Teddeer

You couldn't make this stuff up.

Well most of the skills videos I see of decent looking centre backs show a good proportion of headers won, interceptions made, tackles won, brave blocks, man marking, tracking runs, positional awareness and reading of the game as well as any of the fancy dan bits which are the icing on the cake.

Not sure how a left back can be considered part of the spine of the side unless we're talking about a very crooked spine.

4-2-2-2 is set in stone I'm afraid. It's written in Ralph's play book that is serving us so well at every level.

A centre back who shows little tackling ability - sounds just what we need. He'll not learn that skill from our coachibg staff either.

He'll have to teach himself because clearly none of our coaches have the first idea about defending.

Yes but when?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izgp4DDDyFI Looking at the highlights he gave away the pen, and whilst I wouldn't say he looked amazing, the other 6 goals seemed largely down to his teammates not marking or tracking runners. Plus just some very good finishing/movement from Milan. I don't know the circumstances but they looked they just gave up a bit, was very easy for Milan at the end. So when he plays for us he'll be in the same boat with team mates who do not mark or track runners

So when he plays for us he'll be in the same boat with team mates who do not mark or track runners

people are waxing lyrical about this potentially signing. Hope he's not a rip-off,

Most clubs without rich owners are in the same boat after Covid.

Yeah, looks as though he'd become our most skilled player and best passer but not enough on the footage I've seen to determine whether he's a good old fashioned last ditch defender who can tackle, head, mark opponents, read the game and boot it into row Z when appropriate which is what we are in desperate need of.

Just because we always lose there doesn't mean the players get a free pass and are allowed to make huge mistakes without being called out on them. Take away the basic errors and we probably get at least a point from that game.

Maybe you didn't notice Stephens completely fail to track Calvert-Lewin or even so much as twist his head to see where he was as he ran into the box and stooped to head home unmarked. For some reason only he can explain Stephens looked surprised as though he didn't expect to see him there - either that or he didn't care and to be fair, that's the impression he gave.

Trouble is, has anyone ever seen Kitzbichler open his mouth? He seems to just sit in the dug-out and never make a contribution or get himself into the technical area to make a point. I recall when Ralph was laid up and couldn't be at a match this Kitzbichler took charge and never opened hos gob all game. He is far too passive.

I wonder if Ralph is guilty of setting a training regime that is too top heavy with the physical fitness side of things. There have been a few whispers that this is the case. If so maybe explains why we run out of steam as we get into the second half of matches. The real heavy physical work should be done pre-season and then it's a question of keeping players fine-tuned as the season progresses. Could be that Ralph is flogging them to death and they don't have enough left in the tank on match days.

3rd goal Stephens looks as though he is out on a Sunday afternoon stroll. He has no awareness of where Calvert-Lewin is, he makes no effort to turn his head and check and instead just jogs back into the box as though there is not a hint of danger. We cannot accept our centre backs behaving like this. Ralph and the coaches must not tolerate this slapdash attitude.

Just watched the replay of the first Everton goal and the final slow mo where Merrington is talking is pretty compelling. McCarthy takes two steps forward and two steps back. Had he been decisive instead and thrown himself forward in a positive manner he would have had a) a good chance of claiming or punching the ball or b) an excellent opportunity to block the shot or c) a good chance to distract Richarlson, get in his eyeline and make the finish far more difficult. It is just basics. The ball is in the air for a couple of seconds and he needs to travel 5-6 yards to make it his.

Agree. The ball has already travelled some distance in the air in a looping motion yet McCarthy made only a half hearted advance then retreated. He should have set himself, bellowed 'Keeper's' and hurtled off his line as soon as the ball began its journey and, had he done so, he would have controlled the situation. To blame Salisu is extremely harsh.

Didn't know you posted on here Ralph.

No surprise they lost 3-0 as they have to play it by the book....the one that Ralph wrote and is the club bible but doesn't work.

We have no hope of getting him but he'd be an upgrade on Ralph.

The problem with that opinion is that Ralph considers McCarthy the better of the two 'keepers.

He's certainly not alone in needing to understand the way we play - I think that goes for most of us.

I'd have Broja on the bench and give him as much game time as possible. He is just the sort of tall, quick, powerful, skillful offensive player we lack. Somehow we need to get more height, power and athleticism on the field as we are very weak in this area compared with most teams in the Premier League.