c1982

Awful decision in my opinion. I really rate Warburton at that level.

https://twitter.com/mayor_anderson/status/947507406321410048

I like Bertrand but don’t think he’d join us in this window - especially after Southampton selling van Dijk. Chilwell is another who I like but don’t think would be available - likewise, Thierney at Celtic. As mentioned previously, I’m not a fan of van Aanholt. Shaw is an interesting one and I wouldn’t be disappointed if we signed him - huge risk with his fitness though. Bryan from Bristol C has been mentioned and he’s looked decent in the little I’ve seen. I’ve seen more of and been impressed by Douglass at Wolves but they only signed him last summer. Does Digne need a loan move away from Barca in a World Cup year? Baba Rahman at Chelsea? Sadly, I think we missed a trick with Robertson from Hull in the summer as he’d fit the bill perfectly. Left back is a must so if we fail to identify what we need in January I’d rather register Garbutt or recall Robinson (who’s doing well at Bolton after a tough start) than persist with Cuco.

I would like N’Zonzi but if we didn’t strengthen in midfield, I wouldn’t be too worried as believe the midfielders would look better with a quality left back and striker anyway. There’s a lack of options currently when in possession and the ball comes back at us too easily as a result of too many aimless balls to an overworked ‘prospect’ - a more balanced team with out balls on each flank and ahead will hopefully show the quality that we know we have already in central midfield.

Of course but what I’m saying is, we all know we need a striker but if we don’t sort the left back position out too then there’s almost no point having that striker because we’ll have the same problems! I personally think we need 3 players in Jan (which has already been alluded to by others and sounds like the areas EFC have identified too) a striker, left back and central midfielder. We could also do with selling or at least loaning out at least 5. I don’t know a lot about Tosun but like the sound of him, N’Zonzi should be a no brainer in my opinion and then this leaves the left back position... I just hope we can sign quality here and not Patrick van Ahnalt from Palace (who I fear Sam with target).

Agree. Until we sort our full-backs out, we won’t be an attacking force. Quality, attacking full-backs are the difference in this league in my opinion. Look at us since Coleman’s injury. Look at United without Valencia. The major difference between Man C this season to last is that Pep saw this and invested heavily. I think Kenny is more than capable down the right, with the hope that Seamus can return at some point but Cuco is simply not good enough. Credit where it’s due, he’s filled in and done okay defensively out of position but he, and I’ll say this about Baines too, offers no out ball on the left and, as a result, attacks lose any momentum - in Cuco’s case as he wants to cut back onto his right foot and Baines just doesn’t have the legs. We need to have the legs on each flank then obviously a reliable target for them to hit/work off. Once we’ve got a natural left back with a proper engine then I expect we’ll see a more expansive Everton.

1) Most passionate supporter Paddock 2) Most knowledgable member duncanmckenzieismagic 3) Most interesting member dave - a true man of mystery 4) Most predictable member hafnia for all things Lukaku/ rubbish analogies. peteO for all things Kane, Gueye and Jagielka. Bill for whenever someone mentions the Man of the Match TT Poll. 5) Most valued member Romey/MikeO 6) Most arrogant member Some of hafnia’s posts stand out. 7) Most clueless member I usually skip past MJB’s match threads - keep up the good work though!!! 8) Most enthusiastic member Cornish Steve, mikeO, Bill and MJB for the bits they do for all. 9) Member you'd most like to meet at a game I hope I’ve met a few of you before - if you drink in The Taxi Club, Winslow, Medlock, Royal Oak, Barlow Arms, even The Brick or boozy away days or on the Gwladys concourse - I hope we’ve exchanged a moment! 10) Member you'd most like to meet down the pub If you enjoy a drink and support Everton then we’ve already got 2 things in common so anyone who fits that brief. 11) Member you'd most like to meet in a boxing ring Depend what we’re doing in there... 12) Member at whom you'd most like to throw a custard pie Don’t like mess or wasting food.

As I was too young to fully appreciate the 80s EFC, my favourite season for ‘exciting football’ was 95-96. Loved that team but sadly things going on off the pitch stopped Royle building on the 95 success. I went with Martinez’s 1st season from those on offer - was a very much pro Moyes and appreciate what he did but Martinez took us to another level; albeit very temporarily!

