11 Jan 2024 08:59:57
Just a query
Are we at all going to see Thiago this season
I mean at all?

1.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 09:04:28
Assuming no setbacks he should be available next month.

2.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 10:24:32
That's what Lijnders has said. Knock on wood.

3.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 11:27:41
I'd be happy to see him waving goodbye from LJL airport if we can find anyone to pay his vast wages TBH.

4.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 12:03:45
The question is, where does he play? Personally there’s no question of his ability but he’s been a mistake.

5.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 14:28:10
Hasn't worked out for sure. He's spent, I would guess, over half of his time with us out injured. When he has been fit and played there were times when his class stood out and he appeared to be playing the game at a different level to other people but I think he suffered from the fact that his time coincided with the decline of Fabinho and Henderson and the difficult period that van Dijk and Trent had. If he'd been playing with prime Fabinho and van Dijk behind him and the energy of prime Henderson alongside him, I think he'd have had a platform to show his best.

That said, I wouldn't rule out that he could still play a part in the run in. Still in four competitions, a few injuries starting to occur throughout the team, Mac Allister not exactly setting the world alight. A fit Thiago playing alongside Endo + Jones or Szoboszlai or Mac Allister may still have chance to play a part in something.

6.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 14:42:08
Why the hate? He’s been unfortunate with injuries and deserves our support through them. You don’t pay his wages.

When Thiago is fit and in full flow he’s one of the best midfielders in the world. I truly hope he comes back firing and motivated, contributes to a title push, and reminds everyone just how good he is. I love having a luxury player like him in our squad. He’s a joy to watch.

7.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 14:44:40
Well he’s just as mobile as mcallister atm and better on the ball than him so would hazard a guess at playing him in place of him.

8.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 15:30:04
'hate' is a pretty strong word Storage, don't think anyone is 'hating'. There's nothing wrong with admitting that a transfer hasn't worked out and that a player should be moved on. As, as it happens, those of us who go to games or pay to watch on satellite TV are, partly, paying his wages.

9.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 16:17:51
Thiago was a min stay for our push for top 4 in the 20/ 21 season when we were ravaged by injuries. People also forget how brilliantly he had played at the start of that season (came on at Chelsea and bossed it from start to finish of that second half) until that fateful game at Woodison when he almost got his leg broken by that Richarlison.

Also in the 21/ 22 season, Thiago was boss in the final stretch on the Quad run and heaven knows what might have happened had he not been injured right before the CL final. Has it worked overall? I can see why people would say that BUT Im not going to act like he did the bare minimum cos well, he did a lot more than that, IMO.

{Ed025's Note - sick note for me Oli and should have been put out to pasture a long time ago, on top dollar and bleeding the club dry mate even though i must say the guy certainly had ability, seems like hes just happy doing very little these days while he picks up the big bucks for his retirement which has come early, you will probably say im cynical...but i call it being realistic..

10.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 16:48:49
“Luxury player” exactly.

11.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 17:03:14
I’ll be honest I’m a massive Thiago fan but I totally understand the frustration that fans have with him as he’s had an injury ravaged time with us and has been out since April.

Truth is I’m sure he’s just as disappointed as the fans as he doesn’t want to be injured and he’s not Benjamin Button so he’s not getting any younger.

Even though his time at the club might not be seen to be a success by many I’m happy that I got to witness him live on a few occasions which was a pleasure to see an artist at work.

12.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 17:30:12
Come on now. Ed025 has experience watching these players play for Everton. Experts opinion ?.

{Ed025's Note - i dont like freeloaders Liverbird, if it was up to me they would all be on pay as you play mate, and as for bonus,s they would get so much a point so if they lost they would get nowt, JK described Thiago as an artist, but with his injury record i would describe him as a...taking the piss artist myself.. :)

13.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 17:51:46
Dominic Calvert Lewin wouldn't be earning much on a pay as you play deal |Ed.

