Credit where it's due. I've been critical of the Puel appointment and of one of the players (more later) but both did well today.
Here are my ratings for the match.
Schmeichel: 6 - Punched a couple of times when it seemed unnecessary. Otherwise didn't have a great deal to do but did it efficiently.
Simpson: 7 - Not greatly tested but, unusually, got quite involved in some of the build-up play in the first half.
Morgan: 7 - Looking clumsy again at times, but does the simple things right when defending deep and his positioning remains very strong.
Maguire: 7 - Got turned again at a corner but got away with this one. Importantly, he looks like he's learning about his defensive duties. May be another one benefiting from having Iborra in the side as he doesn't feel he has to take it upon himself to step forward into midfield and do something questionable.
Fuchs: 5 - Could easily have conceded a penalty and struggled as a lot of attacks came down his side. Not in the best form at present.
Gray: 9 - Started on the right wing and had his best game in a Leicester shirt. From the start he looked energetic and determined to influence the game, and took his defensive duties seriously throughout - he was caught out of position a few times but worked to get back into it. I'm not expecting great consistency from him yet, but this faith from Puel must be repaid with the same attitude in future matches. My choice for our MOTM.
Ndidi: 8 - Covered a lot of ground and dispossessed a lot of players. His ball control was also a lot more confident than it has been.
Iborra: 7 - Didn't dominate in the same way as he has done in a couple of matches recently, but continued to dictate play and exude calmness. A big part of our recent style development.
Chilwell: 5 - Not comfortable as a midfielder; rarely found himself in the space he usually has and was hurried into mistakes. Even so, he showed fine stamina for a young player and will keep going. Can expect to get more games under Puel; I just hope they will be at full back instead of wide midfield.
Mahrez: 7 - Had a good first half where he showed drive and determination, seeking to enjoy himself in the number 10 role and setting Vardy up with a superb first-time cross with his weak foot. Got swamped out of the game in the second half as Everton got more physical.
Vardy: 8 - Took advantage of a puzzlingly high Everton line and scored from being in the right place at the right time. Didn't always have the support he needed though.
Okazaki: 7 - Brought much-needed energy to proceedings. Should have come on sooner as we rode our luck for a good 15 minutes in the second half.
Albrighton: 6 - The game was largely dead by the time he came on.
Iheanacho: n/a.
So, a win for the new manager, who made some interesting changes. Of those, some worked well and others maybe not so. He was good to his reputation of giving youth a chance by throwing Gray and Chilwell into his first starting line-up. Of those, one worked brilliantly and the other one just about held his end up but looked very much a square peg in a round hole. Is Mahrez the best option at number 10? Was Vardy too isolated? Can he keep 4 strikers happy with this formation? Did we get too defensive in the second half? A lot of questions, granted. But if results are what Puel is to be judged on then there's no arguing with the first match: Everton never really looked close to scoring.
As for Everton themselves, some are sounding out warning bells but I don't feel nearly so down on them. They won't have the season they wanted at the start of course, but I can't honestly see them in trouble of relegation. At least, not when they bring in a half-decent new manager instead of relying on one who hooked easily their best player at half time on the basis that he wasn't in the game. (!)
Player ratings vs. Everton
posted on 30/10/17
Amartey right back BS
posted on 30/10/17
I like that team Foxello, but I do think it leaves us very exposed down the wings against top teams. Gray and Mahrez have zero defensive brain between them.
So I’d suggest that could be very exciting going forward at home, but I’d want to be more compact away from home with one of Mahrez or Gray dropping out.
On Chilwell, where you’d hope he’d add more value than Fuchs is his pace. But his nativity sees him being done by pacy wingers far too often. You couldn’t play Chilwell with a Gray protecting him against a team like Man City. We’d be toast!
posted on 30/10/17
Good point B S ref: Harry Kane.
He was sh!t when on loan here. Look at him now!
The time he spent here and at least the season after, he looked bang average at best.
He's one of those players that proved me wrong by keeping at it and believing his own ability by progressing and blocking the doubters out.
Now, i'm actually a Harry Kane fan - never thought i would say that.
posted on 30/10/17
Mersey; I'd agree that my team would be vulnerable to a battering at someone like Man City. With the players we have in the squad, we can be much more tactically adaptable than we use to be. At City, for example, we could look at a 5-3-1-1 with Dragovic as a third CB and Simpson or Albrighton coming in as a right full/wing back, keep the solid midfield three and have Mahrez or Gray behind Vardy.
Plus my team is more of a long term goal and I'm basing it on the expectation that Chilwell will improve his defensive side.
posted on 30/10/17
comment by playthepitch (U3623)
posted 23 minutes ago
Good point B S ref: Harry Kane.
He was sh!t when on loan here. Look at him now!
The time he spent here and at least the season after, he looked bang average at best.
He's one of those players that proved me wrong by keeping at it and believing his own ability by progressing and blocking the doubters out.
Now, i'm actually a Harry Kane fan - never thought i would say that.
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Kane's mediocre performances at Leicester might be because a certain someone had a tendency to play him on the wing...
posted on 30/10/17
comment by Foxello (U6985)
posted 50 minutes ago
Mersey; I'd agree that my team would be vulnerable to a battering at someone like Man City. With the players we have in the squad, we can be much more tactically adaptable than we use to be. At City, for example, we could look at a 5-3-1-1 with Dragovic as a third CB and Simpson or Albrighton coming in as a right full/wing back, keep the solid midfield three and have Mahrez or Gray behind Vardy.
Plus my team is more of a long term goal and I'm basing it on the expectation that Chilwell will improve his defensive side.
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Totally agree. Chilwell and Albrighton in a 3-5-2 is also an option. We do look very flexible all of a sudden.
posted on 30/10/17
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
comment by Foxello (U6985)
posted 50 minutes ago
Mersey; I'd agree that my team would be vulnerable to a battering at someone like Man City. With the players we have in the squad, we can be much more tactically adaptable than we use to be. At City, for example, we could look at a 5-3-1-1 with Dragovic as a third CB and Simpson or Albrighton coming in as a right full/wing back, keep the solid midfield three and have Mahrez or Gray behind Vardy.
Plus my team is more of a long term goal and I'm basing it on the expectation that Chilwell will improve his defensive side.
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Totally agree. Chilwell and Albrighton in a 3-5-2 is also an option. We do look very flexible all of a sudden.
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We always were, just needs the brave decision to do it and the Players to have the flexibility to make it a success.
posted on 31/10/17
Agreed TB needed someone to look at the players strengths and not be scared to try a different plan.
Morgan played like he had a point to prove as did Gray now for a sterner test at the weekend any one think he will pay the same winning team with a clean sheet ?
posted on 31/10/17
I reckon 1 change on Saturday Nev.
I’ve got a feeling Puel won’t be the sort of manager that sticks to exactly the same team.
I reckon that Gray will keep his place. Maybe Albrighton will come in with Fuchs or Chilwell missing out.
posted on 31/10/17
Agreed will he drop Fuch's for Chilwell?