? Was he reaching for a plot, or has he lost it already?)

The lad must of played every combination by now. That could go either way, but you think with his focus, attitude, passion that experience will work for the better.

His natural position seems to be LCB in a two.
Problem is that leaves Mina and Seamus on the right side of back 4 and lacking pace.

Wonder whether we'll see Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Coleman again.
Wouldn't mind seeing Digne play as a proper LCM alongside Alan and Doucs, on top of that 4.

That's a very defensive line up but I could see it being used against the likes of City or Liverpool, teams that dominate the ball and that, history confirms, it's far better to play deep against than try and go toe to toe with them.

It isn't a back 7 I'd be against in such circumstances, provided we played 3 quick players up front, like Gray Richarlison and DCL, who I think could expose their 3 at the back. high defensive line. I think that, for us, it's a far better option than going

 

[davek]

He's not any of the other centre backs at the club would be my go to for a reason. The others inspire less at the moment.

...and what does he do at CB that warrants such enthusiasm?

This manager wont put him in there whilst there's a permutation of 2 from the 3 we've used so far.