2025/26 Vitalii Mykolenko

[mahermi1]

He could always have tried jumping and heading the ball away.

What a novel idea, a defence full of giants actually jumping to head clear, the amount of goals we concede through, crosses corners is unbelievable for a team of our size. Maybe we should employ proper fullbacks to stop thd crosses coming in.
First goal, Myko let the attacker just run off him and left him loads of space and time to bury an easy header past the static Pickford. Second goal, Pickford just went walkabout, decided to go for a cross he had no chance of getting, left an open goal and another easy header into an unguarded goal. Bournemouth were very poor,we were all saying it. We missed a couple of easy chances, they defended superbly when needed and took 2 of there 3 chances. We play mechanical football, it's painful to watch at times, the gaps in midfield are there for all to see and play through. We were chasing the game and let's be honest Mykolenko was having an absolute stinker of a game, offered nothing, why didn't Moyes bring on Aznou ? We were heading for defeat anyway, throw the dice, Aznou has pace and a willingness to go forward. Jake didn't have his best game, why not play Patterson, you know a fullback. Of course I will be told Moyes does not trust them by the usual suspects well I for one am fast losing trust with Moyes, he just seems totally inflexible and it's costing us points at home anyway. If only we could keep Moyes for away games and have a more progressive, attacking Coach at home.

 

[Walken]

Myko is always the scapegoat when we get beat. He is lacking severely when we go forward but over the length of his contract he’s improved massively.

He’s not the main issue here. It’s our strikers, they are absolutely shocking and O’Brien at RB is far worse than Myko

JOB is a potentially very good CB playing out of position and still isn't as poor as Myko.

He is not scapegoated he is reasonably acknowledged as a poor performer and poor footballer and is one of the top 3 problems in our side

 

[Walken]

What a novel idea, a defence full of giants actually jumping to head clear, the amount of goals we concede through, crosses corners is unbelievable for a team of our size. Maybe we should employ proper fullbacks to stop thd crosses coming in.
First goal, Myko let the attacker just run off him and left him loads of space and time to bury an easy header past the static Pickford. Second goal, Pickford just went walkabout, decided to go for a cross he had no chance of getting, left an open goal and another easy header into an unguarded goal. Bournemouth were very poor,we were all saying it. We missed a couple of easy chances, they defended superbly when needed and took 2 of there 3 chances. We play mechanical football, it's painful to watch at times, the gaps in midfield are there for all to see and play through. We were chasing the game and let's be honest Mykolenko was having an absolute stinker of a game, offered nothing, why didn't Moyes bring on Aznou ? We were heading for defeat anyway, throw the dice, Aznou has pace and a willingness to go forward. Jake didn't have his best game, why not play Patterson, you know a fullback. Of course I will be told Moyes does not trust them by the usual suspects well I for one am fast losing trust with Moyes, he just seems totally inflexible and it's costing us points at home anyway. If only we could keep Moyes for away games and have a more progressive, attacking Coach at home.

Its not like we don't have good players available at CM, but you are spot on and several times they had space inbetween midfield and defence, the balance has not been right since Gana returned

 

[mahermi1]

Its not like we don't have good players available at CM, but you are spot on and several times they had space inbetween midfield and defence, the balance has not been right since Gana returned

Honestly don't even think Gana has a bad game, but something is missing, the balance isn't right and the gaps in-between midfield and defence are enormous. A better team than Bournemouth would have tore us apart last night, yet much the same team has done brilliantly away from home. I would like to see us play players in their right positions, maybe give Rohl a go as the legs in midfield, play progressive fullbacks, Jake and Mykolenko are not working, I feel sorry for our wingers, they are isolated. Next season, buy a striker, 2 fullbacks and keep Grealish and let's see what happens. Honestly it's becoming a drag not just coming and going the match, playing in the dark and watching this mechanical football.

 

[Walken]

Honestly don't even think Gana has a bad game, but something is missing, the balance isn't right and the gaps in-between midfield and defence are enormous. A better team than Bournemouth would have tore us apart last night, yet much the same team has done brilliantly away from home. I would like to see us play players in their right positions, maybe give Rohl a go as the legs in midfield, play progressive fullbacks, Jake and Mykolenko are not working, I feel sorry for our wingers, they are isolated. Next season, buy a striker, 2 fullbacks and keep Grealish and let's see what happens. Honestly it's becoming a drag not just coming and going the match, playing in the dark and watching this mechanical football.

I thought he did alright, good recoveries and showed for the ball. My issue with him has always been the same in that he's like a kitten chasing a ball of wool. The dovetailing we saw from the CMs seems lost since he returned and it feels like a balance issue and Garner is now putting out fires instead of getting the team playing.

