Looks like Everton needs some decent defenders.
Dyche is a manager who rarely rotates. If you’re in, you’ll stay in. If you’re out, good luck to you. O’Brien needs to take his chance well when he gets it.
It's set up well for Jake to come in and improve things. That said, Everton's problems clearly more widespread than the defence though
Hopefully we see him repeat the exact same trick as last season. Come into a struggling team and transform their results. Haven't watched Everton play but you'd have to assume after conceading so many goals that they'll have to consider a change in CBs.
O'Brien has described himself as a "ball-playing centre-half" on a number of occasions. It makes the decision to join Everton all the more confusing, albeit you can see the obvious appeal of playing in the Premier League. Sean Dyche teams aren't really renowned for their defenders' ball-playing abilities. Rather they are lauded for their out and out defensive traits, plus their capacity to score from set-pieces. So, perhaps O'Brien is a signing for Everton's post-Dyche future.
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O'Brien plays a great long diagonal from the back. I think he'll suit Dyche's team once he gets his chance. As was said above, hopefully it works out like Lyon and his chance in the team coincides with improved results.
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With their star defender out injured and Jake still not in team, it would make me wonder. Brantwaite (sp) may not get sold because of the injury, and assuming Jake was bought as his replacement. Seemingly Dyche doesn't think Jake is ready for PL. Disappointing all round.
I dont think its that necessarily Drummer. Dyche did the same last season - started Keane and Tarkowski before gradually transitioning Branthwaite in permanently around game 4 or 5. I do think that Jake was signed to replace Branthwaite next summer (I really dont think theyll sell him this window; if anyone goes it will be DCL I'd say) but ahead of Keane this year. The injury to Branthwaite probably caused Dyche to go more conservative and not want to go with Jake from Day 1 ahead of Keane. We'll see how it goes but I am confident he'll see plenty of game time this year.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Wasn't following the latest transfers and just noticed that this guy went to Everton.
I'm a bit disappointed. Lyon is a great club to continue development at, yet he opts for the Premier League meat grinder.
Everton ship three more goals, this time to throw a 2-0 lead away and lose 3-2. That was enough for O'Brien to be brought off the bench, coming on for Gueye (I think) with 25 to go. Was booked and couldn't stop them letting that third in, but still, hopefully a foot in the door there.
13 goals against in four games for Everton this year, as they stay bottom of the league with no points.
You'd have to wonder how long Dyche sticks with Michael Keane, he's such a liability for them. O'Brien only came on because Everton switched to three at the back as Villa had two up front. Then Villa scored the third (nothing to do with O'Brien) and Everton had to push, so they went to a back four and O'Brien played right back, which isn't his position. So he was only actually at centre back for a few minutes.
I thought he did well after coming on. Won 3 clean tackles without going to ground and from RB he carried the ball out of defence very positively before sliding a ball through to Calvert-Lewin who hit the underside of the bar. He has a confident demeanour about him.
(Edit: I misremembered - his wasn't the pass that fed in DCL, it was the pass before)
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 17/09/2024 at 7:40 AM.
Started tonight in the League Cup against Southampton - no guarantee he'll keep his place for the next league game of course, but they only conceded once (a 1-1 draw) so that can't hurt his chances of getting into the team more often.
Though it won't be in the League Cup, as they lost on penalties
He will learn a lot watching Michael Keane from the bench this season. Not necessarily good things, but he'll learn a lot.
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