Challenge League Homepage III

I’m good ta tino

Nodge AGM last night - revealed just badly we mucked up last year, which has basically ruined us financially for a while. Paying people like Matt Jarvis and Kyle Lafferty 30k a week to not play...our new DoF described it as “p1ssing money up the wall”

So basically we’re selling in Jan and not buying much haha

He's so unbelievably past it, scoring against that West Ham team isn't changing my opinion

Anyone free for handing out advice (team wise rather than personal!)?

He played in midfield yesterday and obviously got a hat trick.

Big Sam also played him there in his one and only England game, and the comments he made after suggest he saw him playing there going forward.

So I would expect to see him played there with more energetic runners alongside him (Davies and Gana last night). Whether he can cope there against better midfields remains to be seen.

he could play there in the same way as Scholes could dictate a game or Pirlo...you don't have to be rapid to control the tempo of a game...he clearly has good skill on the ball

Hero wrote:Anyone free for handing out advice (team wise rather than personal!)?

Yeah sure.

I think Rooney works well behind a fast striker to stretch out the defense. Despite not being the most talented player, Calvert Lewin's pace is a great foil. And he's still got that footballing brain and works extremely hard. Look at the desire for his second goal.

Hero wrote:Anyone free for handing out advice (team wise rather than personal!)?

Aye

Sure Hero

On Rooney, I saw him try and do the same plenty of times at Utd - he seemed to heavily fall into the Steven Gerrard camp of "drop deep, sideways pass, sideways pass, 1-2 with CB, floated Hollywood pass out to a full back on the wing"

It looked pretty, and his floated passes were very much on target, but I don't see that as controlling the game or its tempo

If you look at the real game controllers, its short sharp passes, give and go's around the corner at pace. Rooney just looked pedestrian in that role with both Utd and England

I'd play him up top with a fast striker like Trebs describes, he can still finish chances

I dont see him as what I would consider a number 10

I'm also free (not John Inmam though)

I can't see him playing number 10 at all. He's not mobile enough anymore.

When on the ball, he looks clearly our most skilful player. I think I would do what Tino said, and use him in a deeper midfield role.

Is that in a 3 with Gueye and Siggy?

Puts a big reliance on Gueye defensively imo

Not with Siggy tbh. He's the one that need to be in the number 10 role.

Last night it was with Davies and Gana, who were the ones with the legs. If Schneiderlin was playing so poorly, then with him potentially.

It will be bad news for Klaasen though as he is nowhere near mobile enough to be one of the two. Although I guess he could be primed to cover for the Rooney role as it is likely Rooney won't be up to it 90 minutes every game.

either way he's one of Everton's best XI players...they need points...have to find a way of getting their strongest XI on the pitch

Afro wrote:Not with Siggy tbh. He's the one that need to be in the number 10 role.

Last night it was with Davies and Gana, who were the ones with the legs. If Schneiderlin was playing so poorly, then with him potentially.

It will be bad news for Klaasen though as he is nowhere near mobile enough to be one of the two. Although I guess he could be primed to cover for the Rooney role as it is likely Rooney won't be up to it 90 minutes every game.

Could a 5-4-1 work?
Davies, Gueye, Rooney and Sigurdsson in a diamond midfield behind Calvert-Lewin? And wingbacks.

With everyone fit, I'd think we'll see (not sure which CBs atm tbh)...


I think we need a striker in January, and I'd also like Sigurdsson centrally, but cannot see how in that formation without becoming really narrow - perhaps 3 at the back?

Double post.

I'd be tempted to try Bolasie upfront with Rooney and Sigurdsson behind

3 at the back could work

Gana and Davies as the two in midfield, Rooney/Siggy ahead of them with Calvert-Lewin / New striker ahead

Big dependency on Baines having the legs to play wing back though

Sam will make you hard to breakdown that's a gimme....he'll be bringing in a target-man type but what you need is pace rather than power I think

Trebs wrote:

Afro wrote:Not with Siggy tbh. He's the one that need to be in the number 10 role.

Last night it was with Davies and Gana, who were the ones with the legs. If Schneiderlin was playing so poorly, then with him potentially.

It will be bad news for Klaasen though as he is nowhere near mobile enough to be one of the two. Although I guess he could be primed to cover for the Rooney role as it is likely Rooney won't be up to it 90 minutes every game.

Could a 5-4-1 work?
Davies, Gueye, Rooney and Sigurdsson in a diamond midfield behind Calvert-Lewin? And wingbacks.

so


Possibly. I'd want to see a new LWB then, as Baines doesn't have the legs for that anymore. A few years ago, it would have been perfect for him though, and it is perfect for Coleman

Is Bolasie fit again? Really liked the look of him on song

BamBam wrote:Is Bolasie fit again? Really liked the look of him on song

Started full training last week

Afro wrote:

Trebs wrote:

Afro wrote:Not with Siggy tbh. He's the one that need to be in the number 10 role.

