The NSNO Everton Forums

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2025 9:59 pm Disagree, but it's okay

This is not the spirit at all.

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Far too civilised on here lately. Damn you Moyes.

Last night is the type of game where he’s exposed.

Had the freedom of the park but did absolutely nothing with the ball.

I’ve seen people say he keeps us ticking over but playing square balls for 90 minutes isn’t keeping us ticking over.

Ticking over is playing quick, sharp balls between the lines, progressing us forward, switching the play, turning forwards with the ball.

Saw none of that last night. Took too many touches and everything was a nothing sideways or backwards pass.

He just isn’t it for me.

I think Mangala is a much better player.

Needs to watch the video of his own through ball on repeat. Needs to be braver.

TheRam wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 5:48 am Last night is the type of game where he’s exposed.

Had the freedom of the park but did absolutely nothing with the ball.

I’ve seen people say he keeps us ticking over but playing square balls for 90 minutes isn’t keeping us ticking over.

Ticking over is playing quick, sharp balls between the lines, progressing us forward, switching the play, turning forwards with the ball.

Saw none of that last night. Took too many touches and everything was a nothing sideways or backwards pass.

He just isn’t it for me.

I think Mangala is a much better player.

He plays safe too often for sure, like a more cultured James MC Carthy. Think there's a player in there but not sure what player he is trying to be at times. Still think we are much better when he plays than we don't as a rule though

He did try a couple of longish range through balls but both were intercepted. It's not easy threading a ball through to a striker if you're playing a deep midfield role. The longer the pass, especially on the floor the more likely it is to be cut out.

Thought he was fine last night tbh, wanted the ball lots and that's important when we're asking the players to play it around on the ground.

He's a largely unspectacular player, seems like he should be better given his ability with his right foot, but I don't think he's quite at a level where you can boss games in the premier league. Don't mind him though, think he's perfectly fine for now.

You get what you pay for. £8.5m + add ons. He’s been great value but you’ve got to be paying nearer £35m+ if you want someone who can consistently hurt the opposition from CM, rather than just run around a bit.

Can get loads of midfielders better for a lot less than £35m.

Not every single opinion has to come down to money.

Granite wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 7:17 pm You get what you pay for. £8.5m + add ons. He’s been great value but you’ve got to be paying nearer £35m+ if you want someone who can consistently hurt the opposition from CM, rather than just run around a bit.

Dychean lack of ambition on display here

I didn’t buy James Garner, bro

I've done a 180 on him and think he's decent. There are players like him scattered around all decent teams, think you have to appreciate him for the player he is rather than lament him for something he's not. He's a solid and versatile player who'll be at least a 6/10 every week which is a good thing.

Yeah you aren't building a team around him or anything but he's a good player

He is neat and tidy
Still young so could improve

AjaxAndy wrote:He did try a couple of longish range through balls but both were intercepted. It's not easy threading a ball through to a striker if you're playing a deep midfield role. The longer the pass, especially on the floor the more likely it is to be cut out.

My issue isn’t that he didn’t thread a through ball to the striker, it’s that the easier (but still progressive) passes like crossfield to a forward running fullback or between the lines to Charly/Lindstrom/Harrison were being made more often by both Tarkowski and Branthwaite.

He would drop between the CBs to recycle the ball then wait for them to make the progressive passes

StirlingBlue wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 12:56 pm My issue isn’t that he didn’t thread a through ball to the striker, it’s that the easier (but still progressive) passes like crossfield to a forward running fullback or between the lines to Charly/Lindstrom/Harrison were being made more often by both Tarkowski and Branthwaite.

He would drop between the CBs to recycle the ball then wait for them to make the progressive passes

Yeah I think you've nailed it.

He gives the ball to more defensive players to take the passing risk that he should be taking more often. That's very irritating and it hurts our build up.