Everton Banter Archive December 30 2017

 

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30 Dec 2017 22:51:11
Sorry GTL59 you won't be seeing me in the Park end on Monday I was right and the stewards put me in the wrong seat I was supposed to be in the Paddock 2 Wheelchair row.
I will however be SUPPORTING the team in every home game for the rest of the season (can't get to away games) we all need to get behind the team and then re-evaluate at the end of the season.

Believable5 Unbelievable0

31 Dec 2017 08:29:35
Ok good luck and best wishes.

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30 Dec 2017 22:19:19
Sam Allardyce may well be not everyone's first choice but he does appear to have got us out of the brown stuff and in a relatively safe position (11, 13 or 14 points for safety) . I have no idea of the behind door machinations but given the state of the Squad (confidence and inexplicable mass loss of form) when he arrived, if I were a betting man the odds would be very short on his planning to get us somehow through to January without the spectre of relegation hanging over our heads. For all those now having an impatient we are not doing this we are not doing that merchants, leave it until January 31st and then see.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 22:35:27
What did you think of the game today?

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30 Dec 2017 23:14:58
Only watched it on the WWW but I agree it was not pretty. I too could not understand the 3 DM's, I am also one of those that does not understand our last 3 Managers persisting with Siggy playing wide and having to work himself inside, or and this really is perplexing how does Schneiderlen get in game after game.

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31 Dec 2017 08:47:11
Tomorrow is another day Ducks. Stranger things have happened and we might get a result against United. I just hope we finally see a change from these defensive lineups.

I don't mean just Sam. Even Koeman was the same. Every game 4 or 5 at the back and 2 DCM in midfielders yesterday 3. I'd love to see us try especially against these type of teams a traditional 442 or 4321 with a couple of wingers. And them wingers getting 90 minutes.

Ah well we live in hope.

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30 Dec 2017 22:08:11
So the posts have taken epic negativity. I'm admittedly depressed tonight at what was a defeat coming and the state of the team. I believe we actually have a Manager with a good team around him who'll work in unison with Steve Walsh. Ed002 I so wish we could keep hold of Barkley. Any news? He a striker and proper left back while moving on some of the squad would do wonders. Come on Blues, we can't win each week and this season is a write off. Time to stabilise the mess and plan to move on.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - I would expect an offer for RB in January - then a decision to be made.}

30 Dec 2017 22:17:16
Thanks Ed. Decision by RB or are the club wanting/ trying to get him to sign?

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{Ed002's Note - The player and then the club.}

30 Dec 2017 19:56:15
Anyone else find it hilarious that Mourinho is moaning about not having any striking options.

Lukaku injured.

Down to just Ibrahimovic who is one of the best strikers of the 21st century and Rashford and Martial who if you believe Utd fans are the best talents in the world ahead of Mbappe and Jesus.

Poor Jose, what I would give to "only" have those 3 as backups.

Believable4 Unbelievable1

30 Dec 2017 20:03:52
thats why he is griping mate, different world at Utd.

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30 Dec 2017 20:16:10
He is doing what every other arrogant manager does when he feels like his team is being outplayed, trying to create a narrative that he has huge challenges to overcome and it isn't an even playing surface. Of course it has to be something like that because noone is better than him in his own mind. That man really grips my S (as he would say) .

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30 Dec 2017 21:44:27
The past week has been one if the funniest I've heard from him. Going on about United not being able to compete in the transfer market after spending 90 mil on a striker! What a lemon.

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{Ed025's Note - what a lemon indeed john..

30 Dec 2017 22:41:42
Actually Swan, Moaninho said Ibrahimovic is out for a month so looks like Rashford or Martial upfront for them on Monday.

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30 Dec 2017 22:30:22
How are you ED? It's been a tough old couple of weeks. Hopefully a bit of excitement with a couple of signings and things might turn around.

Aside from the doom and gloom today I'm looking forward to United on Monday. Who knows. Maybe we needed a defeat to reset our focus.

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{Ed025's note- im good thanks john, looking forward to seeing us play some decent football but when that will be i dont know, some really hard games coming up and i fear that if we get a couple of spankings then we could be back to square one mate..

31 Dec 2017 09:01:52
Maybe ED. I've just put a reply to ducks above. I've mulling it over last night in the fact we are so far away from our traditional football style that the club is unrecognisable to what we were.

Always a club with wingers and width. Yet I can't remember the last time we had two attacking wide men in the same side through an entire match.

Not just Sam, Koeman as well and even Martinez usually had just one. For me Lennon is not a traditional attacking winger or least not anymore. Yet none of the others get more than 20 minutes to prove their worth.

The last time Lookman played from the off he didn't do too badly so why now drop him completely? 4 starts this year. We talk about our forwards not being good enough but they don't even play.

Anyway new year is almost here. Let's hope it's a happier one.

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{Ed025's Note - amen to that john...to be fair it cant get much worse mate..

30 Dec 2017 19:54:42
Cmon folks this is still Koemans team, its going to take time to change it, Big Sam has steadied the ship, ok one blip but one swallow does not make a summer, let's all get behind whoever manages our Club a few new faces in the window will help I am sure, i will support whoever is in charge, i will always be a Blue.

Believable2 Unbelievable7

30 Dec 2017 19:58:22
He doesn’t help himself by playing 3 defensive midfielders against Bournemouth and refusing to have Lookman or Vlasic even on the bench.

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30 Dec 2017 20:07:54
that team is still Koemans set up, bit harsh to judge him yet, do it at the end of season when he has his own team mate.

