Everton Banter

17 Dec 2025 17:49:23
January window getting mighty close, hope we can get two or three in.

17 Dec 2025 18:36:42
I hope we try grab Dju. His club don't want to lose him this season but if he can replicate his form and goals for his current club, then he is worth going all out for.

17 Dec 2025 19:07:27
Bad window Jan unless it is someone others have missed (long odds) , it may well be better struggling through.

17 Dec 2025 19:49:40
Unfortunately, he has picked up an injury that has required surgery Dentie. I think he is out until March earliest.

17 Dec 2025 20:20:23
I like the look of Yuri Alberto young Brazilian a forward who plays for Corinthians, the 24 yr old was linked with us a few weeks ago, be a massive. upgrade on what we have at the moment.

17 Dec 2025 20:49:07
Would Dju believe his luck?

I wouldn’t mind a cheeky bout for the Brentford number 9 Thiago but think he’ll only mice in the summer and probably to someone like Spurs or Arsenal.

As long as we get someone who can score and a RB, I’d consider it a good window.

17 Dec 2025 20:53:39
They are all an upgrade until they start playing.

17 Dec 2025 21:02:16
What about the Hayden Hackney rumours he's going to be a top player.

17 Dec 2025 21:48:09
Another for the future Yuki?

Rather we bought for now and do the prospect buying once we’ve a solid team starting each game.

18 Dec 2025 07:09:24
Yuri is 24 is certainly one for now BR plays for Corinthians. would step. Straight into our Team mate.

17 Dec 2025 07:39:03
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 16 - Quick Round Up

17 Dec 2025 01:43:57
I have a question why does Moyes not play KDH further back play Ndiaye behind the striker and then play Dibling or someone who can cross from there right foot at right wing so we can have build up and crosses from both sides to our striker. I think that is some of our problem goals wise is I love Ndiaye but he isn’t a winger that can cross.

I was at the game in Chicago for preseason and I thought Heath honestly looked like the best player for us with his pace I would love to see him come back from loan cause he’s exactly what we need on the right side.

17 Dec 2025 10:18:34
Why doesn’t he just play 4-3-3? We don’t appear to have anyone who is comfortable playing at 10, so why not play a system they can all manage?

17 Dec 2025 14:56:54
How about just signing a striker who has proven he can score in the PL instead of taking punts on the cheap.

{Ed025's Note - im with you Sobs..

17 Dec 2025 16:09:31
We all know we need a striker. The guy was talking about the No10 position.

18 Dec 2025 01:15:35
I mean I think we have a 10 in Ndiaye just needs to be played there. I think we do need a Chris Wood maybe or someone similar in a older cheaper striker in Jan.

16 Dec 2025 14:26:34
Mykolenko "obsession" continued.

Left-back comparative detail for 2024-2025 (last full season) . Left out the likes of Cucurella, Gvardiol, Robertson, Califori etc as they play for the clubs competing at the top of the table.

A fair comparison would be a few left-backs that have had as many seasons in the PL as Myko and at similar clubs.

(A) Mykolenko, (B) Mitchell, (C) Ait-Nouri (pre-city) and (D) Robinson.


Games: (A) 35, (B) 37, (C) 37, (D) 36
Goals: (A) 1, (B) 0, (C) 4, (D) 0
Assists: (A) 2, (B) 5, (C) 7, (D) 10
Chances Created: (A) 24, (B) 40, (C) 46, (D) 40
Touches: (A) 1744, (B) 1838, (C) 2315, (D) 2647
Touches In Oppo Box: (A) 33, (B) 44, (C) 104, (D) 73
Shots: (A) 8, (B) 9, (C) 21, (D) 11
Shot Accuracy %: (A) 12.5, (B) 33.33, (C) 61.9, (D) 18.18
Passes: (A) 972, (B) 1025, (C) 1377, (D) 1628
Passing Accuracy %: (A) 78.6, (B) 73.56, (C) 86.71, (D) 80.96
Passes Completed In Opp Half: A) 447, (B) 411, (C) 681, (D) 727
Take-Ons Completed: (A) 8, (B) 16, (C) 63, (D) 38

Now you may say that the other lads, certainly the latter two, are more attacking-minded and Myko is primarily a defensive LB.

Duels Contested: (A) 258, (B) 263, (C) 408, (D) 364
Tackles Made: (A) 63, (B) 91, (C) 89, (D) 95
Times Tackled: (A) 20, (B) 47, (C) 103, (D) 54
Fouls: (A) 22, (B) 23, (C) 30, (D) 31
Fouls Won: (A) 34, (B) 25, (C) 46, (D) 20
Aerial Duels Won: (A) 49, (B) 20, (C) 22, (D) 52
Ground Duels Won: (A) 103, (B) 132, (C) 198, (D) 151
Total Duels Won: (A) 152, (B) 152, (C) 220, (D) 203
Clearances: (A) 135, (B) 95, (C) 66, (D) 123
Interceptions: (A) 44, (B) 19, (C) 26, (D) 62
Blocked Shots: (A) 10, (B) 12, (C) 6, (D) 9
Ball Recoveries: (A) 88, (B) 168, (C) 145, (D) 157

Fair play to him, he comes out on top at being tackled the least amount of times. I imagine that is due to the fact that he never wants the ball - least amount of touches overall/oppositions box, total passes and take-ons.