{Ed025's Note - you are spot on Telemicus, but it would stop all these malingerers like him and the likes of Daniel Sturridge declaring themselves unfit if they had a headache or a broken fingernail mate, how about put them on minimum wage but with a bonus of £20k a point?, that might make them get off their arses and actually earn a living..

14.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 18:06:42
I couldn't agree more. I believe a minimum wage with performance related bonuses is the best way to go.

Of course, while someone else is willing to pay the players the earth, it will never happen.

{Ed025's Note - we can always dream though mate..

15.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 18:52:18
Not like he went and got himself injured.
He is one of our guys, and personally, I'm proud that we stick by our guys as they recover from injury and just don't flick them off like a piece of meat.

16.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 18:59:13
Quick bit of maths suggests Thiago had played in exactly 50% of our league games since signing (134 games played of which Thiago has played in just 67).

I'll be honest, I defended his signing originally because a lot of his injuries elsewhere tended to be quite short term and when he does play it generally looks great, but let's be honest, we all expected him to play a lot more than he has. His stats on league games is only marginally better than the dreadful Navy Keith.

17.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:04:42
"Hes just happy doing very little these days while he picks up the big bucks. ".

"I don't like freeloaders. ". I can't believe this rubbish.

Wow, what does that waffle even mean? Seriously, you do know Thiago is injured right? Or did you miss any of that? Just asking.

18.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:05:59
Great post, Faith.

19.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 17:57:21
Ed0025 brilliant mate ?. I totally agree with the thoughts on players being on incentivised contracts of earning more when they play and more when successful.

Just think Everton would probably be richer than Newcastle right now if they were paying the players on succes the last 30 years and 10 points better off??.

{Ed025's Note - we are working up to it JK, Rome wasn,t built in a day mate.. :)

20.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:58:13
We must be the only fans in world football who worry about wages.

If Naby or Thiago weren’t here the club wouldn’t be using that money to lower ticket or kit prices. It would likely be going into shareholders pockets.

Genuine question everyone on here must be mates with fans of other clubs. Has anyone ever heard another club fan complain about wages like we do?

{Ed001's Note - that isn't where it would be going. It would be used towards signing other players. Clearly you have no idea how the club is run and so you don't worry about things beyond your very limited understanding, but wages do matter. If you pay someone 200k a week, that is over 10m out of the budget that could otherwise be used on a transfer fee etc. Nothing to do with shareholders pockets as that is not what would happen with it.

You are right it would not reduce kit or ticket prices, but not one person has ever said it would.}

21.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:58:49
Funny you mention Sturridge Ed, the way he acted in Oz was embarrassing, made a mockery of the club
The problem with it all, is that injury is a risk of the sport, the players are employed knowing there is always a chance they could get injured. If it is then medically diagnosed, not much the club can do apart from pay their wages and wait.

22.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 19:59:18
Very harsh the lads been through major surgery. Hardly like he's buzzing to have a really bad injury, he's always played with passion and is an exceptional football player. The club gave him the contract!

23.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:40:34
Naby for me is the worst offender. Still only played three games for Bremen since his summer move.

24.) 11 Jan 2024
11 Jan 2024 20:46:46
It’s amazing how many will stick up for Thiago and say it’s not his fault he’s injured but hammered Keita for exactly the same thing. Selective abuse.

Thiago hasn’t worked. I loved the idea of him but the reality has been much different.

Maybe he’ll fit better into this team now we play with more creativity in midfield. We can but hope.

25.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 06:28:57
I think Beckers that Thiago has performed when he has played whereas Keita was mostly a total let down.

26.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 07:19:34
Out of those 67 games Johnnyr 1970, how many of those were 90 minutes? Would be interesting to see “ minutes played” in the 67 games if you have it ?.

27.) 12 Jan 2024
12 Jan 2024 10:53:53
Irish - 4,650 mins out of a possible 6,030 (67 games x 90 mins) . So basically 77% of the games. I'll bet he's not finished many.