 

[little elfin]

The funniest thing is Moyes plays him as an attacking fullback but ignore Aznou...

 

[Bob Elstone]

He’s so bad. How has he survived here so long?

They must sit down as a team in front of the game and watch it back. Time after time seeing the Ukrainian messing it up. Moyes must be Stevie wonder to not see what the rest of us are seeing.

 

[marsh]

Another one who can't kick a football properly

 

[ToffeeScot]

It's really weird having Baines and Coleman as part of the coaching set up who were known for their attacking prowess whether it was flying up the right like Coleman or having pinpoint accuracy like Baines when we have such a dearth of good quality fullbacks. I can see him doing better in Italy due to the way they play and him having better value in a 3/5 defensive system but we will probably make a loss and it feels like too easy of a decision for the board to replace him.

 

[Adscum]

I've reached a bit of a tipping point with Mykolenko this week. Up until now I've only been angry at his performances and continued selection while actually watching him play. Today I've found myself annoyed by it while going about my daily business and trying to focus on other things.

 

[aj79]

I thought he did alright, good recoveries and showed for the ball. My issue with him has always been the same in that he's like a kitten chasing a ball of wool. The dovetailing we saw from the CMs seems lost since he returned and it feels like a balance issue and Garner is now putting out fires instead of getting the team playing.

This is absolutely spot on regarding Gueye. I thought this way back when we had Schneiderlin and it was part of the reason he started ok for us as it was pre-Idrissa joining. Your analogy of him charging round is really good and it left Schneiderlin not quite sure what to do. You either both need to charge and chase, in what I believe nowadays is referred to as a "high press", or you both need to make sure you hold your ground and shape and sit off a little in a block. If one does one, and the other does the other, its absolutely fatal. I must emphasise none of this should be construed as a defence of Schneiderlin who contributed plenty of his own problems, just an observation that despite his many qualities, Gueye can sometimes cause problems with his non stop desire to charge down the ball.

Anyway, this is the Myko thread. I have been saying for at least two years that replacing him should have been an absolute priority. Getting a few better players in this season has just emphasised it further. You can see them in game not really wanting to use him going forward, if in a bind they will use him as a wall for a give and go as a last resort. And he is nowhere near as good a defender as some people like to imagine. People are very easily satisfied with the odd tackle or clearance. Throw in the fact that you wouldn't question his attitude or commitment and this little myth has developed whereby he always has Salah in his pocket for example. Despite Salah's repeated goals and assists against us!

 

[mahermi1]

I thought he did alright, good recoveries and showed for the ball. My issue with him has always been the same in that he's like a kitten chasing a ball of wool. The dovetailing we saw from the CMs seems lost since he returned and it feels like a balance issue and Garner is now putting out fires instead of getting the team playing.

I watched last night and though I feel he can be counted on being basically a good solid defender, last night I thought he was all over the place. In my view definitely at fault for that first goal, the attacker pulled off him far too easily. I thought he gave away a pen with a careless challenge, looked to me anyway that we were lucky to get away with ghat one. He offered nothing up front and very rarely has we need better.

 

[Toffeelover]

Get rid.

 

[Blue Roo]

He has been close to outstanding defensively in recent games. And he keeps getting better (as long as he keeps his pace up) Some of his stuff is as classy and gritty as you wanna defender to be.

The issue with Myko imo is hes a LCB in a three CB - ideally. One step to the left and hes not good enough in attack. One step to the right and hes a little undersize and behind a queue of top CBs. Myko - JB - JOB on the other hand...

The days of Baresi and Puyol CB types have all but gone. Is Myko a contemporary waiting for the right set up. Not saying hes near those two but hes closer to them than closer to what some think of him on here.

 

[Lanolin]

He has been close to outstanding defensively in recent games. And he keeps getting better (as long as he keeps his pace up) Some of his stuff is as classy and gritty as you wanna defender to be.

The issue with Myko imo is hes a LCB in a three CB - ideally. One step to the left and hes not good enough in attack. One step to the right and hes a little undersize and behind a queue of top CBs. Myko - JB - JOB on the other hand...

The days of Baresi and Puyol CB types have all but gone. Is Myko a contemporary waiting for the right set up. Not saying hes near those two but hes closer to them than closer to what some think of him on here.

Personally I think he'd be absolutely terrible as a centre half in the PL. He's weak and hates engaging. The whole thing about him being a good defender comes from him being relatively good one on one, his defensive awareness, aerial ability, willingness to defend on the front foot etc are all decidedly shaky, but he's dogged and can make it difficult for wingers to dribble past him when he's effectively man marking them.