09 Sep 2026 20:24:52
Sobosli cannot be in central midfield long term. Caught napping and they danced through midfield.
Macca can't defend the entire centre of the pitch on his own. They danced through the middle for that goal with Sobosli caught watching and Kerkez playing Lotente onside. Running about like a headless chicken isn't a top midfielder. Sobosli needs to seriously improve if he's to be our no 8.
09 Sep 2026 20:35:25
Been saying this. He should be the number 10, much more effective there than Wirtz.
09 Sep 2026 20:44:35
Sobosli is better, like Bellingham, closer to the six-yard box. He's not a no 8.
09 Sep 2026 20:50:09
Trying to get Wirtz in the team who has been rubbish again.
09 Sep 2026 20:54:53
I think he may be reacting to his own fans not bothering to learn how to spell his name.
09 Sep 2026 20:58:59
I have no idea who you are talking about.
09 Sep 2026 22:02:58
Wirtz was good. He pressed, was all over the pitch covering others and should have had a handful of assists. Too many of the players are not making the run when he’s picked out a peach of a pass, or just ballsing up the attack.
Saw a lot of moaning about the performance and I don’t understand why. A few bits we need to sharpen up, but on the whole much improved.
09 Sep 2026 22:08:25
This can't be real. Sobosli & Lotente. Funny that Bellingham is correct.
09 Sep 2026 22:17:06
We’re getting decent results while we’re getting used to a new manager and way of playing. We won, enjoy it.
09 Sep 2026 22:23:49
Wirtz was great at pressing and winning the ball back tonight. Not so much on the creative side tonight, but that was the type of game we were in tonight. That's what I love about him. He gives his all whether it's pressing or providing, which shows he wants to win, so let's get behind our players and move forward together.
{Ed025's Note - hmmmm..
09 Sep 2026 22:27:04
I’d say Grav is more of a problem. He gives the ball away constantly.
09 Sep 2026 22:29:59
Absolutely, Florian. IraolaBall is fun to watch. The players are slowly getting into the groove. And the optimism of winning games is back on. We just beat one of our "hoodoo" teams in Europe (Napoli being the other). Nothing but a huge smile.
09 Sep 2026 22:45:59
Wirtz was very good tonight.
{Ed025's Note - hmmm..
09 Sep 2026 22:51:12
I lost count how many times Wirtz has played a game changer of a pass only for the recipient to fluff his lines.
Yes, he needs to be stronger on the ball but man does he press.
Gravenberch is proving to be a weak link. This is going to be a challenging season for him. Stevie G was unimpressed and vocal about it.
Szoboszlai was everywhere, but cannot tackle to save his life.
We really need someone else with bite in midfield.
Cannot believe MacAllister was our best midfielder out of the 3. Wish he played like this every week.
Why is it that the really fast players, who can drop off a yard and still win the ball, are the ones who constantly drift offside? Two games recently where Frimpong has cost us a goal by failing to stay onside.
Things on the whole are looking up. Araujo and Jacquet are proper defenders with good brains.
09 Sep 2026 22:55:24
Wirtz was brilliant tonight, I thought. I don't get it. People so obsessed with stats... his passing was very good, work rate and pressing as good as I've seen and he even out-strengthened a couple of Atleti players to win the ball back. Coupled with putting it on an absolute plate for Barcola would have been an unbelievable assist... but because the stat men aren't happy he's useless...
Delighted Iraola has seen Gravenberch as the weak link of our 3. I said it so many times last season when people were slating Macca and Grav was getting away with murder.
Yes, lots to improve on but by God it's much more enjoyable than last season. Araujo has made us look so much more solid. Pace on the wings, Rio looked more like himself. Still can improve his off the ball running, but confident Iraola will improve that. Barcola lively, some lovely touches, unbelievable pace... end product needs to improve but I've seen enough to get excited by. Munoz too, very unlucky, showed great composure cutting back inside, prob should have scored but still; if Frimpong had a bit more awareness he would have kept himself onside, but tidy finish all the same.
