RuffRob

Difficult to coach those player on the treatment table. and you are also going to find if difficult to develop your teams way of playing while many are missing. He has been fire fighting to a certain extent in last 3 months. You will also get some players who are just plain poor and prone to mistakes, some who don't want to listen and some who are simply past their best, and some just don't have the right assets or mentality, and one even hidden away in a safe house - new players will be needed. Some players are improving, a lot are as bad as they have ever been. In the squad of players he inherited why would your plan A be anything other than getting the most out of DCL? Gordon had hardly a look in last year under Ancelotti and only managed to play 11 times when sent out on loan with PNE in the championship. He did not have a decent last season and was on no sort of ongoing upwards trajectory. He looked to be going backward if anything. You will need to be more specific to quantify last years decent spells. So these two players (who highlighted as doing well in the last game) who are improved you simply want to put down to 'luck' and a 'natural development'. DCL is maybe the only one missing throughout the whole of this bad run of injuries, but plenty of other key players have been missing alongside him at anyone time. A lot of players have been missing on this shite run (nobody can argue there has not been a shite injury run over the period of bad results) - and this chopping and changing of the team with different players injured is a hindrance in itself. DCL was back against Brighton, but is far from match fit. I am not even trying to say Benitez is a great manager or is going to get us playing entertaining football. I am just saying its a little harsh righting him off as shite or useless without really seeing what he can do with a squad of fit players and half a dozen of his own signings. Look at somebody like Artea at Arsenal, they have looked shocking at times and been on horrible runs themselves with a much much higher quality squad - but a couple of year at the helm things are starting to click there, because some time has been allowed. To me not giving somebody a fair amount time is not on, and the more we do this them more we deserve to be in the sort of situation we are in.

Don't get me wrong, no Everton fan has enjoyed the football this past few months, I am guessing its not actually been than much fun for Benitez either with the lack of players available and the real ability of the players we actually have - I would totally be down on him if we are watching 'his' team play, but that's not what we are really getting this past few month is it? I am sure he is as disappointed as we are with the showings we are getting from most of the incumbent players. Has he been able to actually stick the same team out in two consecutive games since he has been here? Two players who actually shone out in the Brighton game - Gordon and Grey (again). Gordon looks a different player this season under Benitez and Grey is arguably one of the premier league signings of the season and first name down on our team sheet. The signing look decent enough to me so there are actually positives about the place for those prepared to look. I think Benitez deserves a change of a proper run with this team with a fit DCL actually spearheading the attack. DCL is fundamental to this team in its current form and him being out really has been massive.

I am optimistic - it sounds very much like the lad is very please to be coming to the club. This is in stark contrast to a certain Denzel Dumfries who we were chasing in the summer and Benitez said no to. I recent Dumfries interviews it seemed he very much wanted to go to Inter as opposed to coming to us. Benitez has said on a number of occasions that he is only interested in players who WANT to be at Everton - Whatever you think about Benitez, I am pretty sure everybody would agree with him on this being a prerequisite for players putting on the blue shirt. I think there will be a nice added bonus of a bit of competition between our two new young full backs in showing what they can do on the pitch for us.

I agree, I think it's just all to easy to be blaming whoever the managers is that we are not seeing near instant improvements - the make up of the squad is the main problem. Sacking the manager and simply appointing somebody else is actually part of the clubs problem. If Benitez had a full strength squad available and been able to put a more consistent team out over this run of bad results, I would be a little more concerned, but he hasn't - very much the opposite. I am not sure who would have been getting results with this squad. Even with a near fully fit squad we are average mid table team at best, you add to that injury crisis and we are a bottom half team. I am actually liking what I have seem so far in the transfer windows under Benitez - summer signings have been excellent value, these two young backs that have come in are show a bit of forward thinking that I can get behind. It's not all negative, there are some green shoots to nurture. I have said it before, I am prepared to see a step backwards (i.e the moving on of the likes of James, Gylfi etc and bringing in quality young talent ) in order to actually a more sustainable squad being developed. To me the squad is actually moving in the direction I would like to see it move. As frustrating as the recent result have been, I would actually quite like to see how Benitez gets on with a more consistent pool of players to draw upon week after week after week and how this transfer windows signings will improve the team. I want to give the bloke a fair chance. Graham Potter did out do Benitez tactically this weekend, but he has been at Brighton and 'his' set of players for over 2 and a half years now.

Because I am an generally an optimist and a glass half full type of person. Always looking to extract any positives from a given situation as it helps keep me sane and get maximum enjoyment from things. Given the time, effort and expense I spend, I'll be damed if it just going to make me miserable 24/7. Next week I am anticipating the beginning of a great 2022 FA cup run. and the new signings this month are going to be amazing and turn our fortunes around.

https://www.glasgowworld.com/sport/football/rangers/kris-commons-rangers-defender-nathan-patterson-is-a-better-player-than-james-tavernier-but-needs-regular-game-time-to-prove-it-3476625 I do like the things I am reading about Patterson, and it sounds just like the type of player player we should have been bringing in over the past 5 years. These types should have already been well embedded in to this squad.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-nathan-pattersons-rangers-credentials-23592518.amp This is the article made me beleive Patterson played wingback role at Rangers last year under Gerrard.

That just what I have been reading in the media, but will confess not watched either of them play. I though Rangers played 5 at the back when Gerrard was in charge, but dont hold me to that.

