2025/26 Charly Alcaraz

[Zatara]

Moyes is trying to actually gain control in games, it’s not hard to see why.

I’d much rather play to the strengths of Ndiaye, KDH, Grealish, Garner etc. than Alcaraz and Beto…

It’s not sustainable for a team like ours with such little pace/recovery power to keep stretching the game.

Understandably Moyes wants us to transition away from that.

Well for me i dont understand why "Moyes is trying to actually gain control in games"...

As a matter of fact this would be the actual OPPOSITE strategy i'd be using.

Just as a basic example, look at how much money the top 6 (and beyond) have spent on teams with high posession.

The cheat code would be to setup to counter their threats, Ancelotti new this as did Marco Silva.

For what its worth, without attacking full backs i'd be using:

LW: Ndiaye
10: Grealish
RW: Dibling
LCM: KDH
RCM: Garner

So I wouldnt have Alcaraz as first choice in the 10 and may even have Dibling over him as well.

Ive never seen a successful Everton team playing slow based posession football which we have done in most games this season.

 

[SuperKev91]

Well for me i dont understand why "Moyes is trying to actually gain control in games"...

As a matter of fact this would be the actual OPPOSITE strategy i'd be using.

Just as a basic example, look at how much money the top 6 (and beyond) have spent on teams with high posession.

The cheat code would be to setup to counter their threats, Ancelotti new this as did Marco Silva.

For what its worth, without attacking full backs i'd be using:

LW: Ndiaye
10: Grealish
RW: Dibling
LCM: KDH
RCM: Garner

So I wouldnt have Alcaraz as first choice in the 10 and may even have Dibling over him as well.

Ive never seen a successful Everton team playing slow based posession football which we have done in most games this season.

We aren’t a possession team either though, we’re just pragmatic. Look at our average possession and it will tell you that. It just means though we have footballers who are actually happy and capable of keeping the ball.

We don’t play slow possession based football….

 

[SuperKev91]

Well for me i dont understand why "Moyes is trying to actually gain control in games"...

As a matter of fact this would be the actual OPPOSITE strategy i'd be using.

Just as a basic example, look at how much money the top 6 (and beyond) have spent on teams with high posession.

The cheat code would be to setup to counter their threats, Ancelotti new this as did Marco Silva.

For what its worth, without attacking full backs i'd be using:

LW: Ndiaye
10: Grealish
RW: Dibling
LCM: KDH
RCM: Garner

So I wouldnt have Alcaraz as first choice in the 10 and may even have Dibling over him as well.

Ive never seen a successful Everton team playing slow based posession football which we have done in most games this season.

Look at the players you have listed there, barely a scrap of pace between all of them. That’s why we need to have more control in the game and also why we desperately need pace injecting (hopefully full backs).

If we lose the ball in transition we’re also terrible ourselves in transition going backwards, hence why we were always playing so deep as well. I think Branthwaite does open up a whole lot of possibilities for us when he’s back fit.

 

[Zatara]

We aren’t a possession team either though, we’re just pragmatic. Look at our average possession and it will tell you that. It just means though we have footballers who are actually happy and capable of keeping the ball.

We don’t play slow possession based football….

Look at the players you have listed there, barely a scrap of pace between all of them. That’s why we need to have more control in the game and also why we desperately need pace injecting (hopefully full backs).

If we lose the ball in transition we’re also terrible ourselves in transition going backwards, hence why we were always playing so deep as well. I think Branthwaite does open up a whole lot of possibilities for us when he’s back fit.

This comes as we know from having no real 6 and no pace in the back.

A pragmatic team knows when to go quick and when to keep the ball.

We do neither

 

[derek duvall]

What are these "first team chances" you and a few others speak of?

Alcaraz gets motm = dropped or used wide

Alcaraz scores/assists = dropped or used wide

Check out his stats for goals and assists last season:

763mins 2 goals & 3 assists.

Incredibly impressive and yet not rewarded with regular games at 10. Same thing this season.

Just need to look at KDH being superior as an 8 and Moyes puts him back at 10.

Gana slapping Keane and straight back in the team.

There are no first team chances. Watch Iroegbunam get dropped for Gana soon.

You have to be Alcaraz’s dad.

 

[SuperKev91]

This comes as we know from having no real 6 and no pace in the back.

A pragmatic team knows when to go quick and when to keep the ball.

We do neither

We do both, we just still have quite a few crap players. And it shows drastically when our best players are out.

When we have a fully fit 11 we’ve given pretty much every team a game - we need better full backs and a better striker.

 

[micknick]

You have to be Alcaraz’s dad.

Or lover

 

[SuperKev91]

You have to be Alcaraz’s dad.

He was claiming he was the second coming of Riquelme, now it’s obvious that he’s just an average player he’s blaming everyone else but Alcaraz for largely being a bit crap.