Last night it was with Davies and Gana, who were the ones with the legs. If Schneiderlin was playing so poorly, then with him potentially.

It will be bad news for Klaasen though as he is nowhere near mobile enough to be one of the two. Although I guess he could be primed to cover for the Rooney role as it is likely Rooney won't be up to it 90 minutes every game.

Could a 5-4-1 work?
Davies, Gueye, Rooney and Sigurdsson in a diamond midfield behind Calvert-Lewin? And wingbacks.

so

Pickford
Keane---Jags---Williams
Coleman-----------Gana------------Baines
Davies---------Rooney
Siggy
Calvert-L

Possibly. I'd want to see a new LWB then, as Baines doesn't have the legs for that anymore. A few years ago, it would have been perfect for him though, and it is perfect for Coleman

Didn't you have a kid at LB who looked really good when Baines was out? I'd go with that, put Baines LCB and Bolasie upfront.

Afro wrote:

BamBam wrote:Is Bolasie fit again? Really liked the look of him on song

Started full training last week

When will Coleman be rising from the dead?

Did I see a rule, stating a player signed must stay at a club for a certain time before being moved on?

3 at the back is tough to do well, Chelsea do it cos they have the players for it. I think in Evertons position they should be trying to keep things simple and I cant personally see Allardyce playing 3 at the back anytime soon.

Problem for Everton is playing two at the back their CBs are so awful - Jagielka turns like a truck, Ashley williams can only shout and eat pies, and they signed the worst English Burnley CB for 30 million quid. Anytime you play a two they’re just gonna get exposed. At least with three they might cover each other enough imo

Brooksey79 wrote:Did I see a rule, stating a player signed must stay at a club for a certain time before being moved on?

Only if bought from foreigns - 1 week

just 1 week? that's ok then

Trebs wrote:

Afro wrote:

Trebs wrote:

Afro wrote:Not with Siggy tbh. He's the one that need to be in the number 10 role.

Last night it was with Davies and Gana, who were the ones with the legs. If Schneiderlin was playing so poorly, then with him potentially.

It will be bad news for Klaasen though as he is nowhere near mobile enough to be one of the two. Although I guess he could be primed to cover for the Rooney role as it is likely Rooney won't be up to it 90 minutes every game.

Could a 5-4-1 work?
Davies, Gueye, Rooney and Sigurdsson in a diamond midfield behind Calvert-Lewin? And wingbacks.

so

Pickford
Keane---Jags---Williams
Coleman-----------Gana------------Baines
Davies---------Rooney
Siggy
Calvert-L

Possibly. I'd want to see a new LWB then, as Baines doesn't have the legs for that anymore. A few years ago, it would have been perfect for him though, and it is perfect for Coleman

Didn't you have a kid at LB who looked really good when Baines was out? I'd go with that, put Baines LCB and Bolasie upfront.

Garbutt?

Yeah, looked good. Went on loan to Leeds and did well. Came back and got injured. Now plays with our U23s and doing well.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Afro wrote:

BamBam wrote:Is Bolasie fit again? Really liked the look of him on song

Started full training last week

When will Coleman be rising from the dead?

He started training back in August/September time. Last I heard was that he was aiming for a December return, so hopefully soon! Anything that takes Cuca Martina further from the first team, the better

Morning all,

So here's a cheery Friday discussion. I got a Facebook memory from years ago when I posted the below article, talking about whether we'd ever see a gay footballer.

I don't think things have changed since these comments from Max Clifford. Anyone think we'll see a player come out?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/two-top-gay-footballers-stay-in-closet-1845787.html

We will at some point in the near future, it's beginning to happen in American sports and when America sneezes we eventually catch a cold.

Morning all

Think it just needs one high profile player (say England squad player) to do it, then after that it'll be seen as normal and not even news

mornin all

even the rugby lads have starting to come out, so it won't be long..not really sure if there's a need to broadcast ones sexuality though

although I know a former wolves players fella - but not an official fella if that makes sense

RIP Justin Fashanu

It’ll happen one day - Michael Sam did it in the NFL but the problem with him was he was just an awful player so he lasted like a season - needs a high profile guy to do it really

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:RIP Justin Fashanu

needs a high profile gay to do it really

fixed it for you

We say it's a matter of time but I don't think we will see it any time soon.
It's just not in a player's interest with the amount of abuse he'd get

haven't footy manager added a player coming out into their programming

I can't see players doing it at the moment. Sadly the mentality from the minority of fans will be enough to stop them.

