Elston Gunnn

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

1 minute ago, badaids said:

He barely crossed the half way line. He should have been where Beto passed it.

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......)

Just now, badaids said:

Where the fuck was McNeil on that attack? 

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.

Just now, Btay said:

.... can’t keep the ball at all or make simple passes....

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.

2 hours ago, Boston Toffee said:

So what's happening with Andre?....  Could be useful as a sub now and then?

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.

6 hours ago, Hafnia said:

He coasts too much for me and plays like he’s in an international match.  It’s the premier league and he has all the attributes to be a top midfielder like viera, big powerful, long legs, box to box. 

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.

1 hour ago, Romey 1878 said:

Obviously he could and maybe should have put have put one of his chances in the back of the net, but I was definitely more disappointed with Patterson's and Doucoure's missed opportunities.

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.

1 hour ago, Boston Toffee said:

Per Alan Myers things are progressing well with Chermitti and will have medical in couple of days...

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.

29 minutes ago, Shukes said:

Don’t think you’ve been watching us. The whole team is absolutely useless at shooting, I think this is why he takes them on sometimes.

We do have Dwight though.

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.

5 minutes ago, Shukes said:

Elston what do you think of Gana’s shots?

I don’t know, it just feels like your trying to say something.

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).

53 minutes ago, Bailey said:

I was thinking more about Young than the othet two

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.

3 minutes ago, Bailey said:

I wouldn't read too much into positions at this stage as it is more about getting fitness in the tank.

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.

12 hours ago, Btay said:

Iwobi looked central with Young mostly out wide further forward. Godfrey LB, Gana just buzzed around the middle of the park.

I think Maupay played CB for Wigan which I thought was strange….

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.

2 minutes ago, Cornish Steve said:

Is the optimism surrounding Branthwaite much more than hope at this point?

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.