Lukáš Horníček - 4 Very good save from an O’Brien header halfway through the second half, and looked relatively comfortable throughout. Unfortunately made an absolute howler for the goal and that’s what will be remembered and what he must learn from.
Amar Dedić – 4 A night of relative anonymity will see him score higher than many of those around him. Lost his counterpart George more than once, and had no clear link up or understanding with Elanga - but it’s very hard to pinpoint exactly whose fault that is.
Fabian Schär - 4 Sliced a shot over the bar and made his usual nuisance of himself in both boxes. Tried to claim a foul for their goal but the replays suggest there was very little contact. Maybe he could’ve just shown a bit more strength determination. We’ve seen this movie before.
Dan Burn - 5 Two years ago the pitchforks were out for BDB and many were calling for one of Howe’s main men to be dropped from the team for being too immobile and error-prone. In truth, he hasn’t improved all that much. But now he looks like twice the player of most of those around him – which tells a significant story.
Lewis Hall - 3 Decent amount of effort and running but Hall is proving to be one of our main underperformers this season. Again, tonight, he gave the ball away cheaply in very dangerous areas and looked for all the world like he was playing alongside strangers.
Nico González – 3 Like so many wearing black and white he looked for all the world like he was lacking in direction, dynamism and purpose. For the man who is (presumably) meant to dictate tempo and light our spark – he did the opposite, with more than a couple of criminal concessions of possession.
Joelinton - 4 Much like Schär behind him, you just know what you’re going to get. A bit of drive, a bit of purpose – and thankfully at least shot at goal after a first 40 minutes of football that threatened to bore the assembled masses to sleep. But all the usual traits were there, including flimsy ball control on the edge of his own area. We’re all tired of this now, lads.
## THE SPECIAL - Everton at home
Michael Martin
·
Nov 1
THE SPECIAL - Everton at home
Having spent the last few days putting some Germolene (other antiseptic based creams are available, I just don't know any) on the wounds from a frankly awful night next to the Mersey, we've got Everton here within a few days to open them all back up again in what could be the most “Everyone else is playing in Europe, which poor saps with decent fanbases…
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Anthony Elanga – 2 Up there with some of the all-time terrible St James’ Park performances. On numerous occasions, with his teammates in possession of the ball on the halfway line, he would run towards them rather than towards goal – making his pace completely redundant. He’d then receive the ball and promptly give it away. Shocking.
Joe Willock - 2 There were genuinely moments when I thought we’d have been better playing with ten men than with Joe jogging aimlessly around. This system (if we can call it a system) relies heavily on a strong and skilful no.10 with a lightening quick football brain. Joe Willock is not that.
Harvey Barnes - 4 Was able to cut inside once or twice but only when he was 40 yards from goal, and quickly ran up dead ends as there was no movement around him. One of the few who you felt might make something happen but in truth, like the rest, he could’ve been playing all night and would’ve been lucky to have a shot on target – let alone a goal.
William Osula - 3 You could be forgiven for forgetting he was on the pitch. Completely anonymous. Again, hard to blame it wholly on Big Will, when you could easily blame the lack of service, movement and cohesion around him.
SUBS
Steur (for González, 64’) - 6 The loudest cheers of the night accompanied his entry. He has a turn and a change of direction that no one else in the team can match. We should be wary of pinning all our hopes on an 18-year-old, but currently, there isn’t really anywhere else to pin them
Wissa (for Willock, 64’) - 4 Had a half decent chance to grab an equaliser, but upon watching it back he probably should’ve played in Ramsey. Brought a slight improvement to Willock, but it in truth it would’ve been difficult to reach the depths of Joe’s performance.
Ramsey (for Joelinton, 75’) - 2 A decent shot from the edge of the area and looked at least like he brought some energy. Probably making a good case for himself to start the next game - until his stupidity saw him booked twice in the blink of an eye. Unforgivable.
Murphy (for Elanga, 75’) - 3 Nope.
Touré (Dedić, 87’) - 6 A couple of decent runs, which felt noteworthy in the short amount of time he had on the pitch compared to the dross served up before his entrance. Deserves a start.
Ed Cole @edsamuelcole.bsky.social