I know quite a few people who went vs WBA as neutrals - seems a lot of the fans were all too happy to give their season tickets away (we were given 6)... anyway, was talking to a couple today and they thought Davies (number 26 as they referred to him as) stood out... unfortunately, it was because he was so poor - ‘rabbit in headlights’ and ‘scared of the ball’ were a couple of comments which stood out. I like him and do think he brings energy but as an impact player against tiring legs. He’s still very young and has only had 12 months of 1st team football so I remain massively optimistic about a great future in the game which will hopefully be at our club.

Bayern have Wagner going to them on Jan 1st so I doubt that and of course he’s playing for his team tonight as he can’t sign a contract with us until 1st Jan. Watch him get injured tonight!!!

Yep but with a credible source this time.

https://twitter.com/ed_aarons/status/946157205438566400

Unsworth’s Everton sat in the bottom 3 with heavy losses. Allardyce’s Everton are now in the top half after going on an unbeaten run. I like Unsworth and hope he has a future at the club but the opportunity came along at the wrong time.

Of course you can - he had different options available to him that game. As I said, I think Rooney would have enjoyed today and we missed Gana in midfield.

I agree - I still want him to get plenty of opportunities but with much better options ahead of him - it’d probably act as motivation to the lad.

Allardyce is still getting to know this squad (same can be said for Pardew at WBA) - it’s not great. I would have expected a more positive display against a confidence drained WBA but it was as much down to us being completely void of any attacking ideas rather than a ‘park the bus’ type performance. We can’t attack down the left as Cuco will always try to cut back on his right, DCL didn’t get a look in vs an organised and experienced defensive unit and Bolasie/Gylfi just simply didn’t get an inch all game. We need 3 players in Jan (at least) left back, striker and box to box midfielder.

All the more need to have a clinical striker or a striker who can make something from nothing if we’re not creating a lot. I remember in the first half today (around 35th min) we had built a rare attack which broke down as it went to DCL in the box with his back to goal. I like DCL but moments like that show how much development he still needs and how we desperately need better.

Probably not but he may have employed the tactics he did against a very poor Southampton. I personally think Sam had some input into the West Ham game... regardless, West Ham at home is a very different game to West Brom away - I think Rooney would have flourished today but that’s speculative so we’ll never know.

This type of football has helped us steady a sinking ship. The 18 month contract reflects that Allardyce isn’t the long term answer but someone who we can trust to get us organised. Maybe, when he addresses a few of the glaring short-falls in the squad, we will see better football - he may even do enough to convince a few. Compare what we have now to what we had before the West Ham game and I know what I’d rather have.

I was cold, wet and bored sat amongst the West Brom fans... can’t see this memory lasting too long. Defensively we were solid, despite Cuco and Pickford’s distribution was good and it was good to see Bolasie back... that’s about it. I went with Williams (just ahead of Kenny).

Shhhh... stop!!! peteO knows exactly what he’s doing - he said Harry Kane was shite and he’s going on to break all sorts of records in 2017... so Keane being our worst ever signing really means he’ll be winning the Ballon d’or next year.

What a difference a month makes! I think many spotted his talent straight away after the cameo vs Arsenal. It’s obvious he’s got a big future in the game. Personally, I thought he was poor yesterday but appreciate the thankless task which faced him. His development in the past 12months has been rapid and, although not the finished article, his goals and assists seem to be tallying up steadily, which is a huge positive as that’s what he’ll ultimately be judged on.

Schneiderlin - been poor this season so hopefully today proves a turning point.

Gueye - for being everywhere and first to everything. Special mention to the Davies substitution as we upped the tempo with him on the pitch and the slight tactical re-jig which came with his arrival.

If anything, he’s doing the players a favour. Despite our recent turn around we’ve still massively under achieved after a huge summer spend. Everton players celebrating on a night out after this would be a tabloid pap’s dream shot/story. I imagine the players will recognise that actually their manager is protecting them from the unnecessary added attention.