21 Aug 2022 03:17:39
3 games gone. 9 points available and we've picked up 1

I've posted before about how the need to bolster our attacking options and how I think it has been bad planning on the behalf of the board, the management and the recruitment team that this has not been addressed as a matter of priority so I won't harp on about it this time

I'd like though to comment on some aspects of the last 3 games as I think the optimism of some people is open to doubt

In attack I see Frank saying we had 19 shots against Forest. I didn't count them so he might be right but would have to say most of them were long range efforts which were comfortably handled by Henderson or off target. What troubles me is that the front 3 are not playing as a unit. Gray and Gordon seem to be having a contest between them on having individual attempts on goal and seem to have no interest in creating chances for others. Rondon was anonymous for most of the game and ran out of steam which allowed McNeil to come on but he is devoid of confidence. He needs to start against Fleetwood because it's a chance for him to get some of it back

Honestly I don't see much from Patterson and Mykolenko. Both are comfortable in defence but, to me, offer very little offensively. Neither get to the by-line much and when they do their crosses are poor. I'd seriously think about Iwobi on the right instead of Patterson and Nkounkou on the left (just what has happened to Nkounkou ? He looked good when he joined Everton and apparently had a relatively good season on loan last year)
Central midfield not really gelling. Hopefully Onana will make a difference but he's a 20 year old
and, frankly, it showed when he came on. Partnering him we're struggling. Davies had some good moments but doesn't fill me with confidence. Gueye doesn't look like he is coming anytime soon so it looks like Allan (hopefully fully fit now) or Vinagre are the options

Back 3 look to be settling in although Tarkowski wasn't at his best yesterday

Pickford - our most creative player which says a lot

Let's strengthen the attack. Play more like a team, not individuals and get our season back on track.

1.) 21 Aug 2022
21 Aug 2022 09:26:29
Mykolenko Seems to be the problem on the left side going forward yesterday also in the last two games, surely we have a better left wing back waiting to be given a chance, couldn’t do any worse, please Frank don’t ignore his performances.

2.) 21 Aug 2022
21 Aug 2022 10:58:21
Just out of interest sake what’s the point of mykolenko and Patterson bombing forward and whipping crosses in?

With no target man which we’re all aware off they’ve got no one to get a cross in to. Gordon and McNeil won’t get on the end of crosses. Therefore would just end up with the keeper.

Maybe the current tactics are not for them to bomb down and whip crosses in but instead for slow build up play to allow Gordon and McNeill etc to get in box?

I reckon once we have a target man, be it DCL back from injury or we bring one in we’ll see mykolenko and Patterson in a different light.

3.) 21 Aug 2022
21 Aug 2022 11:43:18
Maybe you are right good but, if you are, why play Rondon at all? And. if they got to the by-line they could pull the ball back along the ground for others to get on the end of it couldn't they?

Instead they did nothing and Gordon and Gray were only interested in getting into the box on their own steam everything was mostly outside the box and hence no cutting edge

Remember the good old days of Pienaar and Baines working together with one two touches to get behind the defense? Where's that gone and why has it gone

I hope you are right about Myky and Patterson as they are our players and we all want them to succeed with us but. to me, they are not showing anything yet.

4.) 21 Aug 2022
21 Aug 2022 13:02:42
Hard to show anything when your manager plays wing backs to employ space out-wide but plays with 2 wingers instead of inside forwards too. If they had a system that makes sense around them, they'd be better, but Lampard's got a lot of learning to do.

5.) 21 Aug 2022
21 Aug 2022 14:01:17
Mykolenko has had plenty of time to settle in and adapt to the Premiership league, unfortunately I haven’t seen anything from him yet that he is up to this level, I hope he proves me wrong with vengeance as he seems a great lad and I am sure we all would like him to succeed at Everton.