Premier League — Matchweek 25

Watching the Shite play at Brentford, and seeing McCallister commit foul after foul with no sign of a card from Michael Oliver.

Imagine if it was an Everton player doing it, he'd get a card as soon as he committed the second foul.

And some people actually think that all teams are treated fairly. The bias is getting more and more obvious.

Not watching it, Terry. I've got Plymouth v Leeds on.

I'd like to know though, who decided to make this game a 12:30 pm kick-off? It's over 320 miles from Leeds to Plymouth, so god knows what time the Leeds fans had to set off for this game?

The whole media, especially Sky, is so full of shit, it's unreal.

They have been bleating on for days about the Arsenal v Man Utd match in WSL being sold out. I've just watched 10 minutes of it and there's massive gaps in the crowd everywhere.

I'm convinced that games are fixed so as to provide an end-of-season finale to boost viewing figures.

Please don't tell me there's no bias in footy.

Blatant pen for Brentford and the guy got booked!

Unbelievable!!

Terry (1)

Exactly my thoughts with McAllister's fouls not even a warning off Oliver and then later near the end of the game Diaz takes a blatant dive which ridiculously went to VAR for a possible penalty, no penalty and no yellow card for Diaz.

Liverpool deserved to win but Brentford were very poor and gifted Liverpool the first and last goal although it has to be said that Nunez took that gifted chance exceptionally well.

We after look after ourselves first and foremost, but a good outcome for us.

Arsenal to do Burnley.

Then the cousins to do Luton.

Most important, we beat Palace.

Rob, don't start me on kick off times and schedules.

It works both ways for the likes of me and then for you and those pushing the miles in the early hours.

There is no consideration.

Okay, have early kick offs or late ones, but look at who is playing who first.

We look after ourselves. Good outcome for us. Brentford are only two games away from us.

One after Monday.

Arsenal beating Burnley.

Luton playing Manchester United tomorrow.

I feel dirty in wanting other teams to win.

Nothing dirty about that, Danny.

Where my lack of character shows up is in secretly... way down deep... just once in a great while... cheering an injury.

I'm just not a good person sometimes.

Depressing sitting in a pub in the US where all the 20-somethings are wearing City (FFP breach), Chelsea (FFP breach), Liverpool, Tottenham shirts. That's it, not one supporting any team below the Sky 6.

Forest scoring a late first-half goal puts the dampers on a bit. What a poor game, no lack of effort but an enormous lack of skill and a referee who doesn't know whether he is coming or going.

West Ham are not helped by Bowen seemingly, going by his last couple of games, running out of form. I hope he pulls his socks up and provides an equaliser at least for the Hammers.

Dan -

Welcome to my country. Home of the bandwagon jumpers.

We need an 'ammers goal!

Jamie,

Don't worry, mate, we've got plenty of them in Liverpool as well. Most of them would need a Sat Nav to find Anfield.

Terry -

I thought they were all from Norway?

Most competitive League in the World? — Don't make me laugh!!!

Premier League playing games with Everton — why else are they not releasing the appeal decision? To avoid a massive protest on Monday night?

I wonder what the plan is that Sky and the Premier League have come up with to stifle our anger — false crowd noise? Gits, all of them.

Jack,

It's gross. That's exactly what they are doing. Sickening.

We're about to have a 10 point deduction upheld, and 777 rejected. All probably within two gigantic "Premier League says fuck off" weeks.

Whole thing is a farce. Moshri must have kicked someone's dog.

Jamie,

The Norwegian fans are even worse. You can see them in the City Centre before every Liverpool home game, All with their little plastic bags full of crap from the Liverpool shop, and wearing their Crown Paint shirts.

For the 2nd week in a row, a Premier League stadium is practically empty way before full-time.

All away wins at the moment except for Forest. Let’s hope that changes before the final whistle.

It's a must-win on Monday, things are starting to look a little tight at the bottom.

Most of the teams I thought were our targets, keep getting results.

My confidence, which was very strong that we would be okay, is starting to wane a little.

Terry -

If I ever get over to Liverpool and see and Everton game, I'll 100% be buying something from the shop and carrying a bunch of little plastic bags. 😂

Thing is, I'll do it NOT on a game day, scuttling away hopefully unseen with my loot.