 

[Simon Buttle]

He was claiming he was the second coming of Riquelme, now it’s obvious that he’s just an average player he’s blaming everyone else but Alcaraz for largely being a bit crap.

Our fans have a tendency too over rate certain players but I don't think I have ever seen anything like this before, its mental, he is acting like we should build a team around him.

 

[micknick]

He was poor yesterday IMO. There were opportunities to play players in which he do at times last year but held on too long.

Whether you believe Moyes has him in a cage and only feeds him dried bread an mistreating him or not that’s on the player not Moyes to be positive with the ball.

 

[Furey1878]

Fixed that for you

I think thats true. But when he travels up the pitch well with the ball his options are pretty limited when he gets to the edge of the box. We're Everton. He has either barry or beto. And certainly no overlapping fullbacks. His other option would be go for goal. If he's travelling 50 or 60 yards with the ball getting your team right onto the opposition penalty box and then putting it in the net he's not a 12m signing for Everton. He's at inter milan or bayern munich.
There's still to much expectation of what Alcaraz is imo. For one or two bad calls he's also one of the most likely players to make something happen. And its not like we carry him for that bit of quality that might come. He puts in a shift as much as anyone.
Its like if he instantly doesnt do anything its told you. Get him off.

Yeah I agree, he was incredibly cheap. Still think he should play more with Ndiaye and Grealish around him.

 

[the golden visionary]

His best games have been with illy, grealish and KDH around him.

Where he doesnt need to take all the responsibility for the creativity and can act impulsively.

When hes the primary attacking outlet hes been absolutely plop

 

[Zatara]

Confidence drawn out of him by being messed about by the manager.

Its obvious the team isnt picked on merit.
Can use both Alcaraz and Gana as obvious examples.

Not to mention using KDH as a 10.

He was claiming he was the second coming of Riquelme, now it’s obvious that he’s just an average player he’s blaming everyone else but Alcaraz for largely being a bit crap.

Our fans have a tendency too over rate certain players but I don't think I have ever seen anything like this before, its mental, he is acting like we should build a team around him.

Not sure if this is about me as whoever the initial poster was i have on ignore.

If it is then:

Ive never said Alcaraz was world class?

Ive always said he is best in a quick direct team and excellent on the transition.

Ive never said Alcaraz is good in a cowardlike pointless passing team

Ive always said that there are better 10s out there

Ive never said we should go with a 10 or a 6 and am open to either, even an 8 to come in.

You both sound like you have issues. Whether thats from xmas alcohol, bad news or suchlike you should take care not to let it affect you on something so basic as football.

If its not me then ignore the last part

 

[Simon Buttle]

Its obvious the team isnt picked on merit.
Can use both Alcaraz and Gana as obvious examples.

Not to mention using KDH as a 10.





Not sure if this is about me as whoever the initial poster was i have on ignore.

If it is then:

Ive never said Alcaraz was world class?

Ive always said he is best in a quick direct team and excellent on the transition.

Ive never said Alcaraz is good in a cowardlike pointless passing team

Ive always said that there are better 10s out there

Ive never said we should go with a 10 or a 6 and am open to either, even an 8 to come in.

You both sound like you have issues. Whether thats from xmas alcohol, bad news or suchlike you should take care not to let it affect you on something so basic as football.

If its not me then ignore the last part

But we don't play like though mate, and Moyes is one of the most stubborn managers in the modern game, once he sets on something he isn't changing it. We did it last season for a reason (surely you understand this) This season we are doing something different with some slightly more technical players and Alcaraz simply does not fit into that system.

 

[Zatara]

But we don't play like though mate, and Moyes is one of the most stubborn managers in the modern game, once he sets on something he isn't changing it. We did it last season for a reason (surely you understand this) This season we are doing something different with some slightly more technical players and Alcaraz simply does not fit into that system.

Myself and others have said this as well.

The system hes using this season is different to last season.

It looks like he wants to have higher posession. I dont think in the majority of games we've seen that as an effective barometer of creating chances.

What Alcaraz brings is a moment or two of magic each game where a chance is created or a shot made. Even within the current system where his overall skillset isnt suited whatsoever.

If Moyes uses KDH as a 10 all it really does is increase the chances of holding posession - like Grealish. Both slow the play down - like Dibling yesterday as well.

How many times this season have we seen chances created from posession? My guess is very few good chances.

How many chances have we seen created from a moment of magic? We saw it a couple of times with Dibling yesterday, Ndiaye tends to do things on his own and also Grealish had a month of Xfactor...KDH also can create and score himself.

None of the above were due to increased posession.

When we attacked with Ndiaye, Alcaraz and Barry for Barrys goal...thats quick effective and super threatening on the transition.

I dont know about others but i like that quick effective play rather than this failure of posession for posessions sake.