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30 Dec 2017 20:23:15
I have to agree with Swan. Three games with very little shots on target is not down to the personnel. It is down to coaching and how Sam sets the team up. Either Sam has coached the players to be too dependant on getting back in shape to attack effectively or the players have taken his instructions incorrectly.
We have enough in our squad to be able to set up to muster more shots on target and Sam needs to address this quickly. It is ok to blame the lack of attack on the team in his pre/ post match conferences but he is the manager and needs to drill this into the players he picks or, pick different players. Sandro, Vlasic, Lookman, Niasse and Klassen are all deemed not creative enough to start. Well at the moment neither are the ones that are playing. Being solid at the back is good And will ensure we survive but if we stop picking up points it won't be long until we will have to go out and attack teams again. Come on Sam sort out the attack like you have the defence and show us all you are not a one trick pony. PLEASE.

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30 Dec 2017 20:47:49
let him make some of his own signings and it will change mate.

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30 Dec 2017 20:51:47
Agree with Swan, GuernseyBlue. Koeman seemed to buy very badly on the whole last summer, but Vlasic has look d bright whenever he's had a chance. Leaving him and Lookman out of the squad with Bolasie only on the bench (who is only just back from a very long injury layoff) screams of someone looking to not lose a game rather than win one. The starting lineup was effectively a back seven.

That said, Big Sam's stopped us shipping three goals a game so he's a definite improvement on Koeman.

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30 Dec 2017 20:57:25
will agree there mate he did seem good when he came on and had plenty of pace.

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30 Dec 2017 21:02:10
Here is my negative. Sam Alardyce I believe was not 1st, 2nd or even 3rd choice but like Martinez before him Koeman fell out with the supporters (not to the extent of planes and banners) so they made it plain he had to go and impatiently so. The Club not being allowed the time to be pro-active, reacted. The summer however was a different thing and unforgiveable in my view. Why get rid of your most important asset without having a ready made replacement and that my friends has been the root if not the sole cause of our problems.

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30 Dec 2017 22:00:53
Also agree with Swan and feel it’s time to rest lennonfor lookman or vlascic! Lennon does enough but we need match winners that can turn 0-0 to 1-0 etc.

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30 Dec 2017 22:34:29
Koeman isn’t the one picking the team mate, Sam didn’t HAVE to play 3 CDM’s against Bournemouth.

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30 Dec 2017 19:35:46
have to agree with the Eds below, There is Banter and there is Vitriolic comments, as Ed says very toxic.

Believable1 Unbelievable2

30 Dec 2017 19:51:51
Don’t think the club helped itself sacking Alan Myers then dragging their feet sacking Martinez and Koeman who both would’ve had us in the championship by now.

Communication has been poor with the club after the whole Martinez thing because it took us protesting after games for anything to change.

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30 Dec 2017 19:54:39
GB from your posts I know your pro SA but some of us are not that doesn't make us less supporters mate or our opinions any less valid football is about opinions and interpretation.

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30 Dec 2017 20:09:03
Agree mate, but the team needs all of us to get behind them mate.

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{Ed002's Note - Exactly.}

30 Dec 2017 20:16:06
I just don't get some of the comments from some posters Ed, needs must and the Club needs us all, let's get behind them.

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{Ed002's Note - Right on.}

30 Dec 2017 20:31:59
Have to agree they need the supporters behind them in the games no matter how good or bad the performance is on any particular day but I am not sure how comments and opinions here overly affect what is happening on the pitch. I am happy for people to vent all their frustrations here (as long as they accept differing views are just as valid as theirs) if that helps them then be more positive in the stands.

The defensive performances we have seen so far haven't proved Allardyce is the answer but a disappointing performance in the first game he actually showed some ambition (in the second half) hasn't proved he isnt.

My worry today is that he will revert to what we saw against WBA showing no ambition when we next play an average or weak team and try to convince us that the squad is forcing him to play that way.

There are 12 games left in the season where we realistically could compete if we play well. He will also have time on the training pitch to develop whatever style he wants. In the other games against the best teams set up like we did against Chelsea, fine, I can't really argue too much with that but he has to approach the 12 games that we can compete in showing the ambition he did in the second half today.

He needs to show that he can be innovative and flexible enough to develop some effective football with a squad that contains the likes of Rooney, Sigurdsson, Bolasie, Lookman, Vlasic, Lennon, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Sandro, Klaasen, Niasse, Coleman, Baines and any new faces we get in. Yes those attacking players don't look great compared to the top 6 but there is enough attacking talent there to create chances and score goals against the average and bad teams in this league if he is flexible and innovative enough to bring it out.

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30 Dec 2017 19:59:47
I always find the worst types of supporters to be those who blindly support everything the club does, like TY from Arsenal Fan TV.

We could be in the conference in 6 years and anyone not happy with that would get moaned at by these glass is always full even when empty fans.

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30 Dec 2017 23:38:30
Toffee, best m post read for a while. Good points son.

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30 Dec 2017 19:32:26
It was a really poor performance today and many things contributed to it.

1st the team selection was terrible. 3 central midfielders all defensively minded saw the 3 kind of forward players totally exposed.

DCL won 5 or 6 headers that if he had another forward within 5 yards of him could have done something with. However, the balls he won there was no one near him and were picked up with ease by Bournemouth.

Snids was negative again in his passing, Gana was slow and lazy, McCarthy was clearly not ready and all that meant it was pretty much constant pressure on the back four.

We can talk about the need for forward players but it's hard to have a go at the ones already there if they're not playing.

I'm not going to blame managers or whatever but Sam will lose any support he has pretty soon with selections, tactics and performances like today.

He's not a daft man and I still hope he will learn from his mistakes today.

I doubt it but I'd love to see Lookman and Yannick or Vlasic on the pitch. 4 attack minded players. We've all judged Sandro but the lad hasn't had a few games together to really get into it. They all deserve a run in the side and see if they can build up some form.

