Elston Gunnn

I’ve been disgusted with McNeil’s laziness (just out of shape?) today, so must give him credit for excellent corner.

Ah, I was referring to the Brentford goal, where he failed miserably to track back to defend.

And there’s Gana’s “shot.” He needs to sit back. (So he has more opportunities to give the ball away......)

Watching the play. Hardly moving. At all. Total laziness. No excuse.

Gana gives it away yet again.

McNeil absolutely watching the play, hardly moved, no attempt to track back. Awful laziness.

I’ll admit I’m shocked that Doucouré didn’t blast it well over the bar.

This is our most basic problem, has been for several years.

Just look at that “pass” from Gana......

Still in it, but it will be shocking if we grab a miracle goal.

The difference in passing skills is enormous. As is the alertness factor. Arsenal play and think crisply. We do neither.

I’ve no idea whether he’ll be here. But the squad is awfully thin in numbers. Gomes does have strengths: ball control, ball protection, passing. But he’s so slow and thus is a first-half yellow card waiting to happen as opponents glide past him. So don’t start him, ever. But he can help at 65-70 minutes, when opponents tire a bit, thus rendering Gomes only a little, rather than a whole lot, slower. The Everton attack (pardon the exaggeration) can go through him. On occasion effectively.

A basic pass, couldn’t do it.

We’ve been a poor passing team for several seasons, and still are. That’s but one of our problems today, but it’s basic, and hurts us regularly.

Agree with both the positive and negative evaluation here. His physical talents are significantly underused because he coasts, indicating that he lacks the key psychological attribute of relentless effort. Perhaps he’ll grow into a fierce player as, and if, his mentality matures and catches up to his physicality.

Perhaps the single most common expression on the faces of Everton players is wide-eyed shock, usually accompanied by hands on head, at a missed shot that should have been pretty easy. For me, the most shocking shots by Doucouré last season were the 2 he scored against Brighton. One of the very few matches all season in which Doucouré did not put hands to head in — what amounts to — self-mocking shock at his inability to finish any sort of “shot” whatsoever.

More on Youssef Chermiti, young striker now with Sporting CP. https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/07/31/romano-claims-everton-have-agreed-to-sign-fast-and-powerful-striker I’m always leery of the phrase “looks set,” but I’m also desperate enough to hope we sign him, as he might actually be a striker who could score a few goals.

Ha, you’ve got a point. I won’t (quite) say the whole team is “absolutely” useless, just regular useless. I do think Gana’s shots tend to be more off target than those of others. But maybe I’m obsessed with Gana’s dangerous tendency to roam far and wide, when his first priority should always be harassing the other team with smart tackles. Always. He wants to score a goal now and then; I get it. He’s no good at goalscoring; he doesn’t get it.

You mean Gana’s “shots,” right? I think they’re ...... words fail, I’m struggling here ....... inadequate to the task at hand. Bollocks. Stay back, buzz around the entirety of the middle of the pitch, make dozens of tackles, strive to be the EPL’s DPOY, leave the advancing midfield duties to others (Garner, maybe Onana, Iwobi, Gomes).

Ah, got it. May Young play young. On the other 2, I’ll continue to hope Godfrey is seldom used at LB, and that ageless Gana has an epiphany (or simply looks at his “shotmaking” tapes) and uses 95% of his energy to foil opposing attackers, and only 5% to push forward toward using his aging shooting boots.

Ok, thanks. If this means Godfrey really isn’t likely to play LB, that brightens my day. If it means Gana will very rarely buzz forward with his “shotmaking,” that, too, would be good news. Someone described Gana as “ageless,” which seems apt. But his self-perception as a goal-scorer is also ageless, and self-misperception at any age.

Thanks for answering my post with this info. I was afraid Godfrey might have been LB. Ugh. And that Young seems a winger/attacker surprises me, but maybe he’s just got more quality virtually anywhere on the pitch that he might score more goals than, well, several unnamed lads. Gana — I’m ok with his buzzing, though I’d prefer that he not buzz too far forward, imagining/hallucinating himself a shotmaker. He’s a good DCM, a lousy ACM, but I don’t think he can see the obvious. Can Dyche?

Didn’t see the match. For those who did, can you tell me where Young lined up mostly? Iwobi? McNeil on left? Did Gana mostly sit in front of back 4? Godfrey LB?

Iwobi’s energy has always impressed, but for an attacking midfielder/winger, he hasn’t in 4 seasons with Everton produced much in the way of goals/assists (a total of 6/11 in EPL matches). He looks impressive, runs forever, can play several positions, seems a very likable teammate. His versatility has been important the last couple of seasons. But maybe Garner, while not as energetic-looking, will prove equally versatile and rather more productive. For, if Iwobi has moved around from (usually right) winger, attacking central midfielder, and occasional right wingback, might we not expect Garner to actually serve in those roles more effectively? Probably Garner will be more a controlling than attacking midfielder, but if so, I’m inclined to think playing through Garner will be more effective than what Iwobi’s great energy has produced.

Nothing more than hope, for me, as Everton look to be in a near-hopeless situation as we enter the window. But that’s also why I hope Hafnia’s right, and that his “high hopes” regarding Branthwaite’s talents prove true. And so I’m interested in any additional comments from TTers who agree with Hafnia that Branthwaite may come good, if given a chance. In the absence of additional comments reinforcing Hafnia’s assessment, I’ll be reduced to (1) hoping Hafnia’s right — he is, you lot know, plenty of times — or (2) being reduced to hopelessness, temporarily.