Lack of a striker isn’t our problem.

[tim cahill]

Apparently...

The problem at Everton isn’t the lack of a big name striker - Royal Blue Mersey
https://apple.news/AvBzsnCopTxm1c6DSmxkZ0A
https://apple.news/AvBzsnCopTxm1c6DSmxkZ0A

I’m not sure I agree with this completely but it’s still an interesting read.

DCL and Niasse are currently out performing Real Madrid’s attack according to this.

 

[NCLBlue]

Not sure it’s entirely the goal scoring it’s the lack of threat...

When we had Rom teams were worried of him getting the ball and knew they had to find ways to stop him which could lead to space or teams making a mistake etc

No one seems to fear playing us

 

[evertonarntwe]

Some [Poor language removed] doesn' half get put on the internet

 

[Norwegian Cow]

it is a big part of the problem. as well as the defence. I dont even know why i wrote this.. every evertonian knows this.

 

[Tubey]

The article doesn't account for Rooney. DCL has played wide most of the time. Expected goals is also complete nonsense as a premise to explain team balance.

We miss the striker in terms of having balance in our general play. We've faced the most shots on goal this season than any other team because we can't make it stick in advanced areas and/or we don't have the pace that would make teams drop ten yards deeper.

We need a certain type of striker clearly. When an articles premise is that we're outperforming Real Madrid yet in a relegation battle, common sense tells you it's flawed. Goals aren't the problem; the balance of the team is. A good striker means offering more to the team as a whole. We lack that.

 

[bignev23]

Rooney and Niasse (8) combined have more Prem goals than Lukaku (7) at this point, Just saying like.

 

[Loadsofchemistry]

I’d say it’s still a big problem but sadly No longer our biggest. On Sunday even after a 90th minute goal you still knew we’d give them at least one big chance to equalise. That’s because anytime anyone goes near our back line their likely to end up mwith a golden opportunity.You might just get away without having much up front by nicking a goal every now and again but if that backline isn’t sorted out soon we are looking at a relegation fight no matter how good you think our squad is on paper. Williams and Baines shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team. Keane hasn’t settled in and kenny isn’t ready yet.

 

[Goat]

We lack a focal point, somebody to play off, the modern number 9 who leads the line, knocks it down, holds it up and brings others into play, for all their qualities Rooney, DCL, Niasse, Sandro, none of them can play as a number 9 effectively in the Premier League, Rooney used to be able to and when DCL gains experience he will be able to, Niasse and Sandro IMO are much better playing with a number 9.

Of course thats not our only problem, but somebody for Iceland to hit from out wide, an out ball from our CBs, the long hopeful punt through the middle, basic stuff that we cant do as a team, it drives the whole team unit back 20 yards and constantly puts us on the backfoot.

 

[jceverton]

I agree - my first priority would be at centre half not striker.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

We've conceded on average 2 goals per game in the league, so yeah, I'd say attack isn't our main problem this year.

 

[Tubey]

We lack a focal point, somebody to play off, the modern number 9 who leads the line, knocks it down, holds it up and brings others into play, for all their qualities Rooney, DCL, Niasse, Sandro, none of them can play as a number 9 effectively in the Premier League, Rooney used to be able to and when DCL gains experience he will be able to, Niasse and Sandro IMO are much better playing with a number 9.

Of course thats not our only problem, but somebody for Iceland to hit from out wide, an out ball from our CBs, the long hopefully punt through the middle, basic stuff that we cant do as a team, it drives the whole team unit back 20 yards and constantly puts us on the backfoot.

Exactly this.

As an extreme example, imagine you had an 'expected goals' of 5 per game, but took a billion shots on target as a result. This article would explain that as not being a problem with having a striker or general attack, because the attacking is so irresistible that we should be scoring five a game - completely ignoring the fact that having no balance in transition and never holding the ball up means we concede ten a game.

 

[Goat]

I agree - my first priority would be at centre half not striker.

Both positions that Koeman spent the last 6 weeks of the transfer window begging the Board to sign.

 

[upthetoffees]

Definitely need a proper CB and arguably a LB before we go in for a Striker (financially just makes more sense since we have some depth at striker)

But let there be no mistake, we need all three.

 

[Loadsofchemistry]

Both positions that Koeman spent the last 6 weeks of the transfer window begging the Board to sign.

A Left back needs to be high up on priorities aswell.

 

[Tubey]

We've conceded on average 2 goals per game in the league, so yeah, I'd say attack isn't our main problem this year.

The attack contributes to defence and vice versa - it's amazing how often people don't understand this. If the ball keeps coming back because our attack can't hold it up, our full-backs push on and are caught out of position when the ball turns over. Or if the attack doesn't move off the ball properly, so the defence can't hit them and get up in support and instead drop deep out of fear, inviting pressure and conceding goals.

It doesn't matter if our attack score five a game if they are part of a system with so little balance that we concede ten a game. The "attackers attack and defenders defend" mentality is far too simplistic.