The Blue Frontier - American Everton Analysis

Back from Atlanta and back behind the mic, the Blue Frontier trio break down Everton's 2–2 draw with Manchester United in the final match of the PL Summer Series. The conversation covers tactical shifts, including James Garner operating as a deep midfielder, Charlie Alcaraz forced wide, and a promising first look at Adam Aznou. But many of the usual issues remain. The right side of the pitch still...

Everton are set for a US roadtrip, and The Blue Frontier crew is riding shotgun. In this special Summer Series episode, James and Shan go full tour guide, handing the mic to Evertonians from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Atlanta to spotlight fan-led festivities across the US: from five-a-side footy and boat cruises, to all out Southern-style tailgates. They preview the events and the Toffee s...

The Blue Frontier has reached the FINAL FRONTIER in its 2024–25 Everton squad assessment series with a deep dive into the club's most critical remaining gaps: right-back and goalkeeper. Building on the tactical and data-heavy groundwork laid in Part 1, James, Ryan, and Shan kick off with news on Idrissa Gana Gueye and Michael Keane re-signing, as well as the incoming Thierno Barry (who got a full...

Part 6 of The Blue Frontier's 2024–25 Everton squad assessment series takes on a big brief: left backs, center backs, and all the latest transfer noise. PLUS a new theme song to set the tone (thanks to Steve Barkwill and Laura Lockwood, links below!) James, Shan, and Ryan kick things off with reactions to the kit reveal (Stake-free at last), the Seamus Coleman extension, and updates on Jarrad Bran...

Just when you think it's not possible, The Blue Frontier brings to you their biggest list of names yet – almost 70! - with Part 5 of their 2024–25 Everton squad assessment focusing on CM/DM.  If you want some in depth analysis on a massive position of need for Everton, this may be your podcast.    Building up on their initial team analysis in Part 1, James, Shan, and Ryan try and find CMs and DMs...

Part four of our 2024–25 Team Assessment digs into Everton's creative conundrum. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin's exit all but official, the guys evaluate potential reinforcements up top, headlined by the links to Villarreal striker Tierno Barry. Is he worth the €40M plunge? They then dive into the main course: central attacking midfield, where Charly Alcaraz, McNeil, and Ndiaye are all "options"... f...

The Blue Frontier's 2024/25 Squad Assessment continues with Part 3: a deep dive into Everton's biggest attacking void, the right wing. James, Shan, and Ryan bring their trademark blend of rigor and realism to a position crying out for pace, 1v1 threat, and open-play creativity. Building on Part 1's tactical framework (goal threat, progression, structure) and informed by scouting models, Wyscout da...

In Part 2 of their 2024–25 Everton squad assessment, The Blue Frontier team turns its attention to center forwards and wide attackers, offering the kind of detailed, data-driven analysis you won't find anywhere else in the Everton media space. James, Shan, and Ryan build on Part 1's tactical themes (goal threat, progression, structure, and more) to evaluate how the club can strengthen its attack t...

The Blue Frontier launches its 2024/25 Team Assessment with Part 1: a sharp, data-driven look at Everton's squad under David Moyes. James, Shan, and Ryan dig into the root causes behind the club's biggest issues, laying the groundwork for smarter summer moves and a clearer path forward. The trio tackle the pressing questions: Why couldn't Everton score? Just how offside were our strikers? How esse...

Everton's 2-0 win over Southampton was the final act at Goodison Park, but the real story was the crowd, the blue smoke, and the people who made the Grand Old Lady what it was. In this episode, James, Shan, and Ryan reflect on the last Men's match at Goodison, not just the 2 goals from Illiman Ndiaye, or Seamus Coleman's emotional start, but what the day meant to Evertonians around the world. All...

With the arrival of a new CEO and signs of movement on the transfer committee, The full Blue Frontier crew returns to assess a crucial summer for Everton. The episode opens with the official news that Goodison Park will become the permanent home of Everton Women, a move that carries both emotional and financial weight.  From there, Ryan walks through the club's PSR outlook and explains why Everton...

James and Ryan are here to deliver a lively breakdown of Everton's stunning 1-3 comeback against Fulham at Craven Cottage, turning a shaky first half into a triumphant Thames-side affair. The hosts dissect an uncharacteristic Toffees performance: their first away win from a 1-0 deficit in over two years. Vitali Mykolenko, Michael Keane, and Beto stole the show, with Keane's towering header and Bet...

