The NSNO Everton Forums

Close with that valley.

Gash wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 5:18 pm Would have been better going back to Preston rather than playing him out of position and will probably end up on the bench.

Better for us too... Feels like he's thought keeping him around is important, but then shoehorns him in to a position he's not suitable for, and therefore hampers our game.

I don't want to look at a team sheet and be disappointed to see Armstrong on it, but right now that's how I feel, because I know it completely unbalances us.

Has to play him centrally and instead of Gana, but if you're dropping that player then you've got Tim who deserves to be playing there so it reduces his game time too.

Really struggling to see a justification in not sending him back to Preston, and that's not a slight on the lad, just doesn't seem to benefit anyone.

The lad is clearly ready and good enough to be playing Premier League footy. It'd be like sending Merlin Rohl to Preston. Yeah it'd be nice in terms of getting him games but he doesn't remotely need them.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 5:25 pm Better for us too... Feels like he's thought keeping him around is important, but then shoehorns him in to a position he's not suitable for, and therefore hampers our game.

I don't want to look at a team sheet and be disappointed to see Armstrong on it, but right now that's how I feel, because I know it completely unbalances us.

Has to play him centrally and instead of Gana, but if you're dropping that player then you've got Tim who deserves to be playing there so it reduces his game time too.

Really struggling to see a justification in not sending him back to Preston, and that's not a slight on the lad, just doesn't seem to benefit anyone.

Not sure I agree with that. An injury to Garner or KDH breaking down again and we’re struggling for bodies once more.

He’s had half a season playing at a decent level, now he is in and around a side in the top 7 of the Premier League and putting in some solid performances when asked.

These next few months will set him up nicely for the first big season of his career next term.

Shogun wrote:The lad is clearly ready and good enough to be playing Premier League footy. It'd be like sending Merlin Rohl to Preston. Yeah it'd be nice in terms of getting him games but he doesn't remotely need them.

Agree with that. He can be around the side and have realistic expectations of featuring at Everton


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think he's looked fairly average, which is fine for his age I'm not really expecting much else but I still think he'd be better bossing it every week in his best position at Preston rather than out of position here and give it another game or two, probably on the bench for 70 minutes most weeks.

He fit in really well when played in the middle…but oof I don’t like him played wide. He was maybe 4 out of 10 today. Any actual winger like McNeil/Dibling played there and contributed the same way would be getting pelters. Ultimately he doesn’t get the same treatment as Moyes is the one shoehorning him in and he’s just trying to do his best in the situation, but I hope Moyes reconsiders this experiment.

I just don’t get why we’re unbalancing the team needlessly. Especially when we’re so limited with our fullbacks.

Should have gone back on loan - playing him wide out of position isn’t doing him or us any favours, either now or long term.

Gash wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 5:59 pm I think he's looked fairly average, which is fine for his age I'm not really expecting much else but I still think he'd be better bossing it every week in his best position at Preston rather than out of position here and give it another game or two, probably on the bench for 70 minutes most weeks.

Yeah i think hes just done okay. Like you say thats more than fine at his age but im not sure he wouldn't have been better off at preston and alcaraz tim or rohl getting them minutes

Did okay tonight but he'll probably be dropped again once JOB comes back and even if he isn't no one will ever convince me that keeping him here and playing out wide is more benefit than having him learning the game in his preferred position at Preston.

In fairness I thought he did better than before out of position, didn’t hate him there, but I still don’t get the point of it when we have George and Dibling or even Aznou needing minutes.

It also just seems to be we’re adding another player with good work rate for some theoretical added security but it leaves us with no creativity down that side so usually just ultimately adds pressure. We’ve also conceded every time he’s played there I think so it’s really not making us somehow super impregnable either, not that today’s goal was on him. Just saying if the point is the clean sheet above all else, it’s not a success by that metric either.

Feel for him, you can tell he doesn't want to play there.

Would’ve been a different game if he had scored. Really wanted that moment for him but another day.

Seems fairly level-headed which just goes to show you what a bad cunt Fernandes is.

kramer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 24, 2026 12:35 am Would’ve been a different game if he had scored. Really wanted that moment for him but another day.

Seems fairly level-headed which just goes to show you what a bad cunt Fernandes is.

Yeah I liked that in him, he’s not going to be intimidated by anyone, we’ve got a big talent in this boy, but out on the wing is not his position, looks scared to use his left foot too.

Hes shown enough maturity to be trusted in his natural position, well centrally at least, I know we're bot sure whay type of midfielder he'll end up but hes definitely a central player.

Hes played deepest, furthest forward, and box to box for Preston. Put him in there and drop Gana. Elite interception numbers dont mean anything if we can't capitalise on the possession gains.