The NSNO Everton Forums

He’s young, cares and works hard. If he’s not coachable, then no-one is.

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 2:07 pm His best pass this year was to Garnacho

Let's just forget the raking cross field pass to Grealish in the same match that set up his chance eh?

I get you're just trying to throw shit and hope something sticks to the wall with your OTT criticism of players but it's getting really tedious.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 10:41 am I don't think he's much of a danger in our own half tbh, it's just purely when he comes on as sub it takes him a while to get up to speed with the game so he makes some bad decisions.

When he starts he plays better and more importantly the team plays much better. Doubt Moyes will ever see this though and actually play him enough to iron out the rawness and decision making in his game though unfortunately.

Both things are true - he's better when he starts but he's absolutely a liability in our half and loses the ball in really dangerous scenarios

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 3:28 pm Let's just forget the raking cross field pass to Grealish in the same match that set up his chance eh?

I get you're just trying to throw shit and hope something sticks to the wall with your OTT criticism of players but it's getting really tedious.

Pfft everyone turning on old brapster is it? After 15 short years they reckon they've got him all worked out?

StirlingBlue wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 4:07 pm Both things are true - he's better when he starts but he's absolutely a liability in our half and loses the ball in really dangerous scenarios

This is true.

What is also true is that passing sideways and backwards are very safe, so players who attempt more creative, attacking play are more likely to lose the ball more often.

The number of times a player gives the ball away is not a complete metric to measure them by.

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 5:06 pm Pfft everyone turning on old brapster is it? After 15 short years they reckon they've got him all worked out?

You get to me sometimes but I still love you the same as always

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 2:07 pm His best pass this year was to Garnacho

So you agree he has it in him?

Toddacelli wrote: This is true.

What is also true is that passing sideways and backwards are very safe, so players who attempt more creative, attacking play are more likely to lose the ball more often.

The number of times a player gives the ball away is not a complete metric to measure them by.

In isolation no, but in combination with the amount and quality of chances created it absolutely is.

Garner has a higher xGA per ninety than Alcaraz does whilst also maintaining a higher pass accuracy and not creating chances for the opposition.

At the moment Alcaraz’ creativity isn’t enough to justify how often he’s losing the ball

Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 5:06 pm This is true.

What is also true is that passing sideways and backwards are very safe, so players who attempt more creative, attacking play are more likely to lose the ball more often.

The number of times a player gives the ball away is not a complete metric to measure them by.

No but when and where they give it away is still important and he does tend to take those risks when he shouldn't. I honestly think it's the main reason moyes hasn't used him more.

All true but also unless he plays and develops then he won't iron out the rawness he has. Seems some are willing to give Barry the time to develop whilst putting in sub par performances but not Alcaraz who has been pivotal in our recent wins.

Either we want to develop younger players or we don't, seems a weird disconnect where one player contributing less is being given the support to develop than another.

AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 7:32 pm All true but also unless he plays and develops then he won't iron out the rawness he has. Seems some are willing to give Barry the time to develop whilst putting in sub par performances but not Alcaraz who has been pivotal in our recent wins.

Either we want to develop younger players or we don't, seems a weird disconnect where one player contributing less is being given the support to develop than another.

Probably because Barry clearly has a much higher ceiling and Alcaraz is here on a two year deal after coming from Brazil.

He’s just a squad player. Won’t be anything more than that. There’s not much else to develop from what we’ve already seen.

Surely Barry has been more pivotal than Alcaraz?

Has he done anything in particular other than look busy and hustle? I like it will enough but in not sure if he's been pivotal like.

TheRam wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 8:07 pm Probably because Barry clearly has a much higher ceiling and Alcaraz is here on a two year deal after coming from Brazil.

He’s just a squad player. Won’t be anything more than that. There’s not much else to develop from what we’ve already seen.

Yeah maybe, but I actually think he's got the potential to be a decent player and there is plenty of scope for development.

brap2 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 9:02 pm Surely Barry has been more pivotal than Alcaraz?

Has he done anything in particular other than look busy and hustle? I like it will enough but in not sure if he's been pivotal like.

Alcaraz's pressing has been key to teams not being able to play out from the back. It's no surprise once he started games teams couldn't build play and had to go longer, where our giant CBs would invariably win the headers and KDH playing deeper picked up the loose balls.

Barry contributed a goal, partly because Alcaraz burst forward to help create a 3v1 opportunity. Tbf to Barry he was pivotal in us winning at Old Trafford, so maybe I'd say equally important for our recent wins.

So Alcaraz runs around a lot

Sound

At least that’s cleared that up