I blame the size of the squad for it. A smaller squad and we'd have to play them. Instead they have one bad touch and they're out. Strip this squad out and get down to 14 or 15 players and it will galvanize them but we need to give some of these a chance and time.

I'm not saying we don't need players or the ones there are the answer but we'll never know if they don't get playing time together.

I'm at a loss.

Believable0 Unbelievable2

30 Dec 2017 19:53:09
Sam is indeed not a stupid person. Players going or sidelined will have been spoken to already. There is a plan in place. I like most are frustrated, I like most go to all the home games, I like most see the stuff served up. Most importantly, we are the one's that wanted, Martinez out - he went, we are the ones wanted Koeman out - he went. Make no bones about it the Club prior to Sam Alardyce and his Team were in big trouble. We are now in 9th position and between 11 and 13 points of being safe. We really do need to stop sniping and get behind the Squad.

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30 Dec 2017 20:00:50
You assert that there is a plan in place. If that is the case surely it should be discernible from selections and events on the pitch. Sadly I have so far been unable to discern the plan. Could you enlighten me as to what that plan is and the evidence for your conclusions?

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30 Dec 2017 20:09:46
Amen to that mate.

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30 Dec 2017 20:14:06
The Plan is to stabilise, attempt to bring in one or two in January (notoriously difficult for obvious reasons) , to see if we can push on (again difficult given Alardyce and his staff's starting position) . Ongoing is assessment of staff, playing and backroom. I can only reitterate Sam Alardyce is not a stupid person. I am in all honessty exasperated with some of the comments on this HYS. Hate to say it but perhaps Ed002 at times has it about right.

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30 Dec 2017 20:40:25
never a true word spoken mate,

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30 Dec 2017 21:36:46
Hmmm.

What a performance today. Good football big improvement on the last game. The three DCM were a superb choice and almost got us a draw today against another team in the bottom three. The defence 1st attitude over attack is working wonders as it means the majority of the team are in our third of the pitch meaning when we lump the ball up top and lose they don't have far to run to get back.

It's sarcastic but it's the only other way to spin it.

If we would have performed well and even got a draw from a decent performance i'd have been happy.

Instead of making excuses for him and having a dig at people voicing their concern. Give your assessment on the game. Tell me what you actually thought of our performance today.

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30 Dec 2017 23:43:59
So it transpires that the plan is to try and do better. That's alright then.

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30 Dec 2017 19:25:27
Last 2 games and we have played teams in relegation - we have not attacked but looked for a draw on both occassions - just have to look at the team selection to see that.

I seriously do not see how sam can come out and say we need more attacking options in January when players such as Klassen - sandro - Niasse - Mirallas - lookman - Vlasic are not getting game time - I was under the impression these were the players that were going to create / score for us - I would assume these are the players he will be looking to offload then come january.

Believable3 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 19:31:51
We were all under that impression pavillion, from the old regime and that is the key word.

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30 Dec 2017 20:11:48
I have been defending Allardyce today and calling for patience (and stick by that) even though I am sceptical about his long term suitability for the job but I was really disappointed by his comments after the game.

Firstly yes we have to get better defensivesly so that I agree with. He has covered up a weakness by protecting a weak defence with an overly defensive lineup and style so far. To make progress we have to be able to defend with a balanced lineup. Koeman got sacked trying to achieve that, Unsworth struggled and only really managed it against West Ham and now Allardyce will have to take on that challenge.

That said, trying to paint the side as a team completely lacking in goal scoring threat is disingenuous. We have scored 25 goals. Yes not great and we are certainly not a free flowing attacking team but it is 9th in the league for goals scored and you can take out half a dozen games when he set us up to defend a 0-0!

We are a team completely lacking in goal scoring threat when we set up with 3 defensive midfielders in the team and play the style of football that has been effective for him in grinding out draws against the better sides. There are many ways to have a goalscoring threat in the side, not just having a big centre forward. Goal scoring threat can come from the way you play as much as from the players you have.

His words struck me as someone desperately trying to set the expectations low enough for him to try and keep his job going into next year. That isn't an attitude that is going to instill confidence in the team and help us be better with the ball.

Yes there are weaknesses in the squad, yes we are weak at centre forward, yes he has injuries but it isn't a squad that is completely lacking in attacking threat and therefore justifies only setting out to defend 0-0. An innovative manager would find a way to create an attacking threat, not moan that we have to buy one. that screams of a manager stuck in a rigid philosophy with an outdated approach to his job.

He is using the lazy and inaccurate narrative that the squad is full of bad players and has no attacking options to try and give himself some breathing room to play negative football and fall back to the blue print he knows and feels comfortable with.

He has been telling us that this time it is different. This time he is at a big club and he can show us all how innovative he is and how his reputation is unjustified. He needs to act like that and believe that if it is going to happen, not fall back to his old style at the first bad result.

In terms of moving forward I am far more disappointed by his post match comments which bring out all of my anti Sam worries and scepticism than I am about the performance today! I am happy to give him the patience to improve us over the rest of the season but not if he is going to use that time to try and lower expectations rather than trying to raise standards.

Not many realistic fans are expecting man city style attacking performances anytime soon and we all recognise the problems he has to overcome and the squad weaknesses that exist but to try and convince us that he has no choice other than to defend for the rest of the season isn't acceptable.

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30 Dec 2017 18:50:09
Stabilisation to the end of the season and pack your bags your negative let's not get beat in any game doesn't serve this club take your pay off and bye.