He doesn't even come out on top in what is supposedly the strongest aspect of his game - defending. Least amount of duels contested and won, least tackles, least recoveries. All he has in his favour are clearances, a part of the game that will become less and less, the more we improve.

The lad is so limited and it is about time this is recognised. Nothing against the lad on a personal level. He seems honest and hard working but that doesn't make you good enough to play for Everton Football Club, at least not for me.

He is out of contract in the summer and I for one hope that we don't just lazily renew it. Full-backs are now some of the most important positions in modern day football and we need two of them, that is for certain.

16 Dec 2025 14:47:29
That’s a hell of an in depth analysis mate, good on you, some post.

16 Dec 2025 16:00:24
Wow! All that work to prove a point to someone. Wish I had the time or could be bothered.

16 Dec 2025 17:09:33
A lot of work, to prove what! to who! Moyes?

16 Dec 2025 17:49:11
If the point is there are better left backs out there, then I think we all agree.

16 Dec 2025 18:42:18
I don’t need any stats to tell me what my eyes can see. Mykolenko is a left back and not a very good one. There’s much room for improvement in that position for us and I have no doubt we will try to improve that area and the other areas were we can easily improve ie right back and striker.
Unfortunately I thought we would improve left back with Aznou but he doesn’t look ready for the EPL. So Mykolenko is our best option there at present. But he needs replacing sooner rather than later.

Just like Keane has done well this season but as soon as Branthwaite is fit, he’ll be straight back in because he is a massive improvement in Keane.

{Ed025's Note - dont get me wrong Joe, i dont think Myko is great but i think we need other positions strengthening more than left back mate, i feel that a forward, centre mid and right back should be our priority first..especially a forward, thats just my take though..

16 Dec 2025 20:12:06
Agree with you Ed025. I thought the we played as well as Chelsea but it is obvious that we have no cutting edge especially without KDH. If you don't score you don't win.

{Ed025's Note - now that KDH may be out and Ndaiye is away our quest for goals will become a great deal harder Mike, and if jack is struggling then i really fear that these games coming up will be a real struggle mate..

17 Dec 2025 00:17:50
I tell you what I will say on this, we signed Myko and Patterson in the same week and for proper money. That shows you the insanity of the previous regime.

17 Dec 2025 03:28:04
ed025, I agree those positions (RB, ST) probably need addressing more than LB at present. But LB still needs addressing and I'm disappointed that we tried to address it by signing Aznou only to be told he's not EPL ready. I think we will see a big improvement in our attacking play if we sign a decent right and left back.


Unfortunately that doesn't guarantee that our 2 strikers will score. And I also agree with you about us struggling for goals without KDH and Ndiaye missing. Can anyone step up and score a few, is the question? And only time will tell.

{Ed025's Note - we all want better players for quite a few positions Joe but the FFP has stymied us mate even if we have the money, thats why i cant understand the policy of buying for the future at this stage when we need players for now, maybe if we see a dip in form over the the next month or so these buyers might realize that shopping at nursery schools is not the best idea..

18 Dec 2025 00:44:34
So true ed025, but for me our weakest points are the strikers and full backs. Our best right back so far this season was Garner against Fulham and even he was given a run around a few times by Kevin, defensively. But he was much better when attacking with Ndiaye. Grealish will be more effective if he had a pacy full back playing alongside him, IMO.

Most full backs nowadays are fast and athletic but not great defensively (Digne and Baines) but O'Brien and Mykolenko are neither fast or athletic. But that's just my opinion and I've proven to myself that I know nothing as every time I say a player for us is terrible they play like Roy of the Rovers their next game haha.

{Ed025's Note - we will just have to see what Santa brings us Joe, mind you i dont know how hes going to get down the chimney with all them players and weather presenters i have asked for mate.. :)

16 Dec 2025 13:40:09
Not good for Saturday super thin squad with Ndiaye and Gana out, also KDH and now Grealish could be missing as well also Rohl and JB long term absence, chance for some fringe players to step up.

16 Dec 2025 20:28:03
Could have Grealish out. 3 behind Barry, McNeil Alcaraz Dibling. No idea of the bench.

16 Dec 2025 21:27:24
We have plenty of keepers in youth ranks to fill our bench I suppose.

15 Dec 2025 14:59:00
Father in law is a Chelsea season ticket holder, reckons we were the better team in first half and a draw would've been fair, could easily have been 3-3.

15 Dec 2025 15:06:29
Agree our woeful finishing is our problem.

15 Dec 2025 18:34:38
Could easily been us ahead at halftime. We are a good side. Stop predicting is my sdvice. Predict a score ln no basis and then slag the team off ehen it doesn't happen. 1994.

