Lush Vlad

Poor earlier in the season and a ropey old return for a game or two in the league. But I think he has been great since the knee injury, otherwise. Really strong second half of the season.

Apart from that 8-9 game stretch. He’s been somewhere between bang average and poor this season. By his standards and ability, anyway. As for the attitude stuff. It’s impossible to quantify. But plenty of people are saying it and I don’t disagree. He doesn’t look as interested, not working on and off the ball like last season, he seems more greedy in his decisions and like he is over-playing with the ball a lot of the time. Not sure how that makes us all ‘stupid Everton fans’ I don’t want to sell him. I’d just like us to get him back to the levels that saw him as our player of the season. He’d be a long way down the voting this season. Of our regular sort of 14-15 players. He’s a lot closer to the bottom than the top. Based on his overall performances.

Pretty sure he has something wrong with him? As in, a vulnerable adult, learning diff. Something like that. Which is why I find it strange that they seem so keen to platform him and invite all of the abuse and aggro it brings. Feels like they’re profiting off the fact he’s not all there and comes across as a complete twat. Never sat right with me.

Not sure I agree with technique and finishing. I think it is very up and down for someone that plays that position. I do take your other points, though. It was like last season he played on instinct and emotion. This season he is over-thinking it. I’ve said on here loads he has started slowing down his play and trying to survey the pitch before making a decision. But it rarely works with him. He isn’t an elite playmaker who is going to pick a pass. But he is elite at isolating players and running at them with the ball. So more of that, please.

That is why I caveated it with what I think Howe might do. I’m not suggesting he should start

Just posted the same in the Botman thread. Not sure 5 at the back is the way to go here. But then we are also a bit limited and you want Botman in the team. I think Howe might bring Willock or Miley back in and we go back to the 4-3-3.

Not sure 5 at the back is the way to go against Everton. But you want him in the team. He’s so good on the ball and reading the game. A few times when he was pressing into the Arsenal half. They were trying to get him to bite on the double move. To use an American Football term. But he would read it and get back into position.

Aye. I thought he was top class. Odegaard and Rice (Apart from the wonder goal, of course ) were anonymous for a lot of that game. Bruno seemed to regularly getting the better of their midfield when given the chance. Partey played well, TBF. The absolute toucher* *Allegedly.

I’m overly harsh on him and far from his biggest fan. But all the talk of selling him seems mental to me. I’d much rather we unlocked whatever it is that gets him back to last season’s form, attitude and work rate.

Not really ignoring it. I’ve mentioned it a few times on here. An 8-9 game run of playing well. With bang average at best and crap either side of that? Not really what you’d want from our alleged 2nd or 3rd top earner. It’s even more annoying that we always shift an inform or dangerous looking player in Barnes to accommodate him. Barnes has been terrible on the right the last two and all just to make matters worse

What was his excuse for the rest of the season bar his one decent run of games? He wasn’t playing well before he was stupid and got himself banned.

That last chance at the end there sums him up. Doesn’t want to get the shot or cross off, has extra touches when he doesn’t need them. Then passes straight to an Arsenal player.

Been in poor form most the season IMO.

Going to seem like a knee jerk based on this shit performance. But I’ve been complaining about him most this season. Had an upturn in form after his new deal and had a good spell of 8-9 games off the top of my head. But he’s not looked like a player valued at £80m or whatever and one of our top earners. I find him really frustrating to watch most weeks.

Feels like a missed chance this. They’ve not been good and they’ve not even needed to be this half. Not like the old days of going away to Arsenal where they were always heavy favourites and we were shit. They were there for the taking and after a great first half. This second half showing in a massive game has been tame as fuck. And that’s putting it politely.

Are we trying to get Gordon out the way. Just shoving him up top? Osula looked quite lively up there. Does his new contract say he can refuse to play right wing if he wants

Can only agree with others. Gordon has been wank since coming back and hasn’t been good most the season. Yet we move one of our most in form attacking players, who has a great understanding with the man behind him. Just to accommodate him. It’s bullshit.

He had a good 8-9 games stretch or whatever it was. But he’s not built on his brilliant last season. He’s gone backwards.

Wank from Gordon. Fuck off.

Yep. He has been going down like Gordon under the slightest bit of contact. He used to be quite physical and had some pace. Actually sad to see him this immobile and weak

Osula cannot be worse at this point. I refuse to believe it

Brilliant half. Just need to keep creating and have a bit more conviction when we hit the box.

Almost the first mistake all half from Bruno with that dodgy pass. He’s been brilliant. Djourou?

I really wish Tino would get some confidence in the final third. Clean through and he stopped running to look for a pass.

He needs to fuck off with this diving shite.