I wonder if todays 3 at the back is going to become a more familiar set up with it looking like we will very shortly have two young lads who are both maybe more familiar playing as wingbacks as they are a conventional backs. This would make sence in helping both them bed in to a new team.

Err, other than not have not played for 2.5 weeks simply being a fact and then low and behold we go 2 goals down in the first 30mins. Others on here also pointed out this fear a few days before kick off. Not playing for 2.5weeks does have a tangible bearing on sharpness in a game, especially the beginning. Fatiuge also plays a part, but we actually came back and 'won' the second half when thing sort of thing would have affected Brighton as opposed to us. I am not trying to say it was a good performance, but I have said on a number of occasions we are not a good team yet and not expecting that to change just becasue a calander has has moved from 2021 to 2022 and DCL is back in the team having not played for over 3months. With regard to 'international break' that effects all teams equally, so not same comparision. I still maintain if we had Newcastle game under ours and DCLs belt, I am confident today's result would have been different.

definitely caught cold in that first half having not played for 2.5 weeks. That was always my fear for this game. DCL not so sharp either and gutted when he missed the pen.. All in all we lost that in the first 30mins. I think if we would have played the Newcastle game a few days ago everybody would have just been that fraction sharper - and I think we would have won todays game. on the positive, great to see Gordon finally get his goals - hoping he will kick on the goal scoring front now he has that monkey off his back.

Read he was on both Brands list and also on Benitez list. I am pretty sure if he hadn't been a player that Benitez wanted, fancied and fully signed up to, we would not have signed him. So I am well and truly having this one down as a Benitez signing (whether he turns out good or bad). I really don't think we will be buying any players now if they where simply just on Brands radar.

I think it is still early days yet but I am eternally optimistic. I think with this window and the next in the summer - when we see a huge amount wiped off the annual accounts as the amortisation and wages of Delph, Gyfi and Tosun disappearing. If you add Digne to this, then I see that as around £40M a year off the annual accounts, this is significant. OK, these players will need replacing - but I am sure we can get more value out of this £40M a year. With his £17M fee (which I believe also includes add-on's) and reported £50,000 wages - Mykolenko is going to cost around £6.5M a year on our accounts - so some basic maths that we should be able to accommodate around 5 more similar signings to come on board over the next couple of windows. This is based on the assumption that we are able to spend what we now save!! add to this the sale of any other players al la Holgate etc - we could see a very different squad going in to 2023. This to me what I will be measuring Rafa against in roughly 12 months time, I want to see a young energetic and hungry team/squad that is developing and looks to be going places.

He's got some big shoes to fill after Baines and the Digne have made LB one of our strongest outlets in recent history. Best of luck to the lad.

looks like the game has been rescheduled to Tuesday Jan 11th https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-everton-new-date-6426816

In a way the really circumstances in which Barklay left don't really matter because simply in many eyes his leaving left a sour taste in may fans mouth, and we know a significant proportion will just not accept him coming back to the club and will be on his case from day one. So to this end he would be a very divisive signing, no matter which side of the Barkley argument you fall. So the question to me why would they bring in a player who at best is going to divide fans massively. It's not like his wages are cheap at around £100K a week.

Tosun's been far more of a drain on the club than Jelavic ever was.

My single biggest problem with bringing Barkley is that there is plenty enough divison in the fanbase with Rafa at the club. Not sure throwing in a player that may result in similar division is a great idea, some will simply hate him from day one, every bad touch will be greeted with groans.

Young Chelsea LB on loan at Coventry City. Talk of Chelsea recalling him to cover LB.

Just as well looking at a you tube highlight real as looking at CL game highlight againt european giants. Game highlight reals are not going to focus on stuff a LB does well againts some of the worlds better offensive players. Benfica, Barca and Bayen don't play ordinary players. I am not going to worry just yet. I have no doubt it will take a young Ukrainian lad a bit of time to adjust to a new counrty and the cut and thrust of the premier league. No point in being down on him before he even puts the shirt on.

Bringing Barkley back to the club would go down like a lead balloon with fans, just can't see either Moshiri or Rafa actually thinking this move would be a good one. I personnally don't see it happening and all just lazy journalisum from those who maybe don't really know how much of a villan Barkey was when he left.

Our play has been pretty poor, so can't see it being worse. A enforced Xmas break is unlikly to do the players to much harm. If we have had half a dozen with covid then an additional half a week will be welcome. They will still be kept at peak fitness. This break may help us later in the season. Hopefully lesssr risk of injuries!!

I also think there is a good chance he will end up at Cheslea now. Proven quality premiership player who is not cup tied for CL football. The more clubs after him the better.

Always have to aim to win as many games as possible. However, spending needs to be sensible and I am not sure millions on wages for a Courtiho or Ramsey type is worth it this season. If we where knocking on the door of CL football, i can understand a 'push' or bring in a bit of short term quality to the team in the January transfsr window. This squad needs more fundamental work than just a bit of icing on the top.

I really don't see Coutinio or Ramsey type as markets we would currently be shopping in. Having spent much of the last 12 months trimming down the wage bit. both players would improve our squad, but the quick fix signings are what we have been guilty of in the past. Lets hope talented youngsters is now the modus operandi. It's not even as if a 'cheap' half season loan would help much either - its not like we need that little bit extra to get CL or even Europe. This season is perfect for writing off and concentrating more about putting down a solid foundation for the future.