What is the problem with this team?

[dholliday]

This season, as a fan base, let’s unite behind the men in charge (Silva and Brands) then hold those on the pitch accountable when they’re not putting a shift in. It just might see a shift in mentality.

We've done that already, the constant booing of players seemed counter-productive.

 

[BernieH]

I also think paying the sort of fees and wages that should be for top top level players has had a negative effect, it's crippling us or it will eventually

 

[brigadier]

Not signed a defender that's come in and improved us since lescott. The defence had been over looked for over 10 years.

 

[meagher94]

What isn’t the problem with this team?

 

[Joey66]

Too many duff signings and no replacements for Lukaku, and Ross Barkley.......

 

[Agent Blue]

We were better when we used to take knives to a gunfight........now we don't even take a water pistol.

 

[blue61]

It hasn't helped that, due to a lack of ambition, in the last 2 years, we've sold the spine of Lukaku, Stones and Barkley, who all had flaws but were head and shoulders above the frauds we have now. If we'd invested in quality over quantity in that time, we'd be in a far healthier state. Cheers Koeman and Walsh you pair of cretins.

 

[Saint Domingo]

More of Pickford Coleman Holgate Walcott Richarlison Tosun on the pitch.

Less of Williams Keane Jagielka Schneiderlin Gueye Siggurdson Sandro

 

[Deleted member 43796]

1) We seem to be clearly watching a team bereft of confidence and belief, don't think anybody can recall the last time we played really well.
2) When building up play, we're now incapable of bringing the ball from deep. Stones used to often drive 20/30 yards before releasing the ball further up the pitch. Barkley could equally take the ball from deep and drive, putting teams onto the back foot and drawing men towards him, opening up options for other offensive players.
3) Back in 2013/14, alongside his incredible gift for shielding the back four, Barry was also deceptively capable of threading balls past the first press to get the play started, a quality so evidently lacking in Gueye, Schneiderlin and Davies.
(Perhaps Besic alongside a tall, aggressive '8' who can also pick a pass would be more well-suited to this?)

 

[dholliday]

in the last 2 years, we've sold the spine of Lukaku, Stones and Barkley.

While I wouldn't exclusively blame Ron/Walsh for losing these, we do terribly miss them. They were our little bit of world-class-potential which gave our team that edge.

2) When building up play, we're now incapable of bringing the ball from deep. Stones used to often drive 20/30 yards before releasing the ball further up the pitch. Barkley could equally take the ball from deep and drive, putting teams onto the back foot and drawing men towards him, opening up options for other offensive players.
3) Back in 2013/14, alongside his incredible gift for shielding the back four, Barry was also deceptively capable of threading balls past the first press to get the play started, a quality so evidently lacking in Gueye, Schneiderlin and Davies.
(Perhaps Besic alongside a tall, aggressive '8' who can also pick a pass would be more well-suited to this?)

Very well observed that. Agree with all, except Besic has been around long enough and hasn't proven much in all that time, tho' was also injured. If Silva can coach him well who knows?

 

[Winston8977]

When we attack and pushed up to halfway line, I'm more worried about when we lose the ball, it only takes one ball over the top to create a chance.

3 at the back would be more secure. When you're playing wing backs as far forward as Coleman and Baines then you need to be 3 at the back; Did Silva always use this wing back system with only 2 CBs?

 

[zzr45]

The constant harping over Barkley like he was a white Pele is half our problem. As supporters we have no clue about what sort of players we want.

 

[Lapeno77]

3 at the back would be more secure. When you're playing wing backs as far forward as Coleman and Baines then you need to be 3 at the back; Did Silva always use this wing back system with only 2 CBs?

A competent DM drops into the back line when the full backs push up making the 3. Unfortunately we have Schneiderlin.

 

[Deleted member 43796]

Very well observed that. Agree with all, except Besic has been around long enough and hasn't proven much in all that time, tho' was also injured. If Silva can coach him well who knows?

The eternal optimist within just thinks/hopes that he'd do well if given an extended run of games, something that he hasn't yet had in a blue shirt despite his four year tenure at Everton. May just be clutching at straws though, who knows..

I know he doesn't fit the transfer model we have now adopted, but (29 y/o) Nzonzi seems to fit the bill through the middle, being capable of putting his foot in if needed, remarkably agile and quick for such a tall player, as well as possessing a fantastic touch and range of passing. He and Sigurdsson as an axis ahead of Gueye (needed solely to shield the defence) would possess a better balance than we currently have, in my opinion anyway.

 

[Winston8977]

A competent DM drops into the back line when the full backs push up making the 3. Unfortunately we have Schneiderlin.

I expect he wants to leave as much as most fans seem to want him to. Probably had enough of Everton, don't know why he hasn't been allowed to leave. Probably because we can't get anyone else I suppose.