You’re normally a very level-headed poster that I respect. Saying Rondon is the worst player to have ever taken the pitch for us is a bit drastic don’t you think? The match going fans clapped him off in the derby. Yeah he’s not been very good but he is a 4th choice striker that got thrown in during an injury crisis when he wasn’t fully fit. There’s worse footballers in this squad than him in terms of effort and desire let alone our entire history.
We have to give young players an opportunity? You’ve just listed all the players we’ve done exactly that with. We took a few seasons without much of a goal threat because we put all our eggs in Calvert Lewis’s basket. It’s paid off now but for a few seasons we suffered for not having a top striker up front.
The Rondon situation is for me just a complete distraction that is being clung to by his detractors. As I’ve said loads of times when everyone is fit DCL Richarlison and Gray all start ahead of Rondon in the central striker role. This job to fix the problems at Everton is a multi year job. The success of the club in the forthcoming years will rely on those issues being fixed not whether or not a manager started Rondon over a few young players for a few games during an injury crisis.
The reaction to this by elements on here has been completely out of proportion. There’s some genuine criticism in my book, the continual selection of Keane and Coleman being a far greater crime, the delay in going to 433 in certain games, starting Gbamin when he obviously wasn’t ready. All of these for me are more questionable short term concerns than the fact he played Rondon over Simms or Dobbin a few times.
Yes you too, hence why I was very surprised by the comments around Rondon.
On him he is one of the worst yes. He strolls around the pitch and doesn't put a shift in. He had a bit of a go in the derby, in a match we lost 4-1 for the first time in 5 or 6 years. That's what we are clinging too with him. I appreciate he was only brought in for a free (though wages will be high) but where has that endeavour been for all the other games? I'm not one for hyperbole either, but honestly he's as bad as Brett Angel. Give me Niasse of Stracalursi (sp) for me over him, as at least they'd give you 100%. I can't have him at all.
If he played like he did in the derby every week, pretty awfully in honesty, but at least putting some effort in, I'd defend him. I'd probably get some stick, but I'd defend him and say he's not a slow, awful player but he's trying. I can't defend him not putting it in though. It probably sounds harsh, but at some point, there surely has to be an honest conversation about lads like him, and Cuco Martina etc who are just brought in on the basis of a manager knowing them?
As for the multi-year job, yes to a degree I agree, but last season we were in the top 4 until the back end of the season and got 59 points with an injury ravaged squad. We finished 10 points behind Liverpool. Would they accept the sort of performance we have shown, and some multi-year rebuild? I think the squad was ok, and needed a calmer head. However even if we accept the premise, what pray tell is the manager doing to rectify us in the long term? And where is the sense, if you take a long term view, of not playing younger players, over 32 year olds who are never going to be good enough?
Like to me the manager can't have both. He either plays the senior lads, and is judged on results now, or he takes a long term view and gives young players a chance and we view it as a process. If he goes for the latter route, I will give him time, but bluntly, if we keep going with your Rondon's and even your Townsends, we are not magically going to get better in 5 years. We will stagnate. All the other clubs in Europe who occupy our position don't do that. In terms of a big picture, they are very clear that young players have to be given exposure, some have to be sold on, to generate funds to re build. I could kind of justify sacrificing this for Ancelotti who got us 30 from 20 in his first season, and 59 in his 1st full season in terms of points. Can I justify this for Benitez getting under 50? Again, I'm not sure.
As for Gbamin and Coleman, I'd agree but would be a bit less critical. I thought Kenny did ok last game, and was better than Coleman who looks finished to me. So until a right back comes in, I hope Kenny keeps his spot. I suspect Coleman is a good trainer and sets standards on the training pitch. Gbamin should never have been put in, in a 2 man midfield. So that was odd. He should go out on loan, and failing that play some under 23's games. We have been unlucky with him.
