Jack Stephens and Alex McCarthy would not get a place in any other Premier League team. What sort of starting line up was that? Kwp and Armstrong were our best players last season. Why didnt Tella start he has been brilliant in pre-season games? Forster must start next game.

11

Next game starting 11:

Stephens(GK)

Walcott McQueen A Armstrong Forster

JWP Redmond Adams Romeu Peters

McCarthy

Director of Football: Ian Branfoot

1

Next game starting 11:

Stephens(GK)

Walcott McQueen A Armstrong Forster

JWP Redmond Adams Romeu Peters

McCarthy

Director of Football: Ian Branfoot

0

Strange starting 11. Bednarek and Stuart Armstrong were probably rested because of their participance in the Euro 20 tournament, but McCarthy in goal was a big surprise, and so was 'Tino' Livramento, but that said , I thought Tino played pretty well.
No doubt Bednarek, S. Armstrong and KWP will start vs M.U. , and I think Tella will come in for Walcott.

Everton didn't look great and to be fair they only had 2 ½ chances from which they scored 3.

Stephens gifted them a really stupid corner from which they equalized. No communication between him and McCarthy???? And I just don' t know why McCarthy didn't run out and defend with his life and give disgusting diver boy Richarlison a bruise while preventing him from getting in behind and volleying the ball over McCarthys head? Disappointing!

Romeu usually is good at protecting the ball and distributing it cleverly. He had a bad come back game with - unlike him - some pretty poor distribution + he didn't protect the back four when ugly Doucouré had all the time in the world to control the ball and blast it in the top near corner on the edge of the box. We have to remember, though, that Romeu was injured for several months with a foot fracture, and he obviously needs games to get back to his best.

One good half and one bad. Could have been worse, but - obviously - a disappointing result.
A. Armstrong had a good debut, and Adams worked well and hard and had a fine assist.
It worries me that Ralph is so poor at protecting leads. Bednarek (who clearly is a better defender than Stephens) on for Stephens at half time would have been a good signal to the rest of the team. Bednarek wouldn't have allowed the third goal to happen. Also Tella on for Walcott at half time would have added some much needed energy to protect the lead for as long as possible. Walcott was nearly invisible. At least Djenepo tried, also against the ball.

A manager has to be good at anticipating the development of a match. Ralph, strangely, isn't, and that's bad.

11

What I never understand is why all players who played in a tournament over the summer aren’t ready to play at the beginning of the season as suggested by Kri? What makes Bednarek and S Armstrong different to Che Adams?
I’ve always complained about Ralph’s inability to read how a game is going to change in the 2nd half and how he is constantly out thought by the position manager and yesterday was no different, Benitez puts Richarlison up front and Ralph does nothing. Everton were poor in the first half, did he really not think that Benitez would not make a change? I think our record of losing leads shows that Ralph never learns and isn’t brave enough to change systems to counter opposition changes!!!!!!

8

Has Ralph lost the plot already. Why did he not start with his best players Bednarek, Stuart Armstrong, Walker-Peters and Forster should have all started. Why did Ralph not make any changes at the start of the second half when we were being overrun? Ralph needs to get a tactition in to work beside him because his tactical knowledge is zero!!!

9

He said that he was going to make changes early in the second half but we started to look brighter for a time so he held back until the second goal. Frustrating I know but it isn’t easy to know when to make changes when you are ahead. Stick or twist? Get it right and you are a hero, get it wrong and you are a useless muppet.

-2

Have to agree with most of what is said here. Bright spots Tino had a great first half though should have been replaced by WP as he started to tire in second half. Some really good link up play between Adams and Armstrong and a great finish by Armstrong (Danny who?). Disagree with most over Djenepo, think he can be a great creator if he can just get his final ball right much better than Walcott or indeed Redmond.

JWP and Oriel clearly not up to full speed yet, we surrendered initiative in mid field after half time. Unbelievable RH didn’t put Stu Armstrong on. Similarly using Stephens rather than Bednarak very strange. Tella too should have replaced the ineffective Walcott much earlier. Did Salisu get a call to leave ball for their equaliser ?, shame given that we had played a good safety first approach in defence first half.

Obvious concerns remain over centre backs although I am hopeful about Salisu, Bednarak partnership. Lack of height in attacking penalty area is a worry but very optimistic about Adams / Armstrong partnership. Hopefully JWP and Oriel back to fuller fitness next week. MUFC will be a good test given their start.

7

Bad enough that the selection from ‘two for each position’ were the wrong ones, and that we ended up with too many lightweights starting, with debutants already carrying established stand ins.
As many have said, what’s the point of a ‘strong bench’ if there’s no urgency to get the right replacements on.
WTF have Forster, Bednarek, Walker -Peters, Stuart Armstrong and even Diallo done wrong pre season FFS?
Rather than square pegs round holes why not the old fashioned if you’re good enough you’re playing, which might leave only one of Bednarek or Salisu with Livramento and KWP right side, and accommodate best player (Stuart Armstrong) at all costs.
Experiment over, or admit you’re beaten RH, and get some help in -either for the remainder of the season, or perhaps just to organise the second half’s .

0