I agree with Tino though. I never understand why they have to openly come out. You don't have to tell anyone if you're straight.

I think in another generations time, it will just be the norm and no one will have to come out. I've noticed with my niece and nephews peer group its just another part of the person - you're gay or straight in the same way as you are outgoing or shy, or loud or quiet.

My eldest is 18, his generation all seem much more erm open..I think Bisexuality is the new hipster thing...

Yea the knuckle-heads in the crowd will start and it's a shame really, what would their reaction be if it was their son?

but as I said I don't think anyone needs to come out as it doesn't make a jot of difference to us

Afro wrote:I can't see players doing it at the moment. Sadly the mentality from the minority of fans will be enough to stop them.

I agree with Tino though. I never understand why they have to openly come out. You don't have to tell anyone if you're straight.

I think in another generations time, it will just be the norm and no one will have to come out. I've noticed with my niece and nephews peer group its just another part of the person - you're gay or straight in the same way as you are outgoing or shy, or loud or quiet.

I have to tell people all the time I'm straight, mainly because I'm camper than Julian Clary and look like Alan Carr.

I once told a woman I was gay

Hero wrote:

Afro wrote:I can't see players doing it at the moment. Sadly the mentality from the minority of fans will be enough to stop them.

I agree with Tino though. I never understand why they have to openly come out. You don't have to tell anyone if you're straight.

I think in another generations time, it will just be the norm and no one will have to come out. I've noticed with my niece and nephews peer group its just another part of the person - you're gay or straight in the same way as you are outgoing or shy, or loud or quiet.

I have to tell people all the time I'm straight, mainly because I'm camper than Julian Clary and look like Alan Carr.

And they still don't believe you even with a wife and two kids.

Morning all.

I see it as a non issue really. Footballers ability isn't based on their sexuality - at a push I suppose it may affect their demeanour if they are trying to hide it which in turn may affect their confidence on the pitch. Gay, straight whatever. I just wish we lived in a society where someone's sexuality or anything else isn't used against someone to attack their talent in something totally unrelated.

Off topic a bit but when I was at uni there was a young guy in a wheelchair with a real attitude problem. People never said anything because he was in a wheelchair. Then one night a mate of mine slapped him round the face because he was being a gobby idiot to one of our female mates.

Everyone was shocked and said you can't do that because he is in a wheelchair. My mate rightly says if you act like a pr*ck, you're a pr*ck. Doesn't matter about disability or sexuality etc.

That's the best form of equality

TwisT wrote:

Hero wrote:

Afro wrote:I can't see players doing it at the moment. Sadly the mentality from the minority of fans will be enough to stop them.

I agree with Tino though. I never understand why they have to openly come out. You don't have to tell anyone if you're straight.

I think in another generations time, it will just be the norm and no one will have to come out. I've noticed with my niece and nephews peer group its just another part of the person - you're gay or straight in the same way as you are outgoing or shy, or loud or quiet.

I have to tell people all the time I'm straight, mainly because I'm camper than Julian Clary and look like Alan Carr.

And they still don't believe you even with a wife and two kids.

Morning all.

I see it as a non issue really. Footballers ability isn't based on their sexuality - at a push I suppose it may affect their demeanour if they are trying to hide it which in turn may affect their confidence on the pitch. Gay, straight whatever. I just wish we lived in a society where someone's sexuality or anything else isn't used against someone to attack their talent in something totally unrelated.

Off topic a bit but when I was at uni there was a young guy in a wheelchair with a real attitude problem. People never said anything because he was in a wheelchair. Then one night a mate of mine slapped him round the face because he was being a gobby idiot to one of our female mates.

Everyone was shocked and said you can't do that because he is in a wheelchair. My mate rightly says if you act like a pr*ck, you're a pr*ck. Doesn't matter about disability or sexuality etc.

Sounds like an episode of the inbetweeners

We went to see a comedian at the Comedy Store, he did 10-15 mins of material then asked if anyone was gay in the audience. A very camp person made himself known to which the comedian went on a rant. He said that he himself was gay, but that doesn't mean he has to act like a camp c**t. Paraphrasing a longer joke but it was brilliant. And made a point.

it's the way you tell em Trebsy

and I agree with slapping the lad in the wheelchair...people want to be treated equally, take the good with the bad

ooohhh home game vs the peoples champion this week

Is it?

Well it actually happened so he should be getting reward. I have seen the same kind of thing happen a lot. The best people that are in a different group (and wtf is different?!) are the ones that never use it as an excuse (unless obvious it puts them at a disadvantage)

Flip side is the same, don't call people a crap footballer just because they are gay.....they are just a crap footballer. You kinda want Messi to come our for the terrace chants now.