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{Ed002's Note - Back to the usual way for the Everton fans it seems.}

30 Dec 2017 18:56:49
Never wanted him don't like his style of play so I've not changed since he came here.

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{Ed002's Note - It remains a pity for the club that they have people like you as fans.}

30 Dec 2017 18:58:03
ED02 you probably haven't watched 1 of our games as you too busy but it's not about moaning and complaining it's about our fans paying lots of money to watch the club we love and all we want to see is us trying to win a game but it's hard to watch when our only objective is to keep a clean sheet and hope that we can pinch a goal it hurts to watch.

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{Ed002's Note - I explained before that the club needs to get stable and settled and then start looking forward. It is a club where the fans have gone out of their way to be as disruptive as possible - and that is why communication from the board down is now constrained. You will turn on whoever is in charge and whoever the players are. People see that - nobody wants to manage a club with toxic fans.}

30 Dec 2017 19:01:58
HMS Toffee sinking fast. Grand Admiral Morishi takes charge of the ship with promise of a new harbour in which to house his soon to be refurbished man of war. Makes Captain RM walk the plank and brings Captain RK in. Captain RK improves crew with strict discipline and finishes 7th with EL qualification. Bad summer transfer business by Chief of Staff’s Walsh and Kenwright, lead to a fair to poor start to the season including pre-season EL qualification. Endless chase for Gunner Sigurdsson and no recognized master of arms bought as requested by the Captain. Results go downhill as soft crew start to mutiny against tough discipline and lack of cannon balls. Grand Admiral Morishi and chiefs of staff panic with a kneejerk reaction as the seas start to get rough. Captain RK is forced to walk the plank. Grand Admiral Morishi now spends embarrassing amounts of time chasing new Captains who turn down the chance to take charge of the ailing ship which is now taking in water. Now desperate as the ship has no captain and 1st officer Unsworth no good. Captain Dyche meanwhile, sails on by and out of sight of the ailing ship and towards the CL horizon with a lesser, but well-disciplined crew. Grand Admiral Morishi and chiefs of staff can’t steer the ship themselves and reply to much on poor 1st officer Unsworth who the crew decide to take the mick out of. Pirate Sam and his band of thieves see a rudderless ship full of riches floundering in the ocean. They decide to board holding Grand Admiral Morishi and chiefs of staff to ransom with a promise of getting the ship, and its mutinous crew to a safer haven. The cat of nine tails is shown to the crew who amazingly drop their mutinous actions and put in a battle winning performance when they encounter a European ship. Meanwhile lesser ships with battle hardened crews start to pick off the ailing HMS Toffee with a crew who, whilst making moves towards a safer haven, find the journey is harder and longer than expected, but happy to have joined a pirate’s band. Why work hard when they can hold ships to ransom and keep them from sinking to the Championship ocean for riches beyond their imaginations? Clearly there are now too many crew below decks plugging holes, the crows nest is vacated so a clear way forward cannot be seen, Captain Sam and his band of thieves only have charts for home waters, and find charting new waters beyond them. Meanwhile the pantomime continues with all wondering if Grand Admiral Morishi will have the plank made ready for use in the new year…………………but who will it be for…………the Chiefs of Staff or Pirate Sam?

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30 Dec 2017 19:18:40
Ed002 don't tar all of us with the same brush please.

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{Ed002's Note - Try not to whine - it is embarrassing.}

30 Dec 2017 19:20:21
Agree ed2. Me and ed25 had some discussions this morning about similar topic. We don't pick the manager and we don't buy the players. We support the club. It's fine to give opinions but some people seem to change theirs with the wind.

Ok, it's poor football atm but how low would we be under koeman (we'll never know) but we need to be patient and give Sam a chance and a window to bring players in.

I will judge him in the summer or even this time next year before getting the noose ready. We may like to hoof it forward but if we get a player who can hold the ball up and bring other players in the game (a la big dunc) it may work for us.

We'd all love to play beautiful football and win games like city but the players either haven't settled (klassen and sandro) or are inexperienced (dcl, Kenny, Davies, etc) or just have lost form (Schneiderlin) so we have to play the cards we have been dealt.
If we are honest with ourselves, Sam is not going to be here long term, he's getting on in years and his health isn't great by all accounts. So we need to weather the storm and be prepared for a change possibly in the summer. (Moshiri wants simeone)

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30 Dec 2017 19:26:36
Nick are you a sailor.

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30 Dec 2017 19:32:48
Love it mate, bet you had that written the day Big Sam arrived, just waiting for a rainy day how sad.

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30 Dec 2017 19:33:24
Ed002 I couldn't care what you think I pay a hell of a lot of money to bring my family over to at least 6 games a year this is my team and if I don't like the manager or his style of play that's my prerogative I'm not looking your approval nor do I ever ask you for your opinion or any information from you sir.

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{Ed002's Note - I am sure that the club would be over the moon if you didn’t bother - they want people who support the club and the team. The don’t want people like you.}

30 Dec 2017 19:56:27
Hey I just wanted to inject some fun into today's banter after reading the usual doom and drab. I did not want SA myself but will support whoever the board in their wisdom put in place. Only at the end of the season will we know if it is a success. I hope it is as I would never ever want Everton to suffer just so I could see someone get sacked. I still think 6th / 7th place is possible if we have a good January transfer.

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30 Dec 2017 20:03:52
Ed what I'm trying to say is its the minority that are moaning, I agree our football is not great to watch but Big Sam has only been in the job for eight games let's see wherever are at the end of the season.

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{Ed002's Note - just stop trying to pick posts apart and then grizzling.}

30 Dec 2017 20:19:43
GB at a guess his/ her moniker has them born about 1957 so could well have been a Jack or Patrick O'Brien fan.

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30 Dec 2017 20:48:41
BillyDean, you pay a lot of money, my Son pays a shed load for my season ticket LOL.

