2025/26 Vitalii Mykolenko

[DualityNSNO]

One thing about the comments confuse me - he is a left back ie principally a defender, yet people focusing on his "assists" or his attacking abilities. He may not be the best full back in the world, but he is far from the worst particularly at defending. It would be great if we had a player that was more versatile than he is, maybe Aznou will develop into that player, but currently we need to accept Mykolenko is the managers choice and concentrate on what he is quite decent at.

People are focusing on it because the no-nonsense defence-only full back isn't a thing in football for the last 30 years. If you're that way you need to AT LEAST be able to cross, and Myko can do nothing well going forward, or at least not consistently well.

It's annoying we've kept another Hibbert for another 3 years, and there's no doubt Moyes loves him and thinks of him as a starter. He's only viable in those 3 years if we get someone who actively and primarily attacks on the right, but we've got a CB there who'll no doubt keep being there for the foreseeable.

 

[Lanolin]

….the whole team can’t be replaced in an instant and even when we bring in others we still need a squad.

You mention Tarkowski and Keane; Keane only plays because of Branthwaite’s fragility and the transition to two younger CBs is already in place. The problem isn’t Keane, it’s Branthwaite. Keane justified his contract extension, he did fine as back-up.

Tarkowski won’t be around much longer but I’m sure I heard on commentary that him and Keane were the 6th best pairing in the league last season. Not too bad in short-term.

Things will change, things are changing but not in an instant

Jesus you're like Comical Ali but without any of the humour.

 

[MACCA75]

One thing about the comments confuse me - he is a left back ie principally a defender, yet people focusing on his "assists" or his attacking abilities. He may not be the best full back in the world, but he is far from the worst particularly at defending. It would be great if we had a player that was more versatile than he is, maybe Aznou will develop into that player, but currently we need to accept Mykolenko is the managers choice and concentrate on what he is quite decent at.

What a bizarre post. Keane is quite good at playing a 40 yard diagonal pass. Maybe we should all just concentrate on that and not worry about the massive gaping holes in his game too.

Maybe Barry makes a nice sandwich or something, we should all just focus on that.

 

[Eggs]

Don’t know how you get to your age and still be so naive.

‘The whole team can’t be replaced in an instant’ - we had 3 full windows and still had 9 of Dyche’s players starting every week.

….i am old, I’ll give you that

 

[Seathestars]

Personally I think it’s a sensible decision.
There are other areas that need strengthening first.
I’m not saying he’s the best left back ever but we can’t buy 11 players at once.

Right back, centre half and striker would be my areas to look at, and centre midfield if we have the budget.

 

[davids]

What a bizarre post. Keane is quite good at playing a 40 yard diagonal pass. Maybe we should all just concentrate on that and not worry about the massive gaping holes in his game too.

Maybe Barry makes a nice sandwich or something, we should all just focus on that.

Other than the comedy defending along side Tarkowski to allow City back into the game Keane (despite my fears to the contrary) had a solid season. Those massive gaping holes in his game didn't materialise.

 

[Papa Shango]

He has played pretty much every game for 4 years now, of course we were not going to just let him go on a free you absolute clowns.

Seriously some of you are proper thickos.

Maybe Barry makes a nice sandwich or something, we should all just focus on that.

I bet he doesn't

Probably uses Margarine.

 

[Little Ralphy]

I can see why they'd extend his contract given he plays so much. Ideally we'll bring in a better left back and he'll move to cover.

But 3 years? It's not like he'd have been flooded with offers. 3 Years just screams that we're happy with mediocrity. Signing for Everton really is a job for life.

 

[Adscum]

One of the more depressing contract extensions I can remember. He's awful and it's typical of our obsession with mediocrity. Nothing against the lad personally but its been obvious pretty much since he made his debut he's absolutely miles off it.

 

[Lanolin]

He has played pretty much every game for 4 years now, of course we were not going to just let him go on a free you absolute clowns.

Seriously some of you are proper thickos.

I bet he doesn't

Probably uses Margarine.

I advocated giving him a new contract because you can't be letting regular first teamers go on a free transfer but a) we should really have resolved the issue earlier so that it didn't get to this point and b) 3 years and the way the club has pushed it - 'committed his future' etc - doesn't seem like them just protecting an asset, it seems like them parading it as a good thing in it's own right, which is a bit disheartening.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Was Grealish consulted on whether he can continue playing with him. No wonder Jack always attempts to draw in a foul, a free kick is the only hope of going forwards on the left...you would think.

Why would we consult a player we don't own on whether we renew the contract of a player we do.

 

[orchard]

People are focusing on it because the no-nonsense defence-only full back isn't a thing in football for the last 30 years. If you're that way you need to AT LEAST be able to cross, and Myko can do nothing well going forward, or at least not consistently well.

It's annoying we've kept another Hibbert for another 3 years, and there's no doubt Moyes loves him and thinks of him as a starter. He's only viable in those 3 years if we get someone who actively and primarily attacks on the right, but we've got a CB there who'll no doubt keep being there for the foreseeable.

It's even worse when the original reason that JO'B is right=back is so he can move over and help provide CD cover for a marauding left back.

 

[DualityNSNO]

It's even worse when the original reason that JO'B is right=back is so he can move over and help provide CD cover for a marauding left back.

Myko holds back to support the right back who holds back to support the CB.

And yet, we conceded simple goals quite a lot.

 

[DualityNSNO]

Was Grealish consulted on whether he can continue playing with him. No wonder Jack always attempts to draw in a foul, a free kick is the only hope of going forwards on the left...you would think.

Yeah.

He did the same thing for City too, but we can ignore that.

 

[orchard]

Myko holds back to support the right back who holds back to support the CB.

And yet, we conceded simple goals quite a lot.

The Moyes Mess. Bit like the Eton version, but rather than sitting on the hamper it's been kicked from pillar to post.