Vranny

For me it's one of;

Pickford

Holgate Keane Jags Baines

Gana Schneiderlein

Sandro Rooney Siggy

DCL

or

Pickford

Kenny Keane Jags Baines

Davies Schneiderlein Gana

Rooney/Siggy

DCL Sandro/Rooney

depending on what shape we go with. It's frustrating me to bits that we've bought in so many slow AMs and no wingers (or a marquee striker) to solve obvious issues in our squad. Think we're going to have to use Klaasen as a rotation/Europa player for instance.

He doesnt look like a lone CF against a big and strong Chelsea team thats for sure. I would be intrigued to see him and DCL together in a 442.

Yep, play him out wide or up front with a partner. He hasn't got the ability or strength to play the lone striker role in the prem.

Seems a Koeman type. I was wondering when we would be linked with him after Giroud fell through.

I'm thinking:

Pickford

Holgate Keane Jags Baines

Davies Gana

Lookman/Mirallas Rooney Sig

DCL

Has a good mix of pace and grit, though wouldn't at all be surprised to see the 3/5 at the back rolled out again.

I just don't know why we didn't bring on Mirallas, or Lookman (or both) instead of Sigurdsson or Klaasen. DCL was making it pretty clear that the city defence was struggling with his pace, so we really had to be targeting that more 2nd half with them going down to 10 men. Didn't even look to bring one of them on for those last 10-15 minutes just to relieve some of the pressure on us.

He needs to play the 10 for me- he was caught offside time and time again last night because he knows he'a he's lost his pace and needs to steal a yard when he's playing the striker.

Agreed. Think we're going to have to play a diamond in midfield to squeeze him and Klaasen into the same side. God knows what we'll do with Siggy as well.

Based on the first half, the best players were Martina, Lookman, Gueye, and Baines. The weak links were Mirallas and (despite his contribution to the second goal) Klaassen. I'm sure the latter will improve over time, but I'm quite disappointed with Mirallas: It's not that he's a weak player, but too often he makes the wrong decision and can be sloppy. But for MotM, I choose Lookman. Not everything he tried came off, but he's a real live wire.

I just think Mirallas is getting noticably slower these days. Didn't mind his decision making mostly (think he's better at this than Lookman for sure), but he just doesn't carry that threat on the ball that he used too. He either needs to develop a good partnership with Baines when played on the left, or get games up front playing with someone pacer like Sandro or DCL.

Sane (or whichever other pacy winger they go with) is going to absolutely destroy him on Monday. Whoever plays RM for us better be prepared to help out.

I'm just hoping Koeman plays Holgate, knowing that we'll be on the back foot for most of this game.

Rooney or Gana for me. Leaning towards Rooney with his goal. Pickford a very solid third pick too.

Rooney completely dictated our attacking play second half, once he had a bit of pace around him. Gana was just a tackling machine and set up quite a few counters for us.

I couldn't see Barkley wanting to go to Swansea.

I honestly think one of the reasons for him leaving is to go to one of the teams above us in order to help him get games for England. Even with no CMs of any natural talent in the England side, Barkley couldn't get a look in at NT level once last season. Think he's looking for that bit of extra exposure that comes with playing for the Tottenhams, Arsenals, etc. So no chance of going to Swansea.

I feel like if we really wanted him we should've gone for him this time last year, instead of Williams.

It's my favourite current animated series. And I do love me some animation.

Am I missing something but if you're trying to avoid the score logging onto a Everton forum is kinda risky business?.. & petty stupid. Maybe I'm less forgiving but I think you deserve to get it spoilt. I for one don't watch tv, radio off and unlikely to answer the phone. If I do I normally answer it with 'I don't know the everton score' (even to complete strangers!)

I usually follow this thread along when I watch replays of a game, but avoid the rest of the forum myself.

Got a team of lads who know the score.... this lad is a leader and along with the like of pickford, Davies, lookman will be making up the leadership core of the England side in 4 years.

I remember us saying similar about Stones not so long ago...

Keane and possibly Pickford I can see being potential leaders, but it's a bit early to pin anything on Davies and Lookman yet.

I'm happy with the strong characters Koeman is bringing into the team for sure though.

Makes sense to bring him in if Koeman plans to play a back 3 at times this season. With Galloway out on loan and Mori injured for the foreseeable future we need a left footed CB.

Shouldn't be a priority signing though, in my mind.

Barely played (or scored) in the last two years. For a player who's main attribute is/was his pace I wouldn't touch him, considering his age and recent run of injuries.

 

We need a new Left Back.

With the amount of change going through our squad I honestly wouldn't mind if we leave our full-backs for 6-12 months. I don't want too much upheaval in the squad :/

I think Barry is the only one in the squad somewhat capable of doing Schneiderlin's role if he gets injured too.

Arsenal NEED to get buying....

 

 

Or, more importantly, selling.

15-20. Reckon he'll do pretty well at United. Didn't think that would've been the case if he went to Chelsea though.

Bolasie was a mistake. We should have never signed him.

I think he was meant to be our version of Mane at Soton. I feel like Koeman just has a template team he keeps trying to assemble at each of his clubs

Has everyone forgotten Lookman and the eventual return of Bolasie?

I'm putting a line through Bolasie until he's back on the park and played a few games. Have no idea what he'll be like when he returns.

Lookman I'm excited about, but the way we're building our squad atm, I can see him having a bench role, while getting decent minutes in the Europa league.

One of my concerns with our recruit drive this summer is how it'll affect the youth players coming through, but their should be plenty of minutes between Europe and, fingers crossed, a couple of good cup runs.

Which would suggest that Giroud is coming too. Id be will happy with that. Sigurdsson smashing in crosses to Giroud and Rooney slightly behind to pick up any left overs.

 

What would it mean for Mirallas?

We'll still need some pace out wide, which I imagine Mirallas and possibly Sandro will provide. Mirallas has a decent cross too, just haven't seen it much when he's been played on the left more recently.

Would still rather a bit more of a mobile playmaker like Lanzini or Forsberg, but I think the plan is to play him out wide and smash in crosses to a target man. Would basically be playing the same role Tadic had at Soton under Koeman me thinks.

And you did back in 2012 ?

I'm pretty sure the thread was mis-spelt Das Bost back then too haha.