The NSNO Everton Forums

TheRam wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 4:55 pm Mate, can you pack it in trying to mansplain my opinion to me all the time.

Some of us are willing to change opinions based on what’s infront of them instead of doggedly sticking to them.

Unfortunately Keane come into the team and we shipped a lot of goals.

A lot of reasons for that, Keane playing being one of them.

Big mistake playing him instead of obrien.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 4:33 pm Of course people will say whatever they feel is true, and the goals against was certainly very high... Keane was though one of our best performers over that period and just about the only one who was actually able to progress the ball (highest % completed progressive passes in the team).

Tactics, playing people like Tim, Tarks being shite, Pickford being poor all contributed to the goals against. The Bournemouth loss was a great example of why we conceded too many goals and none of that was on Keane.

I don't want him to stay, he's been overall a bit of a disaster for us, but he deserved his place over O'Brien (who's yet to show any performance level in a back 2 it should be noted).

But like I said people have the stuff they believe and certain players will get a rough ride and blamed for stuff they weren't even at fault for because people don't like them. Understandable that's the way it is with Keane given his time here, even if in this case I think the argument is junk.

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 9:57 pm He does the basics well 90% of the time and he is a very good passer and has excellent striking technique when he puts his foot through the ball… but he’s been fucking wank when we’ve needed him to be solid. Good most of the time is not good enough at this level. Should drop a level or two and take a Pirlo role where he doesn’t need to defend, he won’t be exposed for pace and he can spray it round to his heart’s content while the commentators wax lyrical about how stupid Everton were to let him go. I’m all for that. Good luck to the lad.

Cods wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 11:13 pm Agree mostly with the first bit, but I think for all the valid criticisms regarding his time with us overall, we can't say he wasnt one of our better performers early in the season, and at other times, as dire as it was. He's often heavily maligned, despite scoring important goals and defending well in certain setups. Not a big claim, but still needs a mention I think.

I'm encouraged by OBrien, but it's still very early for him, especially playing in a different position with safety around him.

Nothing has particularly stood out for me with him so far, apart from his height and good footspeed, think maybe like Patterson he also needs time in a role to progress.

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 6:58 am Disagree. There were times he looked good and times he did good things early doors, but he was still a big part of the problem when it comes to the goals we shipped.

Regardless of how good he looked on the ball or how good some of his defending was at times, he is not the answer, it’s time for O’Brien.

Juanito wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 7:36 am I remember a certain poster comments about the reasons why O’Brien is not starting, he’s crap with absolute certainty. Then a smug comment when he didn’t start against Villa, funnily enough, not heard anything else about him since?

Point is, feels like some people get strangely tied into a Dyche shaped argument and can’t shift themselves out of it when the evidence is presented.

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 6:58 am Disagree. There were times he looked good and times he did good things early doors, but he was still a big part of the problem when it comes to the goals we shipped.

Regardless of how good he looked on the ball or how good some of his defending was at times, he is not the answer, it’s time for O’Brien.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 10:52 am At the end of the day O'Brien played on a back 2 in pre-season and looked ropey, he then played in a back 2 in a Caraboa Cup game and didn't look good losing 100% of his arial duels against lower league opposition.

Moyes isn't playing him in a back 2, instead he's doing something he's done before with young CBs and playing him as a full back and also a back 3.

It's very easy to say X or Y would have DEFINITELY happened if something had happened 6 months ago that didn't because there's no way to disprove it. Doesn't actually mean it's true.

If Moyes continues to blood him this way and next season he starts in a back 2 and shines the same people will again say this should have happened sooner even if actually Moyes doing what he's doing what made him ready when he wasn't previously.

It's another cyclical argument where no one wins because there's no way of ever actually knowing what could or would have happened of we'd done something different in the past.

Probably should all just concentrate on the fact Moyes is using him, using him sensibly and O'Brien looks like he's responding with strong performances... Something we can all get behind and celebrate really.