2025/26 Harrison Armstrong

[Joey66]

I know its painful mate, but just try and look forward to next season.

KDH - Garner - Armstrong

Thats a sweet midfield we've got


You could always take Moyes off your Christmas card list..

DM - has done a sterling job - No Manager is beyond criticism -The new owners will decide when his time maybe up not this forum ....

I always send certain GOT Christmas cards - not our managers - I still maintain its a hard road ahead with our key players missing & my stance on letting HA go out on loan OK....

 

[Swartzy]

DM - has done a sterling job - No Manager is beyond criticism -The new owners will decide when his time maybe up not this forum ....

I always send certain GOT Christmas cards - not our managers - I still maintain its a hard road ahead with our key players missing & my stance on letting HA go out on loan OK....

Joey, that wasn't a nasty post.
It was just explaining what you can look forward to.

If Armstrong had stayed, and not been given playing time, which given how Moyes as approached games this season is the likely scenario, you would be a hell of a lot more pee'd off with him.

Every game, bar 1 last week (due to the conflicted time with us playing) you could have watched him play.

Whether you like the way Preston play or not, Armstrong is getting gametime that he wouldn’t be getting here.

You can even watch him saturday as they kick off at 12:30.

I'm not picking on you, i'm trying to help you see sense in the loan decision.

He is a naturally good footballer, learning the hard grafts from a team like Preston, will make him a better allround player.

 

[Joey66]

Joey, that wasn't a nasty post.
It was just explaining what you can look forward to.

If Armstrong had stayed, and not been given playing time, which given how Moyes as approached games this season is the likely scenario, you would be a hell of a lot more pee'd off with him.

Every game, bar 1 last week (due to the conflicted time with us playing) you could have watched him play.

Whether you like the way Preston play or not, Armstrong is getting gametime that he wouldn’t be getting here.

You can even watch him saturday as they kick off at 12:30.

I'm not picking on you, i'm trying to help you see sense in the loan decision.

He is a naturally good footballer, learning the hard grafts from a team like Preston, will make him a better allround player.

It's DMs youth policy in general Dibling etc Plus his outlay on Barry who is getting game time & not looking great imo ....

 

[Swartzy]

It's DMs youth policy in general Dibling etc Plus his outlay on Barry who is getting game time & not looking great imo ....

I can't win mate, I'm giving myself a headache..

 

[Curtis]

I can't win mate, I'm giving myself a headache..

Having a debate with Joey about HA is like thermonuclear warfare, no one wins it's just best not play

 

[Osamabindiesel]

I’m at a loss with this post.

Word

 

[hetion]

Continuing with looking at Armstrong's data in the Championship as he gets more minutes...I think it's really useful for young players because often you can get kids who have lovely technique and 'look' like good players, but flatter to decieve a bit and struggle to actually make an impact on the game around them. Data can help tell you what effect they're actually having on the game. The below is all compared to other Championship midfielders.

• He's a beast in the air - he's 2nd in the whole league for percentage of aerial duels he wins, and that's not just because he's only going for easy ones - he's 13th for total aerial wins too, so the volume is right up there as well. This bodes really really well for being able to get stuck in physically.
• Absolutely loves a slidey. 3rd in the league for slide tackles, and still 3rd when you adjust for how much possession teams have. Not the most important data point usually but feels very Everton.
• There are no midfielders in the league who beat him in all three of: possessions won per 90, progressive carries per 100 touches, AND progressive passes per 100 touches. None! At EIGHTEEN! That is an absolutely stupidly well-rounded midfielder at that age.

Again, the jump from the Champ to the Prem is biiig, and even in best-case scenario - that all this translates to the Everton senior team - it'll probably take a couple years to get to a similar level for us. But the stuff he's doing at his age at a good level in the middle of the park is fantastic.

Edit: to balance it out a bit, when you look at the stuff he ranks worst for, it's basically everything to do with chance creation and shooting. Key passes, shots, xG, xA, you name it, he's down there. He's really not affecting things around the box much right now basically.

