2025/26 Vitalii Mykolenko

[Street end man]

My own feelings are Myko is a good solid fullback but a not so good wing back.

 

[peterw]

Well Maatsen is playing ahead of him now. I watched Digne for years here under multiple different managers. A very good fullback and would suit this team better than Mykolenko would but he was absolutely not the fullback that we needed the last few seasons battling to stay in the league. Mykolenko had some massive individual defensive performances for us in that time which kept us in the league. I don’t think Digne was capable of that type of consistent defensive effort. Digne would block the first cross and then not bother with the second. Even Ancelotti moved to 4 CBs at the back because Digne was too porous.

There’s a reason he left PSG Barcelona and Roma to play at Everton and Aston Villa

They usually change depending on who the right-sided player we are coming up against is. Emery has clearly decided that Maatsen would work better as a starter in those games. As for being ahead of him, Digne started against Basel, and in most games, whichever one starts, the other comes on for him. We have Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal coming up and I wouldn't mind betting that depending on who all 3 have on the right, Digne will get the nod in the majority of the games. I reckon definitely away at Arsenal and Chelsea, but likely to be Maatsen at home v Man U.

Yes, that's Villa stuff, but my point being that you don't look at an Emery starting line up and just think its because a is better than b so b must be rubbish.

 

[Zatara]

Now as in the last 3 league games yes, i'm not sure that's conclusive proof that he's lost he's place. It's a bad sad (although not hugely surprising) that people who proclaimed selling Digne was a masterstroke at the time still want to pretend it is now, despite having been shown to have been embarrassingly wrong by the way things have panned out since.

Mykolenko is so far away from Digne's level it's not even funny. He does a bit of jockeying and clears his lines when we play a low block and people talk about him like he's a defensive colossus, it's painful.

Digne isn't average at Villa. And I speak as a Villa fan. He's been great for us for a couple of seasons now, and is a hugely important part of the qualified league success we have in terms of challenging for the European places. There's also a reason why he's gone from being out of the French squad, to being recalled back into it to cover an injury, to being fully called up for the squad, to now being their regular left back. He is far from average at Villa.

They usually change depending on who the right-sided player we are coming up against is. Emery has clearly decided that Maatsen would work better as a starter in those games. As for being ahead of him, Digne started against Basel, and in most games, whichever one starts, the other comes on for him. We have Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal coming up and I wouldn't mind betting that depending on who all 3 have on the right, Digne will get the nod in the majority of the games. I reckon definitely away at Arsenal and Chelsea, but likely to be Maatsen at home v Man U.

Yes, that's Villa stuff, but my point being that you don't look at an Emery starting line up and just think its because a is better than b so b must be rubbish.

In isolation, selling Digne for £25mil wasnt a bad deal. He's turning 33 in July and we had no money but needed a RB.

Patterson at £11mil-£16mil and Mykolenko at £18mil were the right ages and profiles. Theyve not worked out.

When I look at Maatsen, I dont see a £37.5mil player. But with Hall and Livramento going for similar amounts to Newcastle perhaps thats the going rate for young high potential talent.

There is still risk.

Aznou has come in for £9mil (€9mil?) and cant yet get on the pitch.

My point is, if you want to sign quality young players at full back then its a gamble. Just like in every position.

If we'd have sold Digne and signed a replacement for £37.5mil then it may have been a masterstroke. Instead we rolled the dice.

What Everton need to do now is see whether Aznou can be the new Maatsen, Hall or Livramento. If not then they need to spend in line with those fees and get top quality.

 

[peterw]

Maatsen isn't a 37.5m player at all. But he was part of a deal that we sold Kellyman to Chelsea for 19m. Heard of him? No. Bit like the Iroegbunam/Dobbin stuff. It was all for PSR.

 

[Zatara]

Maatsen isn't a 37.5m player at all. But he was part of a deal that we sold Kellyman to Chelsea for 19m. Heard of him? No. Bit like the Iroegbunam/Dobbin stuff. It was all for PSR.

Yes id heard of Kellyman. I thought he was meant to be highly rated by Villa?

Totally forgot about them doing the Maatsen / Kellyman deal though!

Edit: https://www.transfermarkt.com/omari-kellyman/verletzungen/spieler/926135

 

[Lanolin]

In isolation, selling Digne for £25mil wasnt a bad deal. He's turning 33 in July and we had no money but needed a RB.

Thats a very bizarre way of framing it. He’s turning 33 at the end of this season, at which point he’ll have already played 4 1/2 seasons after we sold him. You might aswell say it was a good deal because he’ll be 50 one day.

 

[Blue83]

What did he get booked for ?

 

[janus]

What did he get booked for ?

scuffing the penalty spot.

 

[Blue83]

scuffing the penalty spot.

How silly of him

 

[T LEAFE]

Immature

 

[Rook]

Not sure you're right there. Wasn't Myko meant to be c£25-£20m and Patterson £16m? Both hefty fees for absolutely untried youngsters - for those fees we should have got an awful lot better. Whereas both are technically very limkted and clearly doubts generally about attitude.

young players are expensive because clubs are allowed to loan out infinite number of players. If clubs are only out allowed to loan out 2-3 they wouldn't have been this expensive.

 

[GoldenToffee]

Another one having an awful season. I bet Grealish hates him.

 

[Eggs]

Another one having an awful season. I bet Grealish hates him.

….i have to admit, that post made me laugh.

 

[SuperKev91]

Just an incredibly limited footballer with the ball at his feet.

 

[Drico]

Just an incredibly limited footballer with the ball at his feet.

Perfect for us.

Mediocrity writ large. "He'll do".