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30 Dec 2017 20:46:19
so let me get this right we as fans who love our club are not allowed to moan when all we have done in the last 8 games is play 10 men behind the ball including having no shots at goal at home v Chelsea and today v Bournemouth who haven't won in 8 games yet their keepers first touch came in the 32nd minute I personally think we have a right to moan.

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{Ed002's Note - you do more harm than good, have already driven a wedge between the board and the fans, and seem to celebrate the club going backwards.}

30 Dec 2017 22:45:53
It would seem that your definition of support is approval of what is served up regardless of quality.

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{Ed002's Note - No, true supporters know what it means. Toxic supporters will just drag the club down.}

30 Dec 2017 18:33:54
can we now all agree that Sam will not change his tactics and he will always be a defensive coach and in hindsight not the man to take us in to next season. I have just heard a stat that begovic didn't touch the ball until the 32nd minute now no matter where you stand that's embarrassing I can understand playing deep away at Liverpool but we have now done it in every game since he has become manager hence 3 goals conceded. So let's look at some of our players starting with Lewin who is clearly out of his depth and is no more than a championship player he offered nothing going forward with poor movement and making it so easy for the Bournemouth defence it was laughable (you could see the difference when Niasse came on) Martina just isn't good enough although he is doing a very difficult job at LB and deserves a well done for that today Sam showed he does not know how to set our team up and when we should be looking at the club's above us Sam is still looking down and for the first time since Martinez I heard the away fans boo at half time and I don't blame them because they have spent a fortune going to watch us only for our manager to play for 0-0s and I expect the same in Mon against UTD which will kill the atmosphere and make it much easier than it should be for them happy new year blues because it's going to be a horrible 5 months watching this dross.

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30 Dec 2017 18:57:13
Completely disagree. I am not Allardyces biggest fan and remain sceptical about him being the long term answer and I hated his starting 11 but he did try to change his tactics in the second half and show some ambition.

You are being really harsh on Calvert-Lewin. He has shown that he is more than capable of being a Premier League player this year. Of course he isn't the finished article but he is also exhausted from playing every game and needs a rest. Too much is expected of him right now but let's not suddenly decide he is a bad player.

The Allardyce fanatics were overreacting to the results we have had so far and I guess now lots will overreact to a disappointing result today and lose confidence in him. No matter who is in charge it will take time. If we are playing like that in April then yes Allardyce will be out the door in the summer but a lot can be achieved between now and then.

Maybe Allardyce is the long term answer, maybe he isn't but any of us thinking we know now (either for or against) is niaive. Yes be critical when he deserves it but we also need to be patient, he deserves that too.

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31 Dec 2017 00:26:51
I haven't suddenly decided he is a bad player at all I said he is championship at best you tell me what are his strengths because before the season started I would of said hold up play closing down and finishing all of which are poor he runs away from the ball letting the Def clear it easily I can't remember the last time he held the ball up and his half effort attempts of stopping the pass by flicking his leg in the air is annoying to watch then you have niasse who isn't the best player in the world but his constant running and pressure he puts defenders under shows us how poor Lewin is.

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30 Dec 2017 18:18:19
Got to admit that while I've calling for patience. We are god awful and as far as we've been from the Top Four/ Six or whatever it is nowadays than we have been over the last 20/ 30 odd years.

Get me a drink. What a dreadful league it is.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 17:59:39
Please correct me if I'm wrong. I can take it. But we have a master relegation battler as our manager. His tactics are shut up defence and hoof the ball up the park. What do we expect with the boring games. Us getting Tosun still says that's his tactics. Hoof the ball up the park Tosun can get it and hopefully do something with it. I like Allerdyce for what he does and that's grind out draws when ya in the shtick and near relegation. I don't think Allerdyce is the right man for us in the long run. He's done exactly what was asked of him so pay him what he's due and let's search for a new manager.

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30 Dec 2017 18:22:02
I think you mean Mowfee82 pay him at the end of his contract or end of season. I have mentioned this before, but peoples perception of Sam is just plain wrong, look at his CV and stats. His first priority, as is mine, as is anyone's, is to make sure the foundations are secure and strong (in football terms the defence) , he invariably achieves this. In case people have not listened to him, he has already achieved his remit for this season. He said and I agree that the aim given the position we have been in - and given it would take a catastrophic failure from the Teams above us - that we should finish 8th or 9th and consolodate that this season. We can then evaluate in Summer and hopefully push on.

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30 Dec 2017 18:34:39
Yes Ducks. I meant at the end of the season.

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30 Dec 2017 18:31:57
I refuse to be baited,
Therefore I shalt not bite.

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30 Dec 2017 17:20:29
We might end up with Silva sooner than we think 😂😂😂.

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30 Dec 2017 18:11:33
Lets not over react to a bad result just as we shouldn't over react to getting a draw against Chelsea when we defend for 85 mins.

We are a work in progress and will continue to be for quite a while yet. Allardyce might not be the long term answer or he may well be. Today doesn't answer the question negatively any more clearly than the game against Chelsea provided a positive answer.

He has been given an 18 month contract and effectively a 6 month audition process. let's see where we are in the summer and we should expect some ups and downs until then.

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30 Dec 2017 18:42:55
toffeebuds we will be where we are now midtable and it's hard watching that as I mentioned before it wasn't until the 32nd min that the premierships bottom teams gk touched the ball I will go as far to say we are the worst footballing side in the premier league.

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30 Dec 2017 18:48:43
I wanted Sam to show us today his attackin tactics but on the pitch you can see the team doesn’t train in attacking play itvlooks like all the focus is on defending and relying on luck nsnatchba goal late on I am afraid I an only see his going one way knowing us Everton fans and It won’t end well for big Sam. He might even “retire” at the end of the season with the amount of stick which will probably come his way we are thankful he sorted the mess out when he came on board but I cannot see him taking us further than we have been in the past. You have to use tactics to Suit each game as they come not defend till half time hoping for 0-0 ten snatch a late goal.