 

[davep]

Yes plenty of time for DM to sign a 34 year old midfielder .....just to make us even more slower going forwards .... we need a striker too ....

HA will not be called back as DM has stated he would like to see Preston in the play offs - nice to have a Manager with his priorities incorrect -

i discussed this with my older brother tonight - he was keen to go & see the new stadia - he has now stated while DM is there he is not bothering until he goes ...

TBF to my brother who has been going to the game for 70 years off & on home & away - he never liked DM the first time around ......

I see Joey got the brains in the family.

Your older brother can continue to spite himself all he wants but me and my dad did an eight hour round trip to watch the Fulham game and not only was the stadium breathtaking but we played slick attacking football for most of the game too


We have had one window under Moyes and signed Dibling, Aznou, Barry, KDH, Grealish, Rohl but yes I’m sure Moyes will sign a 34 year old

I would like to think if we have a budget it will be spent on a striker and/or full backs but I don’t see why we’d ruin Armstrong’s progress playing every week at a good standard if we have KDH, Garner, Tim, Rohl and Alcaraz available and Gana will be back in a week or two so why are you even bringing up signing a 34 year old?

 

[Swartzy]

Continuing with looking at Armstrong's data in the Championship as he gets more minutes...I think it's really useful for young players because often you can get kids who have lovely technique and 'look' like good players, but flatter to decieve a bit and struggle to actually make an impact on the game around them. Data can help tell you what effect they're actually having on the game. The below is all compared to other Championship midfielders.

• He's a beast in the air - he's 2nd in the whole league for percentage of aerial duels he wins, and that's not just because he's only going for easy ones - he's 13th for total aerial wins too, so the volume is right up there as well. This bodes really really well for being able to get stuck in physically.
• Absolutely loves a slidey. 3rd in the league for slide tackles, and still 3rd when you adjust for how much possession teams have. Not the most important data point usually but feels very Everton.
• There are no midfielders in the league who beat him in all three of: possessions won per 90, progressive carries per 100 touches, AND progressive passes per 100 touches. None! At EIGHTEEN! That is an absolutely stupidly well-rounded midfielder at that age.

Again, the jump from the Champ to the Prem is biiig, and even in best-case scenario - that all this translates to the Everton senior team - it'll probably take a couple years to get to a similar level for us. But the stuff he's doing at his age at a good level in the middle of the park is fantastic.

Edit: to balance it out a bit, when you look at the stuff he ranks worst for, it's basically everything to do with chance creation and shooting. Key passes, shots, xG, xA, you name it, he's down there. He's really not affecting things around the box much right now basically.

Look at Preston approach tho, direct to wings, the bottom part of your post will be hindered massively on that game approach.

 

[Swartzy]

Continuing with looking at Armstrong's data in the Championship as he gets more minutes...I think it's really useful for young players because often you can get kids who have lovely technique and 'look' like good players, but flatter to decieve a bit and struggle to actually make an impact on the game around them. Data can help tell you what effect they're actually having on the game. The below is all compared to other Championship midfielders.

• He's a beast in the air - he's 2nd in the whole league for percentage of aerial duels he wins, and that's not just because he's only going for easy ones - he's 13th for total aerial wins too, so the volume is right up there as well. This bodes really really well for being able to get stuck in physically.
• Absolutely loves a slidey. 3rd in the league for slide tackles, and still 3rd when you adjust for how much possession teams have. Not the most important data point usually but feels very Everton.
• There are no midfielders in the league who beat him in all three of: possessions won per 90, progressive carries per 100 touches, AND progressive passes per 100 touches. None! At EIGHTEEN! That is an absolutely stupidly well-rounded midfielder at that age.

Again, the jump from the Champ to the Prem is biiig, and even in best-case scenario - that all this translates to the Everton senior team - it'll probably take a couple years to get to a similar level for us. But the stuff he's doing at his age at a good level in the middle of the park is fantastic.

