The NSNO Everton Forums

sam of the south wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:08 pm Haha, confrontational escla

Erm, I don’t like it when manager’s don’t change things up when we’re playing shit and/or on a long winless run, no

Not the answer to my question but thanks for coming.

Escalator wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2026 9:18 pm Not the answer to my question but thanks for coming.

You’re such a bellend

Surely the best comparison is Grealish? Not blessed with pace and likes to draw defenders in and beat them by breaking their legs, to use a basketball saying.

I thought he was great on Saturday and it seems the real change is confidence. He won’t be a starter this season imo but we’ll see some better cameos

Best ball retention in the team by a mile and his passing must be close to 100%. If the opposition do get it off him it’s usually a foul.

We have to play him through this awkward stage and let him grow, surely?

Only possible reason I can think of is that there isn’t a right back behind him.

Surax wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2026 7:30 pm I don't know about this. There's a difference between the role and the position on the field. You can still be a wide player but cut inside. Plenty of examples of that in modern football. Inverted wingers or inside forwards. Doesn't mean he doesn't like to start outside or is playing out of position. He's not a traditional touchline hugging winger that is going to hit the by line and cross a ball in, but that's fine, there aren't as many of those nowadays, I'd argue its more typical for the fullback to do that now. What it does highlight, if there's acres of space when he cuts inside, is a lack of a team balance and good attacking right sided player behind him. I'm fine with him coming inside as long as theres an overlap option otherwise it's just too easy for a defence to swarm him and overcrowd the middle without an outlet.

Sorry you missed my point I’m not talking about cutting inside…he generally “drifted” inside without the ball…especially in the second half….and in the few minutes he’s played prior to Saturday I’ve noticed the same….

4evablu wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2026 7:57 am Sorry you missed my point I’m not talking about cutting inside…he generally “drifted” inside without the ball…especially in the second half….and in the few minutes he’s played prior to Saturday I’ve noticed the same….

That's fair enough. Wasn't trying to agonise. I don't really see a problem with that, personally. If you're playing wide and drifting/cutting inside that's to be more effective in central areas, with or without the ball. Of course you don't want to leave massive pockets of space, but I see it as a potential positive - a willingness to have greater influence on the game and get on the ball. He has the potential to be a good ball carrier and help us drive forward. If you watch clips of him at Soton, a lot of his nice dribbles, through balls etc. come from him receiving the ball in the more central areas. I think that's his game when he's confident. As someone else has said, a bit like Grealish. Maybe he can't do it all the time because it becomes too predictable and without any width it potentially leaves us vulnerable. If he's starting wide and drifting inside it can be more difficult for a defence to pickup and he's less likely to be with his back to goal if he was starting centrally. The spaces left behind might just be the result of a lack of familiarity as well, given he's not actually played that much with the rest of the team. If we have some fluidity to plug gaps, I think it could be positive.

I think he's clearly struggled a bit with settling in and confidence, which also saw him return to Soton from Chelsea, but the fact he's looking for the ball and making positive runs is a positive sign IMO.

I love the way his first touch is always away from the defender makes room where there is none

Surax wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2026 11:11 am That's fair enough. Wasn't trying to agonise. I don't really see a problem with that, personally. If you're playing wide and drifting/cutting inside that's to be more effective in central areas, with or without the ball. Of course you don't want to leave massive pockets of space, but I see it as a potential positive - a willingness to have greater influence on the game and get on the ball. He has the potential to be a good ball carrier and help us drive forward. If you watch clips of him at Soton, a lot of his nice dribbles, through balls etc. come from him receiving the ball in the more central areas. I think that's his game when he's confident. As someone else has said, a bit like Grealish. Maybe he can't do it all the time because it becomes too predictable and without any width it potentially leaves us vulnerable. If he's starting wide and drifting inside it can be more difficult for a defence to pickup and he's less likely to be with his back to goal if he was starting centrally. The spaces left behind might just be the result of a lack of familiarity as well, given he's not actually played that much with the rest of the team. If we have some fluidity to plug gaps, I think it could be positive.

I think he's clearly struggled a bit with settling in and confidence, which also saw him return to Soton from Chelsea, but the fact he's looking for the ball and making positive runs is a positive sign IMO.

Exactly why i was saying abt him playing in the 10…

brap2 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2026 9:33 am

This kid looks like he might be quite... good, no?

Apart from a couple of crosses going to their defenders did he give the ball away or is this just a clip of all his good parts?

Would be a shame (read: total fucking waste of money) if he didn't get minutes to develop because of Johnson coming in.

He was good for 60 mins, hopefully he can use it as a springboard and show some consistency

He needs a run in the team and an arm round the shoulder.

He'll get 60 mins and then off for Johnson, or vice versa, and we'll likely nowhere with his talent.

Imagine Munoz running into space in front of him……

(And yes I meant for the same side before anyone asks lol)

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2026 5:52 am Best ball retention in the team by a mile and his passing must be close to 100%. If the opposition do get it off him it’s usually a foul.

We have to play him through this awkward stage and let him grow, surely?

Only possible reason I can think of is that there isn’t a right back behind him.

It definitely hasn't been during the pre-season BUT it, along with his general performance, has got better with each game. He's also working harder off the ball than he did in his brief cameos last season.

I think you're right, we need to just stick with it, it's there, he just needs time and minutes.

That turn and go was very Ndiaye. It's all about confidence and I think his is growing

Hope he stays, hope he plays but

Grealish Ndiaye
George Johnson


Will be Moyes starting and back up wide men and he doesn’t rotate enough to justify a fifth player who needs 1000+ minutes to develop.

Won’t be playing 10 or cm either.

Think it points to him going late on.