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30 Dec 2017 19:10:11
I am not a fan of Allardyce and remain sceptical about his long term suitability but come on that was the first game where he genuinely tried to play with some attacking style and show some ambition. Yes it wasnt good but It has come during an intense run of games where time on the training pitch is limited, some of our key attacking players are knackered/ returning from injury/ illness, we still have some glaring holes in the squad and we still have players who are struggling for confidence with the ball. Defending for 80 minutes and getting a 0-0 draw doesn't help to create confidence with the ball, it will take time.

If what we saw today is being served up against WBA at home in a month then I will be extremely worried. if it is being served up in April then I will be expecting Allardyce to be packing his bags in the summer but it isn't far off what I would expect in the first game where we try to be more ambitious.

Lets not forget it was also away where we have been truly dreadfull for a long time.

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30 Dec 2017 17:07:51
Well I just only hope that Tosun was not watching that.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 17:02:43
We need new recruits in the window.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 17:12:53
To be honest that second goal from Fraser was unstoppable the deflection was practically 45 degrees. 2 points from 9 so far is not good and the way the defence played for Frasers first was back to pre-Sam days. Side did change after half time and for the better. I don't understand this thing about playing Siggy wide, that is 3 managers that have done that for us now. As you say we need recruits and for my money we need a very strong CB (preferably left sided) at the back. A very strong DM (the French lad has to go I am afraid) and a beast of a Striker so that the likes of Calvert can play off him.

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30 Dec 2017 17:21:03
agree with mate Morgan was awful.

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30 Dec 2017 17:57:17
My assessment after watching the whole game. We can't defend, they can attack. They can't defend, we can't attack. Only one outcome.

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30 Dec 2017 18:43:51
Lewin is championship level at best he is just not good enough.

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30 Dec 2017 19:22:51
Leave it out mate it's not like he has been riddled with service up top is it.
In general strikers rarely do well in very defensive teams u can't blame the lad give him lots of service good service for ten fifteen games then judge him.

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30 Dec 2017 16:58:55
I get we need results and all that.

But playing 3 defensive midfielders against Bournemouth is ridiculous, attack them because they can't defend, sitting back only invites pressure which they like.

Tactical masterclass 😴.

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{Ed025's Note - bloody awful mate..

30 Dec 2017 17:06:08
If Rooney and Niasse don’t start against Utd I’m just going to go asleep for the rest of the season.

Will sleep easily seeing as how boring we are.

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30 Dec 2017 16:55:10
Awful play today, simply not good enough.

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{Ed025's Note - whats new..

30 Dec 2017 17:00:20
Good for 5 mins of the second half mate, rest was rubbish.

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30 Dec 2017 17:54:25
There were times when we played some decent passages of football. As you have said before it will take time to develop any sort of consistent attacking play.

It is also going to cause us to get exposed at the back a little more when we try to do that because although we have defended well under Allardyce that isn't because the defence is vastly improved its because he has been sacrificing attacking ambition in favour of protecting a weak back 4.

It was positive to see McCarthy play again today, it was positive to see Allardyce show some ambition in the second half and yes we were outplayed but at least we were trying to progress and get better. I am happy that Allardyce was brave enough to back up his words about wanting to play in a more ambitious way with his actions in the second half.

We can't stay a team that defends for 75 minutes in every game and make any progress towards where we want to be. Improvement in our attacking game won't just happen, it will need us to be brave enough to try to improve in that area and it will involve some ups and downs along the way. At least today we were brave enough to try. It has to be in the games like today that we try because it will be suicide to do it against the top 6. I think for that Allardyce should be applauded.

I might be clutching at straws a little and I am not forgetting the great saves Pickford had to make (he is amazing by the way! ) but we lost a very poor first half 1-0 when we played with 3 defensive midfielders. We drew 1-1 in the second half when we were brave enough to try and win the game. Yes we were not very good but there were some things today that offer some hope for the future.

Bolasie will get better as he gets match sharpness back and will provide a real attacking threat to help us both break down stubborn defences and/ or play effectively on the counter attack. Same too with McCarthy who will get better and provide a genuine alternative to Schneiderlein as he gets back to match sharpness.

Our best forward is completely exhausted and that is making life difficult for us. Rooney has been ill and looked a little off the pace today. We don't have a fit natural left back in the squad. It won't be like that forever and changes just in those 3 areas in the next few weeks will make a huge difference.

The players will get better in an attacking sense the more time we spend on the training pitch and the more effort we make in matches trying to play in a more ambitious way. Rooney and Sigurdsson had some nice link ups and so did Niasse and Bolasie and Lennon and Kenny. Not consistently good enough throughout the game but flashes to show there is potential there. That is all we can realistically expect at the moment. Effective partnerships and wider effective collective play will take time to develop and while we have had a fair few games under Allardyce not many of them have involved us genuinely trying to pose an attacking threat. We are right at the start of that development process even though we might be 10 games or so into the Allardyce era.

We will also be more effective when we have found the right balance in our team. Allardyce didn't worry about balance in the first few games, he was rightly concerned with defending only. He will need time now to try and find the right balance (although probably not in the next 3 very difficult matches) .

Yes there were still some really worrying things. Keane looks really weak and mentally one step behind everyone else on the pitch. Martina is a fish out of water at left back despite his valiant efforts and Schneiderlein still looks like someone is slipping him a sedative in his pre match drink but let's not get too carried away by a bad result.