Dave didn't keep it tight or pinch one.

They don't like him down there. He's on very thin ice.

Simms and Broadhead scoring again.

Forest win 2-0, for fuck's sake.

Forest wrap it up with another late goal. Moyes brought Ingles on with 3 minutes left of the match and took Zouma off and Forest took full advantage.

Being honest, Moyes was trying to save the game but left it very late with 93 minutes gone on the clock and West Ham down to 10 men after Phillips was sent off,

I won't be surprised if the referee comes in for a lot of stick, he was pathetic.

Jamie,

Thee difference is that the Everton shop doesn't sell crap, only quality. What else would you expect?

Moyes looked haunted at the end, I can see them binning him off very soon.

Moyes is despised by the West Ham fans. Have a look at their website, Claret and Booze, to see how hated he is.

Rob, as I said to a mate. Roy or Moyes? I thought Roy but then he sadly became ill.

Amazing they want rid, imagine if we had a manager that won anything since Joe Royle.

Terry/James. Last Sunday morning, I was in Liverpool One and the Liverpool FC shop was packed to the rafters. Liverpool were playing on Sunday. And yes, the shoppers in and around seemed mainly Norwegians!

The Everton 2 shop is a couple of doors away and a bunch of them sneered at it as they passed by. It got to me. So, I stormed into the completely empty Everton shop as some type of defiant protest. Ridiculous really.

The bored shop assistant jumped out on me, and asked if he could help. Actually, there was a nifty retro Danka shirt that caught my eye, £45 though! Anyway, I wasn't going out empty-handed, so I bought it, and left the shop waving the bag in the noses of the Norses still hanging around outside that shop. Again, ridiculous and surely I was better than that? Apparently not.

Looking back, I swear I was ready to give any who said anything a volley of stern verbals. Gå hjem du skitne rascals'. came to mind. Norwegian for, 'Go home you dirty rascals'.

Moyes isn't popular with West Ham supporters despite having won them a trophy.

I don't venture too far from Lime Street when I go to home games, but I make the ritual to my grandfather old local, the Arkles, I always ask the bar staff to remove the Liverpool FC decorations.

One of them, an Evertonian, always smiles at me.

World Famous, my arse.

I don't engage in any banter or pleasantries with RS fans.
Can't stand them.

Agree, Sean. My mate from Essex who's a kopite sent me an ESPN article “proving” VAR decisions go against them more than any other team.

Missed the point that most of their favourable desisions don't even go to the VAR. like the Robertson shoulder barge today.

Difficult, Sean, when half of your close family and friends are Reds!!

It certainly makes Christenings and Weddings entertaining!

Same here, Sean. I was on a cruise the other year and some southern gobshites sat by us.

He kept trying to engage me in banter and after 20 minutes of me totally ignoring him, he asked the wife what was wrong with me?

The wife, bless her, said he's not a rude man, he just doesn't like glory hunting football fans.

Moyes and Howe will be looking for a job this summer. Roy H should do the right thing and enjoy retirement.

Fecking score, City, for feck's sake!

Haha. Good comments.

My mum's side are red. But I rarely see them and they don't tend to engage in the banter nonsense anyway.

I live in Winsford in Cheshire (though, both sides of my family are from Liverpool, dad's side Blue).

It's full of RS belters. Pubs full of television clappers when they're on live. I just avoid like the plague. I haven't the patience.

A big reason I got rid of social media was because of the gobshite clowns on there constantly giving it loads. That's not them winning. That's me doing the right thing.

My missus is a Red but our son is a Blue. Her son (from previous) is a Red and her family are. Little black sheep being my son.

She knows there'll be murder if they interfere and try to turn him. Haha.

Blimey, some miss that!

Pep is dressed warmer than me and I live in Canada, isn't a move. Grealish on the bench, wow Haaland does miss easy chances.

Haaland trying to be too clever by trying to absolutely bury that??

Get in.

One more, please.

My son is a red supporter, never seen them play, he is coming home with me and I have got tickets for him at Goodison.

He asked me why he should go and I told him, to experience a proper football experience and not a plastic TV one.

Ah, bollocks!

Paul (47)

One is better than none, surprised Man City's left winger stayed on he was very wasteful and, if Calvert-Lewin had played like Haaland tonight, he would have got some stick on here.