15 Dec 2025 19:04:23
It’s not slagging the Team off at all, if I’m not happy with the game of any player I question it, every fans right,

15 Dec 2025 10:32:07
Mykolenko v Chelsea

Chances created 2
Final third passes 11
Recoveries 3
Rating 7.1


Not bad for a crap left back against the World Champions.

15 Dec 2025 15:02:56
Some good stats them. Are we not adding the ball watching and flat-footedness for the first or the fact he got his ankles snapped by Neto for the 2nd?

15 Dec 2025 15:07:07
I keep getting told stats don’t mean anything hmmmm.

15 Dec 2025 17:00:04
Neto has been snapping ankles all season. Offer your services to Moyes.

15 Dec 2025 17:08:15
They don't in the round GB, it was an answer to bluenose's obsession with Mykolenko. He isn't the best LB in the Prem but he certainly isn't the worse. TV doesn't show the whole game I. E. follows the ball.

Tarks shove for instance or what led to it. Mykolenko is quite often the last man when Tarks and Keane venture. Moyes thinks Myko is okay and I agree, some don't but Myko is certainly not sh**e.

15 Dec 2025 17:16:34
To be fair stats don't always show the true picture. I mean the centre halfs can have 100% passing rate just because they pass it back and forth to each other.

15 Dec 2025 17:41:48
I agree.

15 Dec 2025 17:57:50
I think Myko has improved since first joining us, happy for him to stay myself.

15 Dec 2025 20:19:05
He is solid, not spectacular or really attack minded. I don't look at LB and worry, but understand why some aren't convinced.
We've also been blessed with quality and popular at LB for a long time before him so he is up against it with fans sometimes.


Digne
Baines - Best ever? My favourite Everton player.
Lescott
Distin
M. Ball
Unsworth
Hinchliffe
Van den howe
And way back further, players i didn't see.

16 Dec 2025 00:22:29
I imagine those final third passes were predominantly the 5 yard passes to Grealish as he hugs the touch line.

Few more stats:

0 accurate crosses
11 times possession lost
1 tackle won.

16 Dec 2025 08:50:20
The only way we will ever find out how good or bad he is, will be when we have another good left back challenging.

16 Dec 2025 10:12:51
Ah VDH now there was a full back.

15 Dec 2025 07:39:04
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

14 Dec 2025 19:19:52
What’s our Team likely then against the Goooners next Saturday, big boots to fill, Ndiaye and Gueye will be missed massively and also KDH.

{Ed025's Note - Tim for Gana is easy enough, and probably McNeil for Ndaiye, with the 2 sub goalies coming on with 10 mins to go.. :)

14 Dec 2025 19:48:19
Now now Ed.

14 Dec 2025 20:16:58
Ed could be right, we are threaded.

{Ed025's Note - you never know it could be the making of the guys who step in, it may also prove to TFG that we need reinforcements come January, that is my positive spin on things, the negatives are that i cant see Millican and Nesbitt getting many goals so the next 6 weeks could be a war of attrition..

14 Dec 2025 20:30:36
He won't play Dibling against Arsenal so expect Grealish, Alcaraz, McNeil in front of Garner and Irogebunam, one of the B's up front. Eds call isn't far off, oh and further cheer, wasn't Grealish also worrying about a hamstring. On a personal note I am in line for deaf and dumb breakfast all week because I want to be back from a trip Saturday.

14 Dec 2025 21:58:11
We are going to sit back and use McNeils pace on the breakaways.

15 Dec 2025 09:26:54
All their defenders in our half and McNeil hailing an uber.

15 Dec 2025 11:39:56
When we attack the south stand use McNeil it’s downhill will give him an extra inch of pace, and for north use dibbling his youth will counter going uphill.

15 Dec 2025 14:27:54
Rolling sub. Brilliant. 😅.

15 Dec 2025 14:28:36
Everything is uphill to my 5ft 7inches.

15 Dec 2025 17:18:33
Try 6ft 4in, everything cost a fortune. Shoes, clothes everything grrr.

14 Dec 2025 18:15:39
DCL 4 goals in 4 matches, well I never.

14 Dec 2025 18:33:04
Getting the feed. With Grealish, KDH, Ndiaye feeding in he could have played how Antonelli had him. But we were not to know who we were getting in. Hopefully our scouts have been looking further down the leagues for someone similar.

14 Dec 2025 18:58:32
Yep agree with that mate.

14 Dec 2025 21:59:08
DCL? Move on .

15 Dec 2025 00:39:20
Good for him 5, 3, 7, 2, 5 that’s his goal tally for 5 years didn’t include cups didn’t make much difference, his numbers for physio tables is amazing though.

15 Dec 2025 10:11:24
I think he has 3 pens in that total and if you watch him he does less than Barry.

14 Dec 2025 18:06:39
So we are down to 9th but only 4 points off 4th, happy with that hopefully we can upset the Gooooooooners at home next Saturday.