Unfortunately, Everton again drop points after having a 2-0 lead against a surprisingly stout Ipswich side at the 2nd to last league match, and final 3pm kickoff at Goodison.  Ryan and James bring you all the details: from the fantastic display in the stands courtesy of the 1878s, to the bangers scored by both sides, and beyond.  James and Ryan along with help from a ton of listener comments get i...

In this compelling episode of The Blue Frontier , hosts James Boyman, Ryan, and Shan embark on a deep dive into Brighton and Hove Albion's renowned recruitment strategy, widely regarded as the Premier League's gold standard, to uncover lessons for Everton's anticipated summer overhaul under the Friedkin Group.   Sparked by Angus Kinnear's claim that Brighton adopted a conservative approach upon pr...

Unfortunately, Everton could not sell a hotel or it's women's team to fund talent to overcome the tactical and performance challenges at Stamford Bridge, as the Toffees fell 1-0 to Champion's League-aspiring Chelsea.    Despite a 30-match winless streak at the Bridge and a daunting billion-dollar net spend gap, the Toffees showed fight, with tactical shifts and a couple of standout moments keeping...

A belated posting of the X (formerly Twitter) Spaces hosted by Shan & Ryan following Everton's 0-2 defeat at Goodison Park to Man City. Accompanied by a number of guests, the guys discuss a number of different topics: Impact of injuries on Everton's strategy, Future prospects for player development and potential transfers Challenges and opportunities facing the team in the summer transfer window....

In this episode, James and Shan reflect on their experience at Toffee Fest 2025 in San Diego, discussing the vibrant atmosphere, the weekend's activities, and of course, Everton's dramatic 1-0 victory vs Nottingham Forest.  This episode represents a slight departure from the Blue Frontier's normal post-match episodes, with a more relaxed look at the game with a focus on the experience of a last-mi...

Maybe it wasn't the prettiest affair, but The Blue Frontier delivers a lively episode brimming with banter and sharp analysis. Hosts James, Shan, and Ryan kick things off with an exciting breakdown of the upcoming Toffee Fest 2025 in San Diego, where James and Shan will be on hand to join Everton ambassador Graham Stewart and over 170 North American supporters for a packed weekend of festivities. ...

After a long wait for another post-match, the Blue Frontier is back after Everton's gritty 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the 246th Merseyside Derby. The trio is f ired up and ready to go through what was a somewhat lackluster (albeit competitive) loss at Anfield.  In this episode, they break down all the tactics and matchups, as well as discuss the more memorable moments such as from Vitaliy Mykolenko'...

The Blue Frontier begins their first of a multi-part series, looking at different Premier League clubs' transfer strategies, and assessing what Everton can learn from different approaches to team building as the Toffees prepare for a massive rebuild this summer.  The first team in the series, having just won their first trophy in 70 years, is Newcastle United. NUFC have spent big, but in doing so...

Everton's new era under The Friedkin Group is starting to take shape, and The Blue Frontier crew is here to break it all down. In this episode, James, Ryan, and Shan take a deep dive into the appointment of Angus Kinnear as CEO-in-waiting. What does his tenure at Leeds United tell us about his vision for Everton? With a strong background in commercial growth and a different approach to football op...

The full crew is reunited on this episode of  The Blue Frontier  to dig into Everton's 1-1 draw at home to West Ham, extending their unbeaten run to 9 matches. Ryan, James and Shan dig into the phases of the game, from a stalemate of a first half, to WHU gaining traction to start the 2nd, to Moyes' successful triple sub that put Jake O'Brien in position to thump home the equalizer, the second time...

Everton escaped their trip to Molineux with a 1-1 draw against Wolves, bringing their unbeaten run to 8 games in the league, something David Moyes has not achieved as a manager since his OG spell leading the Blues. James and Shan are here to dissect the (admittedly) less-than-thrilling match which saw both goals scored within a 7 minute spell in the first half. They of course have to mention the a...

David Moyes's return has brought a good feeling back to Everton fans worldwide, and the numbers help tell the story we all know: Everton are thriving under his leadership. In this episode of The Blue Frontier , James and Shan take a deep dive into the data, breaking down how Moyes' tactical approach compares to Sean Dyche's tenure. (05:54) From shifts in defensive structure to improvements in atta...

Everton's unbeaten run continues! The Toffees extend their streak to seven matches after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Brentford's G-Tech Community Stadium. It was a chaotic affair that Evertonians might feel hard done to not take all three points from. In this episode of The Blue Frontier , James, Ryan, and Shan break down all the key moments—from Beto's big chances to Jake O'Brien's impactful goal a...