DavisJD

Re-watched this game last night. The first half was a very even match, for most chances or balls across the box that City created in the first half, Everton were up the pitch attacking, creating chances in reply. With an impressive high press at times. Marking was 1 on 1 around the pitch, aside from our back 3 and one of Gueye or Schneiderlin depending on where the ball/players were. Everton looked very impressive. City had a 5 minute spell of good chances created, then Everton went up the other end and scored. The second half Everton dropped off slightly on tight 1-1 marking, the intensity seemed to drop out of the press, possibly Everton were slightly more zonal in there marking. A few less passes stuck to DCL and Rooney as Everton tried to move up the pitch similarly to the first half for the first 20mins, another striker with fresh legs could have helped here. Instead we had Thor and Klaasen come on, but unfortunately Everton still struggled to make possebesion stick for decent periods. Watching the game without the emotion of the result to think about, Everton were impressive and took the game to City from the kick off, Very excited for the team that is building.

I can't help but hope Barkley stays past the transfer window, and he re-signs during the year. Can see Barkley modelling the next stage of his development on Rooney, his movement around the pitch and importantly the desperation to get into and deceptively move in the box. One can hope...

My take on it was Koeman was trying to get the team to hold possession for longer periods rather than pure counter attacking football. It didn't quiet work, City shut our players down quickly and we couldn't move up the pitch and find space to move the ball continually. Credit to City, they stopped Everton playing football.

Not personally happy with that transfer either, glad to have Rooney, would have preferred to keep Rom for 1 more season. Anyway, Gueye, mint.

Selling Matic to your title rivle makes absolutely no sense. Must be more to the story as to why that transfer was allowed.

A lot of players were, they played a high line and Everton tried to use the space, not always smartly. Rooney is class, and can play multiple roles and positions in one game, it's would be an injustice to his ability and smarts to say he should play here or there.

I think DCL will start over Mirallas. Long ball outlet when we are pinned back or the quick direct ball from Pickford we have been treated to.

Would be a nice tactical option, bring in Holgate to sure up defence when required (I think Holgate's defensive positioning is poor at times, much like Stones was when playing for Everton, looses his player or gets pulled out of shape). Martina currently seems to be trusted to be used as an aggresive attacking outlet. He must have attempted around 10 crosses tonight.

It's one possibility, pie in the sky stuff at this point but there is potential there for a staged takeover. We have owners that are re-investing, building for the future, and seemingly not just fleecing the club as has so unfortunately happened to some clubs. Happy days!

Acquisitions usually involve getting board control over time, putting favourable people on the board for voting decisions and purchasing more shares as they become available. For Everton's interest, we may not need Kroenke to sell immediately. Will be an interesting one to follow over the coming years...

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2017-aliko-dangote-interview/ Potential future Arsenal buyout, leaving Usmanov's interests potentially free for another club.... FL Youve mentioned wanting to buy Arsenal Football Club before. Is that still on your wish list? AD Yes, but I dont want to go after Arsenal until I deliver the refinery. Once I deliver, I will go after Arsenal. FL There are no other clubs youd want to buy? AD I dont change clubs. Even when Arsenal isnt doing well I still stick by them. Its a great team, well-run. It could be run better, so I will be there. I will wait. Even if things change I will take it and make the difference going forward. FL Do you think Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov would sell their stakes? AD Well, you know anything is possible in this world. If they get the right offer, Im sure they would walk away. Well be in a position to give them the right offer. They will not hold ­Arsenal forever. Someone will give them an offer that will make them seriously consider walking away. And when we finish the refinery, I think we will be in a position to do that. FL How would you change things? AD The first thing I would change is the coach. He has done a good job, but someone else should also try his luck.

Fap fap fap fap fap Much more than a set piece specialist, excited to see him play for Everton.

Hoping this means he stays until at least January, and fingers crossed, signs a new contract. One can hope.

From BBC: "The Senegal international made more tackles (five) than any other player on the pitch, had the most touches (92) and made more passes than any other midfielder. He even managed a rare shot on target." Thought he had a massive impact on the game. City will hate his in the face approach next week.

Sandro - 10 Rooney - 10 Klaasen - 5 Sig...(or other) - 5 Conservative but realistic expectations.

Assist on his debut in a 1-0 win. Made the league team of the week. Great start. https://mobile.twitter.com/EvertonNewsFeed/status/894504500106539008/photo/1

This is pre-season. For all we know, the players put 20km of high intensity work into there legs yesterday and today was about pushing fitness levels and touch with heavy legs. There may have been some tactical areas Koeman wanted to focus on, so made the team play a specific way to try and create those scenarios. We just don't know, it's pre-season. Season starts soon, looking forward to it.

I shook my head when at 0-0, I watched an Everton player (maybe Barry?) have the ball between midfield and a back 3, definite shooting distance, not one player made a run past him to pull the defenders, the player didn't try to make something happen. He literally did a u-turn and passed backward. Outside the box..... something very very wrong there.

Best information is there isn't any offers for Barkley currently, only paper rumours. Anyway that's for another thread. Hypothetical scenario; What if Everton were to pay 30Mil for Sigurdsson, and Barkley was sent in the other direction on loan. Same scenario but 25Mil? Just looking at a left field scenario of what might be with a player exchange been involved in this transfer. In that hypothetical scenario. Would Barkley do as well as Sigurdsson in the Swansea team? With that thought, who is currently the better player?

Lower the fee, Barkly loan for 1 season. Can a player refuse a loan move?

https://youtu.be/9i2d2x4DUqk Hope Everton get him in, quality.

Could see him doing the job at RWB & RB competing with Holgate while Coleman recovers.

He had a run last season where he looked world class. Still prone to an error though. Would be very happy if he was Everton's English Cup and backup keeper next season. Better option that Steks, stats below. http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/everton-team-stats?competition=1&season=20160&category=GOALKEEPING *** One way of looking at the stats, if we took Robles points ratio for the entire year, Everton would have finished a point above Liverpool in 4th. Ha

Mucked up my quote... in regards to Sandro, Rooney and Giroud potentially replacing Rom. I wouldn't be happy. Sandro can't play every game, and history suggests many players take a season to adapt to the prem. If we are playing with Giroud and Rooney as our best strikers next season for any of the above reasons, we will not be finishing in the champions league places. Loan deal for Rooney sounds ideal for 1 season, but we need another quality striker if Rom leaves. Not a French Peter Crouch.