Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur

They haven’t a clue what being a fan on a yearly wage less than their weekly one is like, have they.

Now it would be nice for the team to make a effort and win in style, sadly I can’t see it and Spurs to break their 8-year duck.

It’s going to be interesting to see how the crowd react to the players lap of, as some say, dishonor.

Only one thing is certain everyone’s opinion will differ. Lots to debate about over the summer and that’s what makes TW my daily read before I go to work and before I go to bed.

Blue win,
RS loss,
West Ham win,
dark side in Europa,
Newcastle, Wonga and that twat chairman feeling sorry for themselves.

Sylvian has earned the start.

Wins over Manchester United and Spurs would at least put a bit of gloss on the end of the season after the months between August to March were a total non-event.

Then the hard work really does start though, we will be saying goodbye to more than just Distin after tomorrow I feel, obviously Alcaraz is going, wish we could say it was a a good two year’s but he turned out to be nothing more than a poor stopgap in the end after a promising debut on December 28 2013 , following it up with a composed display at Stoke, it just didn’t work out.

I get the feeling we might see one or two other squad players moved on if unexpected offers arrive.

Lets hope it’s a summer that sees more faces come in than leave though..

There definetly should be a post mortem and major inquest amongst the players over what on earth went wrong and there should be some massive soul-searching too, they should really be asking themselves why they only ever start playing when the pressure is off.

New signings are needed and lots of them.

Just prepared to accept never once being in a position to challenge for the top 6 or 7 all season.

Tim Howard is at the end of his career, he knows now probably his best years both personally and as a group finishing high up the table or winning something have all but gone now, that’s possibly why he’s hardly arsed anymore.

Apparently, the Thursday/Sunday schedule in Europa weeks took its toll but is seen as ’a learning experience from which we can only benefit.’ Really ?

Whilst I imagine that the drop of half a dozen places will cost upwards of £6Million in Premier placemoney , increased attendances and Europa money should see the club again ’be on budget ’although not able to spend a great deal in transfers.

As we reach the last game, I shall be far away and intend to remain so. ’Thank God’, I hear you say as my views on the manager again becomes a minority one. But, as Tim says, next season gives us a new start, and who knows, I might have been wrong after all !

It would also be nice if Barkley could get one or two of his rocket shots on target and Osman dazzles their big lumbering defenders with his quick feet. Roll on.

Martinez is already saying he hasn’t given up on Kone and is only looking for "temporary" striking options in the summer..

I think that pretty much says it all about the ambitions and goals for next season.

Strikes me that next season, the sole targets will be to finish top 10 and hear my pet hate phrase dragged out of having "a good cup run".

’This season has been a pure accident and we’ve done well to get 10th, so there’s nothing really to discuss. Let’s move on.’

Nothing will be learnt from this season. We’ll still be playing Howard and Barry week-in & week-out, corners will be a complete waste of time as usual, and we’ll still have no idea how to beat teams coming for a draw.

Essentially next season we’ll probably be around 7th-10th. The top 6 will all strengthen and so will Southampton. We’re going nowhere.

As is traditional for the last home game of the season, the players will parade round after the match, but this time I will be leaving the minute the ref blows the final whistle. Maybe if they reappear to an empty stadium with their kids in tow, it will be a more powerful demonstration than any booing could achieve.

We now play a meaningless match to finish a season where we are 10th with nothing to play for. Spurs also have nothing to play for, but at least they can look back at the excitement of reaching a cup final and playing some really exciting stuff at times, and having a top centre forward that cost nothing.

Probably a draw, but who cares? Thanks for nothing Roberto.

Jagielka, Stones, Distin

Coleman McCarthy Barry Galloway (Garbutt unless he is leaving)
Barkley
Mirallas Lukaku

One crap of a season to be well forgotten .

Sure they snatched a win at the death last week, beat Man Ut, and snatched a point at Anfield... but these ’’highlights’’ have been few and far between this season.

The team lacks a midfield general and, as far as I can see, there is nobody at the club who comes close to filling that role.

We had hoped Barklay would have improved enough to have become just that but he has been a big disappointment.

Macca is consistent but doesn’t seem to have leadership qualities.

The final game has nothing to offer except pride although Spurs may have a lot to gain and may make it an interesting match but I suspect, like many games I have seen in the Premier League this season, there will be the usual boring possession tactics by both sides, leaving both keepers with very little to do.

I do hope I am wrong as anything less than a bright performance by the Blues will further enhance the bad taste of a poor season, especially at Goodison Park.

The song Raglan Road. Purchased, on-line, a version by Van Morrison (my wife’s favorite) and the Chieftains. Never heard of it. Just another tune of Van’s to have. Discovered there’s many renditions of that tune.

What’s the tradition attached?

Let’s finish on a win. COYB

My last team wish:

Howard
Coleman Jagielka Stones Garbutt
McCarthy Barry
McGeady Osman Mirallas
Lukaku

Subs: Robles, Distin, Galloway, Besic, Barkley, Kone, Long.

Let’s face it, if Hull stay up today, I think that they will do a lap of honour, and their fans will love it. Likewise, so will the Magpies despite their awful season.

If we beat Spurs, I can see 99% of fans staying to take part, but lose, and the feelings of inner dissatisfaction, and resentment will come back to the surface, and there may be a few more empty seats.

Kavanagh was a remarkable man. He had only a basic formal education but is an example of being born with genius. "Pegasus"and "The great hunger" are good examples of his work.

Off topic, I expect a good result today, from us and Stoke.

For a potential number 10, I haven’t seen Lewis Holtby’s name on here for a while

I doubt we’ll see him in the stands any time soon. If we’re giving anyone 10 minutes at the end of the game; I’d rather see one of the younger lads like Ledson or Browning et al.

I know Pardew has gone but I’d love to ram his words down his throat!!!

Good thread. Your obviously a bright eyed optimist rather than a disillusioned cynic.

What we’ll probably get is what the board think they can reasonably get away with having successfully, over a period of time, dumbed down expectations.