The results under Allardyce have been much better than expected and we have had our fair share of luck to go with some dedicated defensive performances. That type of football wasnt going to and couldn't last forever if we were ever going to progress. It was used to steady the ship and give us some breathing space in the table so we could then start the real work of developing a balanced style being effective both with and without the ball. Today was a baby step forward on a long journey. It didn't end the way we wanted it to but I think we need to look at things in a longer term context.

Lets get back to defend first for the next 3 very difficult games and then see what attacking threat we can pose against WBA when we play them at home later in January. I am hopeful we can be better in that game and take another baby step forward.

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30 Dec 2017 15:58:34
A very forgettable first 45 minutes in which we showed little if any threat whatsoever 😴😴 Second half has to be better. It has to be 😂😂.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 16:11:17
Shots on target stats have been very poor last few games. Is the team regularly being set up just to tease out a draw home and away? Makes you wonder if the Manager and the staff will be happy to draw every game and limp to the end of the season. Incentivised by big bonuses for keeping us up or am I being too harsh?

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30 Dec 2017 16:47:04
We are really poor. Bournemouth are much better than us. Now 2-1 for them and they deserve it.

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30 Dec 2017 16:59:07
It did get better, momentarily, 😀 then poor tackling and defending proved to be our downfall 🤬 In the end only one team deserved to win, and it wasn't us 🙄.

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{Ed025's Note - this is my assessment of the team today bigH...keeper 9/10.... defence 0/10...midfield 0/10...attack 0/10...sub niasse 7/10..

30 Dec 2017 17:09:09
Fair assessment Ed couldn't agree more.

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30 Dec 2017 17:12:10
Can't argue with that Ed025, although personally I feel Pickford could have done a bit better with the first goal. Maybe I expect too much seeing as he did okay for the remainder of the game 🙃.

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{Ed025's Note - thats why he only got 9/10 bigH, for the rest of the time he kept us in the game mate..

30 Dec 2017 17:51:04
To MJB74

Maybe not too harsh. I was reading Freakonomics (well worth a read) in which it is illustrated that we get what we incentivise but more often than not what we have actually incentivised is not what we actually wanted.

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30 Dec 2017 14:23:59
Not a very adventurous team put out today. SA saying more adventure, however not really playing the more adventurous players. Think Lookman would have been a shout. Possibly he’s looking to secure the point or points against the lower placed teams knowing what’s to come.

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30 Dec 2017 14:35:40
probably got an eye on United on Mon mate.

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30 Dec 2017 15:00:03
I would have preferred to see this team against Man Utd which I could understand and the more attacking players in games like this. That is the most defensive starting lineup I have seen in years. People were complaining that Koeman was using 2 defensive midfielders against the average teams and today we go with 3.

Even though it is a defensive setup there are still some good players in that lineup and really good to see McCarthy fit again, let's hope he gets through however long he plays without any setbacks.

Lets also hope that the play is a little more adventurous than the lineup suggests it will be.

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30 Dec 2017 16:18:08
What a difference a forward thinking midfielder is making in the second half. Wish we had started like this. 3 points here for the taking today and the Everton fans the ones that can be heard. COYB.

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30 Dec 2017 16:18:08
What a difference a forward thinking midfielder is making in the second half. Wish we had started like this. 3 points here for the taking today and the Everton fans the ones that can be heard. COYB.

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30 Dec 2017 16:23:02
Good touch from Niasse, great finish from Gana and love the passion from Allardyce, Lee and Ferguson when the goal went in.

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30 Dec 2017 16:30:46
Game evenly poised. Come on Big Sam get Bolasie on for Schneiderlin, get sigurdsson in midfield and let’s go for it!

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30 Dec 2017 17:54:49
Bugger.

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30 Dec 2017 14:17:05
on a different note four changes in the team today, nice to see Jimmy Mac back.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

30 Dec 2017 15:41:24
We don’t seem to often agree but yes fantastic to see him back.

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30 Dec 2017 16:45:44
Jimmy mc guye and and schnidelin is a very negative middle of the park not what I expected against Bournemouth.

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30 Dec 2017 12:48:24
Once again some posters on here are expecting our team to be sorted out straight away with a new manager its not going to happen, Sam has come in sorted out the defence and generally stabilised it, the good footy will follow of that I am sure, remember Rome wasn't built in a day just give the guy a chance, no denying he has done well so far.

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30 Dec 2017 13:04:19
I'm with you on that one GB.

Under Sam we will succeed.

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30 Dec 2017 13:56:32
The last two managers have come in promising us champion/ L, and both took us in the direction of the championship.
Sam has made no promises, but has let his results do the talking.
No, it has not been that pretty, but it's a dam site better than watching us ship 4, and 5 goals every week.
Give the man some time and a transfer window or two i'm convinced we will than have both a sound defence and a attack to match anyone in the top flight, except perhaps those with a truly bottomless pit of money.

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30 Dec 2017 14:06:49
Agree jcw mate, to be fair Big Sam has come in and sorted our defence, the rest will come especially with a couple of new faces, after all we were in freefall before he arrived.

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30 Dec 2017 14:58:02
The defence has not been sorted out. It has been more heavily populated. The time to see whether the defence has been sorted out is when it is functions well when not so heavily reinforced by midfield players who get a nose bleed if they find themselves in the other half.

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30 Dec 2017 15:40:48
He didn’t promise CL because the entire footballing world would’ve laughed at him. He joined the club under much different circumstances than the previous 2 did.

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30 Dec 2017 12:43:05
Callum Wright for the u23s will be an amazing signing.

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30 Dec 2017 11:31:00
Hey Ed 025 I like your posts below mate, we all have opinions and it's far better to air them on this Forum than on the terraces in my view, at the end of the day we all want our Great Club to do well, the team is now stabilised, next will be better footy.

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{Ed025's Note - lets hope so GB..

