02 Dec 2016 22:37:54
Everyone is saying we should play this player and that player. The problem we have at the moment is that we have players that are too similar.
No matter what we can only play with 1 up front and that means we have no suprises up our sleeve. We need two strikers in January to be able to change formation and when needed give us more firepower upfront.
All we can do at the moment is rotate similar players in the same positions. That's why it's going to take probably a couple of windows to get us going. However, if we can grab a striker or two it could at least give us something different for the rest of the season and make us a little unpredictable.
02 Dec 2016 23:31:23
Agreed BlueJohnUns. I'm not critising RK when I say this, I'm just curious. What happened to Del boy?
If we can cast our mind back to preseason when Lukaku was unavailable Del boy was up front. All the talk was that he could be used as a striker or in a supporting role to Lukaku.
He hasn't got much of a chance so far. He does offer something different. I'm just curious as to why he wasn't tried out. I had high hopes for Del boy. His skill is unreal at times and he can change games. He puts in crosses and runs at defenders as good if not better than anyone.
I'm aware he has his faults but if he's not played these can't be worked on. I'm expecting him to get his fair chances in the next few games.
If he doesn't I can't see the point in keeping him.
02 Dec 2016 23:55:16
GD has the talent but I question his application and desire, just because he started his professional career at Barcelona shouldn't make him think he has made it. Sometimes I think he believes he is better than his team mates, the hand on the hips or petulantly raising his hands when a pass doesn't go to his feet. If he sorts his attitude out then he will be one hell of a player, fortunately he has the time to do that. But I agree, if he's not getting time on the pitch, and is not improving, then maybe he should be moved on. That could actually apply to a few members of this squad I suppose.
03 Dec 2016 08:23:51
Look at the stats and BlueJohnUns is 100% correct. Whilst I know I repeat myself, where is the creativity? Deulofeu has played 77 games for us (ok some as sub or subbed within those games) and scored a grand total of 6 goals. Even if he is played further forward and central, he is not going to set the world alight banging them in. I also am beginning to think that Lukaku needs to be replaced with 2 or 3 players that contribute with assists AND hold up play. We seem to win the ball in defence, then pass it around a bit and as soon as one of our players tries to launch it to Lukaku, we lose possession. Then it is back to defending and trying to win possession again. It is so easy for the opposition to stop us because aside from Barkley and Lukaku, we have very little goal threat. I have listed our midfielders time and time again with their goals contribution and it is very poor. Kone was brought in and his is also poor. Aside from Lukaku and Eto'o, Martinez's signings have no goals. Kone has 6 in his career for us! 3 of them in 1 game, so he has scored in 4 games in 3 years. yes yes he was injured a while. Add in Barry, Cleverly, Besic, McCarthy who all score no more than 2 a year. Someone said that scoring was not our problem but defending was. whilst there is some truth in that, it doesn't matter if you win one nil or ten nine. As long as you score more than the opposition. Well we have Lukaku's 20 a season and Barkley's 8 a season and then no one who scores more than 5. If I was an opposition manager, I would tell my team, "Stop Lukaku and Barkley scoring and you will probably beat Everton. " I have gone on and on again and I apologise for it. But I am a passionate Evertonian and this was obvious to me 3 years ago. Deulofeu might do ok as a support striker, but with our new aspirations of Europe etc, he is clearly not the answer. I hope Mr Walsh in his new role with us has 3 or 4 creative attacking midfielders who have goals in them. That is one reason I would welcome the Scweinsteiger guy in. At least he has the ability to shoot from distance and make a penetrating pass. But he would only be part of the answer and for maybe 1 season.
{Ed025's Note - good post that degsy and its hard to argue with those stats, now this might just be me but i think we are awful to watch, there is a dire lack of creativity and we seem to be on telly all the time which accentuates the problem as it highlights our problems to the general public, i will never stop watching of course but at times i have my head in my hands and get embarrassed at how weak we are....oh and i swear at the telly a lot..
03 Dec 2016 09:09:51
For the record Degsy, Del boy has started 35 games and came on as a sub for 36. Scored 8 goals. How many games has he played the full 90mins? Very few, if he starts games he is more than likely took off too.
Your missing my point about him. I never said he was the answer or that he would start banging in goals. The point is why isn't he being tried? He is an option and I'm just curious as why it is not being explored.
As I said at the beginning of the season he was used in various roles. As far as I can remember Koeman praised him a lot and said we may see him being used in different ways this season. As of yet he's hardly been used.
I'm not sticking up for Del boy as a player. Just wondering what happened to Koemans intentions. Maybe he may still use him. At the moment I think we need changes. It is one that makes sense seeing what Koeman has said about him and how he used him in preseason. He was full of praise for him then.
Anyone that reads my post will know I'm not getting at Koeman as I wanted him in the first place. Even when he was denying leaving Southampton. I thought he was the best man we could realistically get. I stick by that now. I'm not questioning him. Just curious as to why one player is not being used. Although he might still yet.
03 Dec 2016 13:52:16
Personally I find it when I'm a tv watcher as live in cornwall, seems to be a lack of ideas, when I watch other teams, there seems to be plenty of movement up front, Lakaku seems to be a statue and unless it's played to his feet we have had no real threat on goal, you would think the size of him he'd be able to boss defences, but it seems to be the other way around a lot of the time, midfield we are a one trick pony, barkely tries and gives a lot, but obviously as we can all see sometimes over does it, this I think is the lack of someone else to help him in the creative department, a lot of pressure is on a young shoulders and he should be praised more and less criticism, if we could a player to bring out the best in him then the team in a whole would benifit, but who is the 50 million dollar question, we will come threw this and hopefully a better team, we are still finding out feet, next season we will see a different team with more players that RK wants .
{Ed025's Note - i hope your right mate..
03 Dec 2016 14:00:09
Got to question Del boys attitude. It was a problem highlighted when he was at Sevilla and maybe looking the same with us under a new manager.
I also question his fitness as he looks knackered after 10 minutes, maybe this is what Koeman is seeing daily and does not like.
03 Dec 2016 20:05:51
Good points bluegray. It has crossed my mind there must be some reason Koeman leaves him out. As your post says he does see him daily.
03 Dec 2016 20:07:07
You're looking at my post from the wrong point of view Degsy. My point is that the options for the midfielders are limited with one striker and as a team we are one dimensional.
I've already put up the stats before showing you that in fact we scored more goals from midfield over the last three years than they did with Moyes.
My point is that we can only change personel and not tactics. Imagine our wingers and attacking midfielders having more than one target. Or the oppositions defence having more than tame statue to look after.
As for Del Boy i think Koeman wants rid because he can't run for any period of time. You have to replace him every game because he's knackered warming up on the sidelines never mind during a match.
Personally I want Lukaku gone and three in his place. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, united, City even Spurs have more strikers to change tactics.
Come on Santa make my wish come true.
03 Dec 2016 21:32:50
I agree with that BlueJohnUns. That comes with having no plan b for a couple of years. As you say I'd expect it to improve over time.
03 Dec 2016 22:27:08
I was not disagreeing with you Blue John Uns. sort of looking at it at a slightly different angle.