Unai Emery

[Somniloquism]

But that should have been Bogarde's role as the RCM in the first half to track KDH. McGinn was far too narrow and it sold Cash out. We had two weeks prep for the game and crazy really to see the space we gave to Grealish in that first half. McGinn stepped into RCM in the second and dealt with KDH comfortably while Guessand worked hard with Cash to shut down Grealish.

Didn't they have their best chances second half with the Beto miss and the Keane headers?

[Mister E]

Who the fcuk is KDH, I keep reading it as De Bruyne. Everton aren't important enough to have us refer to one of their players by his initials, even ex-Villa alumni IGG - Idrissa Gana," I'm Not Gay, rainbow laces are for poofs" Gueye.

Dewsbury-Hall.

[Mister E]

My theory on what Emery is facing:
Right or wrong, the headline from UEFA was that we must operate with a transfer profit for the next three years, meaning that growth will be severely restricted. If you’re a player with a 10-15 year career are you going to commit about a fifth of that career to a club that’s got its hands tied? 
I know this is an over simplification but probably true enough to worry a significant number of the squad and impact their commitment.
I also wonder whether this was why the club looked to solve the sanction in one season, so this perceived burden can be shifted asap.

You may be right - you make a very good point - although I'd say the main focus for Emery is to prepare the players, mentally as well as physically, for each game: for 4 games we've looked utterly unprepared. I'm hoping that Elliott, Sancho and Linderlof bring some whoomph to the squad, in a good way.

[brontebilly]

But that should have been Bogarde's role as the RCM in the first half to track KDH. McGinn was far too narrow and it sold Cash out. We had two weeks prep for the game and crazy really to see the space we gave to Grealish in that first half. McGinn stepped into RCM in the second and dealt with KDH comfortably while Guessand worked hard with Cash to shut down Grealish.

Didn't they have their best chances second half with the Beto miss and the Keane headers?

Maybe and to be fair Grealish despite being well held made those chances. But we were in the game at least in the second half. We caused their midfield problems with Buendia. Seemed inevitable they were going to score in the first half.

[Drummond]

Who the fcuk is KDH, I keep reading it as De Bruyne. Everton aren't important enough to have us refer to one of their players by his initials, even ex-Villa alumni IGG - Idrissa Gana," I'm Not Gay, rainbow laces are for poofs" Gueye.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Easier to knock him down to KDH as DH isn't enough to distinguish. We used to do the same for KKH and for JPB when they both were here and were favouring their full joined surnames.

At least they were our players!

[Ads]

We'll be fine when we get Rogers out of 10 or closer to Ollie and Elliot at 10 instead, with Tores. Two players who can thread a ball, on top of Yuri. Rogers doesn't go mental with his shit passing the weekend, we roll them with Ollie going through. No need to panic.

[Pat Mustard]

It maybe a bit simplistic, but doesn't anybody else think that a major reason why we haven't looked great so far is that both of our main defensive midfield options are injured, one of their potential replacements in Barkley is unavailable, and then on Saturday our other key midfielder went off at half-time.  It's not rocket surgery to think playing with only half a functioning midfield might have a bit of an impact on us.

It's been a slow start, but we've had them before and I'd trust Emery more than any other manager we've had in the past 30 years to turn it around.

[Ads]

I think Mings is compensatory for part of that, but linking the attack has been a serious issue.

[Drummond]

The midfield has been compromised and because of PSR our attacking options have been limited too. Now that we've signed Elliott and Sancho I'd expect things to improve.