Lord Duckhunter

Howe can’t organise a defence anymore than Ralph can. Personally, I’d go for John Terry. But of a gamble but may give us a bit of the leadership we need.

It is under Ralph

Doesn’t look like we’re hurting when we concede. I remember Bruce G letting a soft shot through his hands and going absolutely nuts at the back 4. Keepers always used to take pride in clean sheets, were personally offended when a goal went in, lashing out at all around. Our 2 just shrug their shoulders and pick the ball out of the net. It runs right through the side. When was the last time you saw the manager bollocking a player or 2 players having a go.

Stephens & OR are the two that have the right attitude and to some extent Bednarek. But we’re like a shitty version of Arsenal. Lots of technically good players, probably great trainers, easy to coach and decent lads. But, you need 4 or 5 rascals, 4 or 5 horrible blokes that opposition supporters and players hate. It’s not just about putting yourself about (although you need 2 or 3 that do). Just having that nasty edge, Richarlison has it, and he doesn’t run round clogging people. We need some arrogance, some attitude.

Everton were 10th last season. A game is 2 halves.

I’ve been saying this for months, but evidently I’m a dinosaur stuck in the 70’s. Look at them today, their keeper dishes it out regularly. Coleman puts his foot in and is vocal, Doucouré digs in and sets an example.

Stop digging.

Contrast his performance with Doucouré, who cost Everton £20 million. One player dug his side out of a hole, tackled, dropped in to attack goal kicks when the centre half was struggling handling Adams, scored, and gave a proper performance. The other one minced about offering no leadership at all. Get rid.

Lack of communication for the first one. Pretty weak for the third.

Same old same old

So far so good. The front 2 look a real handful & the full back has fully justified his selection ahead of KWP. Walcott picks up some good positions, but flattered to deceive a bit . We’re passing with pace, and quick into the tackle. Positive so far

They’re checking them, but using thicker lines .

Pogba in a nutshell. Let’s the Leeds player go and he scores, and then plays an absolute fantastic pass for 2-1

Surprised? It would amaze me. He’s shown zero leadership for seasons. It’s the one thing that’s been lacking from such an experienced pro. He’s a good player, one of the best full backs I’ve seen at Southampton (40 plus years), technically good and defensively pretty sound. Best when he was linking up with Tadic. However good he was, leadership on the pitch isn’t something I’d associate with him.

You’ve got to wonder what the stat obsessed posters would make of Bobby Moore. “Not particularly strong in the tackle, very one paced & not great in the air. It’s a no from me. What about this guy from The Christmas Islands”.

Unbelievable isn’t it? Good enough for Jose & England but not for our play station kings. They don’t “rate” him because everyone’s heard of him and they don’t get to show of their player knowledge. If he was an unknown from FC Back of Beyond from Uzbekistan they’d be raving about him. He’s not top quality, but he’s better than most of the shite we’ve got.

You’re a dinosaur mate. It’s all about Xg’s , ISLM’s & how many completed passes you make. If you don’t rate highly on the play station stats, you can’t defend bro. I never thought I’d see the day when someone criticises a centre half by saying he’s a “head it & kick it” defender What’s next, not wanting a striker because all he does is put the ball in the net. FFS. That keepers shite, all he does is stop the ball going in the goal.

I’ve watched him plenty of times, for Spurs and England. I agree with Jose Mourinho, who regularly played and praised him. I don’t know where you get this “fully incompetent “ opinion from, maybe your controller was playing up that day.

Are a couple of posters really turning their noses up at Eric Dier. Dear god, where have they been the past 4 seasons. He’s exactly what we need. There’s a reason Jose liked him, and it wasn’t his ball playing skills or vision. He heads the thing, kicks it, gets stuck in, and is a man. Someone you’d want in the trenches beside you, as opposed to the son-in-laws we’ve got “fighting” for the club at the moment. Hell, he might even push back and challenge some of Ralph’s tactical ineptitude. Won’t happen, but fuck me, he’d be captain with 6 weeks.

Dear god.

You forgot his ”best friend” who lived opposite

Even if the squad contained 100% of players signed by Ralph, the cult will probably point out that Ralph had no part in cutting the grass or the paint colour in the dressing room.

There’s nothing to spell out. As you say it’s about priorities. This “we have 2 keepers earning big money” is just a get out to excuse the manager. Do you accept that if he thought it was a higher priority then he could sign another keeper. If you accept that, then the contract situation of the 2 we have is irrelevant . The argument then becomes whether the manager has his priorities right. You keep banging on about a forward & left back as opposed to a keeper, but they’re not the only new additions. Ralph has clearly decided that he’ll make do and focus on other positions, that’s his decision to make. Time will tell if it’s the right one, the status of FF or AM won’t change that. He could have got someone in, he’s chosen not to.