Edit: to balance it out a bit, when you look at the stuff he ranks worst for, it's basically everything to do with chance creation and shooting. Key passes, shots, xG, xA, you name it, he's down there. He's really not affecting things around the box much right now basically.

Can you do one on that Hackney lad at Middlesbrough..

 

[evertondotcom]

He’s going to have to be recalled. Its not ideal but we’re very light in midfield

 

[hetion]

Look at Preston approach tho, direct to wings, the bottom part of your post will be hindered massively on that game approach.

Absolutely but it's also a bit balanced out by him being one of two 8s ahead of a 6 - he'll spend more time around the box than a lot of CMs in double pivots. For example he's actually a touch above average for touches in the box per 90, but way down for creating and getting shots. None of this is to say he won't be able to do it, he's just not doing it currently

Can you do one on that Hackney lad at Middlesbrough..

Nothing jumps out that isn't well-known really. Completely outrageous at everything to do with moving the ball up the pitch and towards the opponents goal, everything goes through him, but very low when it comes to anything to do with defense and winning possession. Probably the reason prem clubs have been hesitant about signing him - might point to some difficulties with the physicality and athleticism of the prem.

I love his *style* of player and if he steps up without losing what makes him good, he'd be wonderful, but I can understand people being concerned that he might not work.

 

[Joey66]

Joey the last couple matches I watched Preston play, Armstrong was in an advanced midfield position and definitely not as defensive midfielder. Armstrong is usually involved in attacks on the opposition box and I wouldn't characterize their style as long ball either. He's incredibly versatile and gifted player I believe this loan has been quite beneficial for his development.

Headed two off the line ?

 

[Joey66]

Joey, that wasn't a nasty post.
It was just explaining what you can look forward to.

If Armstrong had stayed, and not been given playing time, which given how Moyes as approached games this season is the likely scenario, you would be a hell of a lot more pee'd off with him.

Every game, bar 1 last week (due to the conflicted time with us playing) you could have watched him play.

Whether you like the way Preston play or not, Armstrong is getting gametime that he wouldn’t be getting here.

You can even watch him saturday as they kick off at 12:30.

I'm not picking on you, i'm trying to help you see sense in the loan decision.

He is a naturally good footballer, learning the hard grafts from a team like Preston, will make him a better allround player.

He needs to be in our squad then as we don't have those type of players - young too - we are the oldest team in the Prem the team behind us .....West Ham .... coincidence no just DM ......

 

[caliblue]

Look at Preston approach tho, direct to wings, the bottom part of your post will be hindered massively on that game approach.

Shouldn't be concerned about this at all in my opinion.

What Harrison gets a lot of are minutes. Being exposed to things that can't be learned in training. Football is more about decision making than skill. How to approach matches. Learn that game state dictate what you should do in most situation. Learn that the thing you are expected to in the tenth minute can't be done in the 80th minute. Learn how to play with niggles. Learn to adjust your aggression after picking up a booking. Learn how to to turn things around when both you and the team struggle.

We all know that Harrison at his best is good enough to do a job for Everton. But sometimes the floor is more important than the ceiling. Moyes will always pick a player that delivers 6s and 7s over a player that give you and 8 out of 10 performance one week and follow it up with a 4. Consistency is important. And experience is key for consistency.

And when consistency is a concern, it gets really hard to get minutes as a sub. Makes me think of Demerai Gray. He could always make things happen, but was far to inconsistent to be a sub. More likely to make the team worse than doing any good.

I've seen a few Preston matches and have been as impressed as anyone, but he also has had matches were he was just fine. Just fine in Championship is nowhere near good enough for Premier League. By recalling him he'll never be more than one bad performance away from not getting more minutes this season.

Harrison is a fantastic talent. At a good place. He gets lots of minutes for a good team in a good league. Learning his trade. Improving all the time. Not sure why anyone that supports Everton would like to change that.

The key here is that he is 18. He is a baby. He is great for an 18 year old. No one would ask him to be recalled from a loan to get into the first team if he was 22. His performances hasn't been that good.