30 Dec 2017 13:07:40
I think if I aired my views on the terraces I'd never get out alive GB mate.

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30 Dec 2017 11:15:55
It's not rocket science what we are short of, we have 4 left footers in our squad (not counting the kids) 2 are keepers and 2 defenders (both injured)

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30 Dec 2017 10:42:07
Right we've all had our say on big Sam and the pros and cons of his management style.
What we have to remember is we support Everton Football Club regardless of the manager or the players.
We have to get behind the club from the chairman to the cleaners and show them that we are United. So stop the bickering and support the club.

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{Ed025's Note - we are not sheep though geoff, support the club yes but its ok in my book to voice your opinions on forums like this, we dont want constant moaning of course and slating of the manager just for the sake of it, but its a game of opinions and i can see the pluses and minus,s of what is happening at the club just like the rest of the guys, and its better to air it on here than at the ground where it can effect the players directly mate..

30 Dec 2017 11:12:55
Completely agree ed and I'm all for voicing your opinions. It just seems tha sone people are fixated on a pro Sam or con Sam attitude and will not change regardless of what happens.

Personally I was very much on the fence over Sam. I'm now on his side as we have gained some points and got tougher defensively.
I, like many others on here worry about our attacking ability or lack of it.

I think we are in a no lose situation tho because we got Sam in to steady the ship, which he has done and only gave him an 18 month contract. If we still struggle attacking then he will leave and we will get someone else without having to fork out a fortune.

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{Ed025's Note - sam is still marmite at the moment geoff, i think he has done very well myself but i like everyone else want to see more attractive play, hopefully it will come shortly and that will get everyone onside and make my job a lot easier mate..

30 Dec 2017 11:35:17
It's not bickering Geoff it's debating.

I get frustrated with some who just say he's amazing and he's done this and that over just 7 games. They are usually the ones that after a further 7 games and no wins start getting on the managers or players back. Easily swayed they tend to be.

Degsy is a good example of the opposite of me. He sees something different in Sam but puts up a good argument and backs things up. This doesn't frustrate me.

However, as i said earlier, some just say he's brilliant get him signed up for 15 years!

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30 Dec 2017 11:26:46
Hahaha. Hope so ed.

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30 Dec 2017 11:43:31
True blue. I hope i am one who sees both sides. I can see Sam has tightened defence but needs to sort out attacking situation.

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30 Dec 2017 12:11:44
Ed I agree with what you say about style of football and that it is the right of supporters to voice an opinion on here. I think geoffjohno is just saying give the bloke a chance. He has come in to a team that had the worst defensive record in the league and the worst attacking statistics in the league. A recipe for relegation. He has had 4 or 5 under 23's in the team. another recipe for lack of experience and probably an inability toretain possession. His 8 games included Chelsea and Liverpool. he has taken us to 9th. Yes it has not been pretty. Yes he has said he wants more possession. Yes he has said players are young and sometimes do not do what you ask of them (retain possession) . In reality it has not been pretty. However, what more can people expect in 8 games? Man City style football? A team that was getting hammered every week turned into our 1980's team overnight? He was the first to admit we were terrible at WBA. He said himself our hoof it football was terrible. So I don't see why people assume in 12 months time we will still be playing this awful "hanging on in the game" football. Remember Allergy signed Jay Jay Ockotcha and Ivan Campo at Bolton. Kevin Davies too. Kevin Nolan. Youri Djorkaeff. Gary Speed. Fernando Hierro. Tal Ben-Haim. I think all these players would walk into our squad easily now. Memories of Big Sam and Bolton forget all there creative players.

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{Ed025's Note - i agree with all of that degsy, i have preached give him time mate and hopefully he will get us playing some nice stuff...heres hoping..

30 Dec 2017 12:41:48
Thanks for seeing my position BJU. I actually have not heard anyone saying sign him up so can't comment on that. And I think I made all the points on creative players Sam signed at Bolton in my last response to Ed025 and I missed a few out. let's see if we get this German/ Turkish lad who looks like exactly what we need. If we can get a left back who is not just a defender too. There must be a better left back who goes forward in the Championship or somewhere. An up and coming kid. Those 2 positions would strengthen us loads. And if we don't want Mirallas sell and get some money in. although I think he just needs freshening up. Sometimes a change of club does boost a player.

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30 Dec 2017 13:43:43
Agree with nearly all what you said, degsy but tal ben-haim? Not sure about that one. Like all managers he did buy some shockers too, ricardo vaz-te to name one, even tho i think he scored against us in one game.
Let's play the waiting game and see how he goes given this window and the summer. I've always given our managers time. 12-18 months is usually long enough to see how things are going.

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30 Dec 2017 14:32:38
Geoffjohno the list of players was just an example of creative players signed rather than the hoof it brigade. But Vaz-te was not the best example admittedly. Here is a quote from Matt Elliott former Leicester captain. just saying the same as me really, "Sam Allardyce is capable of playing with a bit of enterprise. The team he had at Bolton with Anelka, Okocha, Djorkaeff for example, but his recent jobs have been emergency situations - he has sorted them out. His biggest asset is that players play for him. Players I know have said he gets you on board and he gets you into his way of thinking. Getting players on side is massive. " Yes I had forgotton Anelka!

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30 Dec 2017 09:28:56
Hey Ed025 now that Sam is at the helm mate what do you reckon are the chances of Niasse getting some playing time, bit like Koemans reign he does not use him much, do you reckon he will let him go in this window, prefer Lookman myself.

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{Ed025's Note - i dont think sam has much faith in niasse GB i think he will be used as an impact sub but not as a starter, lookman seems a similar case and hes reported to want a move back down south but we will have to wait and see mate..

 
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