Jacquet too, already made my mind up about him, the kid's quality and a big upgrade on Konate on and off the ball.
Back to back 3 PTS, another day we get a few more goals but I'll take that. Roll on Fulham on sat, let's hope we can keep the momentum going.
YNWA!!
{Ed025's Note - I read “Wirtz was brilliant tonight “. Then skipped the rest..
09 Sep 2026 22:57:40
Thanks for the critique @Ron. The team isn't settled yet and they are growing, in confidence and in belief.
Believe it or not people get your daily aired concerns about the midfield (@ midfield that has been oart of a winning team tense already watching the last five days). Why don't you concentrate a bit more on the positives and get on board for the ride - you never know, it might be quite good fun.
09 Sep 2026 22:58:41
We just beat a difficult team that likes to play dirty with the ref giving every 50/50 their way. Thought we controlled the game much better in the 2nd half.
09 Sep 2026 22:01:15
Ok are you for real? Wirtz was one of our best players tonight .maybe wait to the full game before your criticise players. I also thought Szob had his best game of the season so far. So much for YNWA
{Ed025's Note - we all want Wirtz to do well MOT. But let’s not tell lies mate. He was mediocre at best tonight..
09 Sep 2026 23:40:59
“We all want Wirtz to do well,” said the Evertonian, not as much as we want Jack the Lad to come good, said the Kopite. Has the makings of a good joke. ?
{Ed025's Note - i like that WDW.. :)
09 Sep 2026 23:29:41
You missed some of my best work so ed ?. Ah look that's the beauty of the game. Opinions and all that. Was he 116mil brilliant, no but in terms of effectiveness and showing signs of knitting it all together, it was as good as I've seen him. Barcola scores that goal and Wirtz is lauded for starting the whole move and providing the key pass.he sees a pass very few others can see so I haven't lost faith yet. Still needs to do it more consistently but just wait chief, things are heating up at Anfield.?
To be honest after last season.I'm just so happy that I enjoy watching us again.even when we went behind, I was enjoying the efforts so much more than losing the same games week in week out so you might excuse my extra positiveness tonight ?.
Ps Ron is a troll ?
{Ed025's Note - i think you should have said "Wirtz was not as bad as he has been" BIOT...that would have been nearer the mark mate..
09 Sep 2026 23:46:55
Mediocre, Ed25?
Out of interest, what do you think he lacked tonight?
{Ed025's Note - not a lot really mate, he was a bit better than he has been but the bar has been set very low by him, upping his game to mediocre is certainly a step in the right direction though..
10 Sep 2026 02:01:48
Wirtz was excellent tonight Ed he never stopped and had some unbelievable touches. The first time I saw him I liked the way he played his passes so early but he lost that last season due to a lack of options and it probably affected his confidence.
Tonight he was getting back to that and his work rate was phenomenal. He misplaced a few passes but if you want to forget about everything else he did because he misplaced a few passes that can only be because you're desperate to criticise him.
Confirmation bias I think. He did a hell of a lot right tonight but some will always point out what he did wrong and use that as a stick to beat him with.
{Ed025's Note - he done ok for me RSO and was not as bad as usual, he still gave the ball away too much but thats what you get with luxury players mate..
10 Sep 2026 03:00:40
Why would any Everton fan want Liverpool players to do well Ed? Let's not tell lies mate.
{Ed025's Note - im a football fan Mfahmee and like to see players play well and good football mate, for his price tag i was expecting a lot better i must admit..
10 Sep 2026 07:08:54
Ed025 I feel we must watch the game differently. Wirtz pressed well and created some good openings, should have had an assist too.
Gravenberch I thought was a major concern. He came on to help add legs to midfield and see out the game and just kept giving the ball away with stupid flicks.
On current form he is behind Nyoni for me in the pecking order, I can't trust him at the moment, as he seems to lack in game intellligence.
{Ed025's Note - Grav has been very poor MOT i agree, Wirtz showed up better than he has been against a side who gave him a lot of time and space, European teams tend to do that but now i want to see him do that in the rigors of the prem where time and space are at a premium mate..