ATF

Spurs can murder any team who leaves space behind.

I think people are always free to make comments on a manager for his selection, setup and subs. But it seems clear to me that a result like this is not "on him" at this stage. The actual ire seems merited elsewhere, even if you make the case that he too had a poor game.

Deflect attention, focus publicly on the positives, defend the players. It's broadly what you have to do in interviews. He has no real option but to channel some positive focus. Can work on fixing the weaknesses in private.

62 from 27 actually, which is only 2.3 points per game.

Get your money on it, my dudes.

Made me laugh 

Some of you need to stop visiting other forums. No good can come of it.

33 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

I hate 5 subs. 

 

It basically allowed Verona to ruin that game with calculated fouls. The two red cards at the end both for subs who had come on for players taken off with yellows. If it wasn't for that there'd have been red cards half an hour earlier or they wouldn't have been able to foul. 

It's such a stupid idea and it's pure greed, in different ways, that it's coming in.

On 06/11/2021 at 15:46, manorpark said:

Does anyone think that in a few years time Rafa might be interested in becoming a DoF here?

I cannot see Rafa ever being interested in a DoF role. He's a coach, pure and simple. When he retires he'll still find a way to do something along those lines.

7 minutes ago, Emotic said:

Isn’t Favre the King of overperforming xGs though? Or am I mistaking him for someone else? If there’s anything this squad needs, its someone who can coach and drill an approach that gets results more than the sum of it’s parts. I appreciate that real life isn’t FM though.

A manager doesn't get you to overperform xG though. Good keepers and good goalscorers get you to do that.

How many southerner Everton fans are there?

Imagine paying attention to that shit. 

1 hour ago, cosmic said:

Rafa's pals - Owen Brown and Frank Mcparland are Football Advisors to the Consortium. I'm sure if Rafa is in the running; perhaps not now but end of season. 

I think more likely Rafa was in contact with Staveley during and after he left Newcastle and he's mentioned them as knowledgeable, trustworthy people.

The problem with the Conte shout is that the guy lives to win the league and compete for trophies... immediately. He falls out with clubs when that stops being their instant objective or when he feels they're not putting in the same effort to achieve it. Chasing European positions is not what he wants to do. As such, I'm not sure he'd want the job.

Southgate suits being an international manager more than a club manager. The emphases are different. He can instil the right atmosphere with limited time, works with good coaches who compensate for his weaknesses and strikes the right relationship with all the people he needs to. International football is slower and he sets up his team in a balanced and compact way, where they're not going to be too exposed to individual errors. He's proved himself very adept at it and shown more understanding of the qualities needed for an international coach more than any England manager post-Ramsay.

Club management is a little different though and he's far from proven at it. 

1 minute ago, Kimbo said:

Just had a period with no commentary on the Brighton Arsenal game. It was bliss.

It really was. Now if they could do that at half time too. 

3 minutes ago, reefatoon said:

Have to say like. He gets a lot of praise on here, but for me, I just don’t get the fuss about Almiron. He just never does anything.

He's a systems player if ever I've seen one. He doesn't have the feel or individual quality to impact a game on his own. Needs a clearly defined role. Complete opposite to ASM.

No it will be because they played Wednesday night. Selfish TV scheduling putting them on the lunch time kick off.

Additionally, Everton have no depth on the bench with injuries so I think he has more freedom if they need something second half.

Yeah I suspected that. It's why I didn't put anything on it.

Cashed out on the 1-1 at 89 minutes.

I think Steve Bruce will get it. Ashley will just look at who on Jones' coaching staff can do a job.

1 hour ago, KaKa said:

 

Yeah, I thought the same.

 

You could argue his approach was a smart one too, because the 3 centrebacks neutralised Wood and Barnes to start.

 

As Burnley then began to tire he added the extra man in midfield to take full control of the game and completely play them off the park.

I do think you can say the back five didn't work for them last night. The thinking was obvious but without Calvert-Lewin they lacked the aerial outball and they were too passive and deep to put the squeeze on Burnley (also without a ball playing centre back against Burnley's press). Part players, part manager for not foreseeing the possible system breakdowns. The change though was very clever - I doubt many were thinking Gomes on for Godfrey and play 4-3-3. Created a 3v2 in midfield on transition, allowed Townsend and Gray to play higher and more inside, and freed Doucoure as well.

This stat is telling.

Rafa's gone with the wrong shape like. They've backed off too far, they're playing long balls to Richarlison who isn't a number nine, and they can't get up to press. Without Calvert-Lewin they should have stuck with the back four.

Sancho will have the same struggle a lot of attackers coming from the Bundesliga have had in recent years in realising there's nowhere near as much space to run into in the Premier League. I think he'll come good but it might take a while.

4 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

Man C, Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea & Spurs I’d put ahead of them without doubt, I think he could compete with Leicester & West Ham. They were only 6 points off the top 6 last season and when you think we did the double over them it’s not a huge margin.

They can definitely compete with those teams. The squad on paper though would make them the the outsider, broadly because they're the most likely to be badly impacted if they sustained a couple of key injuries. Rafa can make up the difference though. 

1 hour ago, Optimistic Nut said:

8th should be par but no reason they can’t finish top 6.

That squad is so thin, I don't think I entirely agree. The Rafa factor could be the difference obviously but two or three injuries and they might be struggling. Last two finishes were 10th and 12th, and the teams ahead of them have improved their squads. Top six would be a very significant achievement, I think.