Exactly..
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CRIMHEAD
Player Valuation: £40m
It's amazing how every criticism against this guy is completely subjective and can be actually disproven at times.
He's slow and doesn't work hard...well, he covers more ground than anyone in the league, so he's at least ONE of those two things.
He doesn't score from open play...well, he actually scored more goals per match when he WASN'T taking free kicks.
He didn't do well at Spurs...well, he actually produced at a better rate from open play and didn't take free kicks or penalties.
He doesn't create enough...well, statistically he creates more goals/assists than almost anyone else in the league over the past many years.
It's all a bit silly. The guy has been outstanding everywhere he's been and has been pretty good here, we just aren't real good right now.
If you want to say we should've have spent the 45M on him, fine. We already had Rooney, I get it. But he's the only one creating anything. Most key passes of anyone on the team, most crosses, low dispossesion numbers, etc.
He's slow and doesn't work hard...well, he covers more ground than anyone in the league, so he's at least ONE of those two things.
He doesn't score from open play...well, he actually scored more goals per match when he WASN'T taking free kicks.
He didn't do well at Spurs...well, he actually produced at a better rate from open play and didn't take free kicks or penalties.
He doesn't create enough...well, statistically he creates more goals/assists than almost anyone else in the league over the past many years.
It's all a bit silly. The guy has been outstanding everywhere he's been and has been pretty good here, we just aren't real good right now.
If you want to say we should've have spent the 45M on him, fine. We already had Rooney, I get it. But he's the only one creating anything. Most key passes of anyone on the team, most crosses, low dispossesion numbers, etc.
sageyefc
Player Valuation: £90m
Lies
And then you actually watch him play and see he struggles to control the football.
Absolutely dire so far
Or run with it or makes 5 yard passes boss number 10 honest.
CRIMHEAD
Player Valuation: £40m
That's a stylistic preference, not a criticism.
CRIMHEAD
Player Valuation: £40m
Says you. Or he chooses not to hold it. Again, stylistic preference, not a fair criticism. Rooney holds it and gives it away more than anyone on our team. Is that better?
Stats, the entire basis of my argument and how it hides how, on a pitch, he his largely anonymous.
What I watched, with my own eyes, was someone who actually hid in more than one game. The Hull one stood out because it was such a massive game that you would expect the hero to carry the team through. All he did was disappear
But I’m glad we paid £45m for someone who runs around a bit
Didn’t he carry his team throughout the season ? He won them more points than anyone.
The thing is though Chris you can't say a player who contributed just on 50% of his sides goals, and who runs more than any other player in the league - hides.
A player who *hides* doesn't make himself available that much, or contribute that much - you keep banging on about his fee, almost obsessive like. It seems any player who comes to Everton for a big fee has his card marked by a section of fans who'll never let it go.
It seems everyone is either amazing or abysmal - there's no middle ground with a lot of football fans.
I personally think he's done alright - he's been put out of position (or as Sam said on Saturday: "For me, Gylfi has been trudging away outside on the left side, so play him in the position he wants to play and see what he can do"), he's been in a side without a decent striker, with no balance and well short of confidence. There's too many players struggling to start pinning the blame on individuals.
All that said, he is a senior player at 28 so you do expect him to stand up and be counted more. He's tried - I can think of 4 moments off the top of my head he certainly didn't hide - some are forgotten because of what followed but 1. hajduk split, we were going out I think until he slotted from the half way line. 2. Southampton, we were being snotted, couldnt get out of our half and then he scores a belter on his tod, 3. Anfield goal, absolutely bust a gut to get there - certainly not hiding! as well as 4. Swansea when he scored another cracker in a big moment.
The key moments there forgot about because of what followed.
Why are so many of our fans so desperate to stick the knife in to their own players? Don't get it me - it's bonkers.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Blame forums myself. Just encourages it.
kenada_blue
Welcome to Barcelonaton FC
From the left. Where apparently he can't play.
Also - "A deeper look at the data revealed that only 25 of the 80 chances he created came from open play. For context, four Everton players eclipsed that number. Defensive midfielders Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye matched it."
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...rdsson-at-everton-whats-behind-his-slow-start
Swansea had the 3rd highest amount of crosses in the league last season on to Lorrente's head. That's what he does.
As for distance covered...well, they were in a relegation scrap all season and he had to chase the ball.
Fundamentally we aren't built for his strengths. Therefore you go one of two ways - bench him and play and attacker or get a target man.
He's not a creator. He can't dictate a game. He can cross a mean ball. Again not his fault. We're just trying to make him do stuff he can't.
You'd think he'd play straight into Big Sam's apparent agricultural football.
tommytowne
Player Valuation: £50m
Oh how I want the guy to flourish at our club.
Compare his demeanour when happy and smiling when with Iceland, to the glum unhappy figure playing in royal blue.
There is a more than decent player there or is it another case of when Everton touches you?
Compare his demeanour when happy and smiling when with Iceland, to the glum unhappy figure playing in royal blue.
There is a more than decent player there or is it another case of when Everton touches you?
Likewise he's going to have less opportunity to create a chance then isn't he when he's spending all game chasing the ball.
To say he's not a creator is bonkers to me, his assists alone...
Agree with how using him isn't helping, hence;
Too many players are well below par.
Arteta in his pomp struggles in this Everton team.
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