And a game in hand Dave to put them one behind, plus Klopp's lads picked up a few knocks today.

Good to read the comments.

I don't know how my brother-in-law manages his 3 sons. He's red, two of his sons are red, the other one a staunch blue, season ticket holder.

My cousins are a mixed bunch but mostly red.

My uncle, who had his name on the screen at Goodison was Everton and once had a dog called Blue that used to roam the streets of Speke on his own. Knew his green cross code and always made it home.

Anyway, a couple of good results yesterday and if Man Utd can do a job on Luton, it sets us up nicely for tomorrow.

Usual Sunday morning watching Match of the Day.

Newcastle rightfully get a penalty for a shirt pull (my pet hate).

City don't get one for a shirt pull followed by a handball in the same sequence of play.

It's getting ridiculous.

Danny 51,

It gets even more ridiculous when you consider that the Newcastle shirt-pull started outside the penalty area & was only inside when Schar, (a real piece of work ) decided to throw himself to the ground. So a shirt-pull's not a foul outside the area, but it is inside and took nearly 5 minutes to get that one wrong, arghhh.

Furthermore, if this sets the precedent, then penalties should be given in every game, every week, because these same PGMOL officials, (Premier League officials by any other name) turn a blind-eye to complete melees from every corner & set-piece.

What's more, we're on the receiving end more than most because it's become such a big part of our game and we've seen Tarkowski having the shirt ripped off his back, without a second glance and complete silence from the VAR.

And don't start me on that Chelsea handball or we'll be here this time next week… arghhh!!!

Nasty challenge from Holgate. Red.

Holgate off after twelve minutes. Horrendous challenge, Brent.

Agent Holgate doing some damage to his teams chances here

God knows what he was thinking, Rob.

Mason bloody Holgate!! Thank God he's not playing for us anymore, I never liked him. Especially not in his last few years anyway.

Lots of reasons to never want Holgate in an Everton shirt again!

Typical Holgate tackle no excuse for that

Holgate showing why he's an idiot. SO glad he left. Terrible footballer, braindead moments, bit of the tough guy in him.

He's awful. How stupid was that??

Sheffield keeper looks injured may be going off

Don’t forget he’s only out on loan. His contract with Everton doesn’t expire until June 2025.

OMG I did forget. Thought he was gone. He's actually coming back when the season ends??? Who the hell will take him???

We have to make that move permanent. Just give him to Sheffield FFS.

Brighton 1-0.

0-1 Brighton.

Goal line technology great
As regards VAR bin asap

Jamie, tackles like that aren’t tough guy, they’re cowardly. A lot of the ‘Hard Men’ from over the years have been cowards, sly, over the ball tackles often against smaller forwards. The hard men were the forwards who kept going, knowing that they were going to get clattered. I remember so called ‘hard men’, Tommy Smith and Jack Charlton evacuating their bowels when confronted by Johnnie Morrissey. Now HE was a hard man. And a great player, in my opinion.

No way Sheffield down a man comes back.

Now for Man U to throttle Luton, we beat Palace, the EPL rescinds our 10 point penalty to 6 points, 777 Partners rejected by EPL and rich American owner with ties to other successful sports ventures makes offer for us.

Maybe all in the next two weeks? Glass half full on a Sunday.

John, didn’t need goal line technology for that, the ball hit the roof of the net, but don’t forget, this is the referee who gave a goal a few years back at Watford I think, when the ball had clearly gone out for either a goal kick, or a corner!

Holgate's talent never matched his arrogance

2-0. Could be a hammering for the blades.

This can turn out ugly for Sheffield

Holgate just halved his value...tit.

Ray -

I agree 100%!

When I say "tough guy" I mean the type that acts all tough but really only ever takes cheap shots, shits out of real challenges, etc. but struts bird-chest full of false bravado.

Just find a rich Arab Sheikh to purchase the club. Show them our new stadium. They love new shiny stuff.

Agent Holgate still on mission

Soren -

With a new stadium there HAS to be a better suitor coming than 777 surely?

Personally, I actually hope the League rejects the takeover. Mosh piles more moola in and a rich suitor steps forward to claim club and stadium.

Looking at the table and accepting worse case scenario with our appeal it has to be between us and Luton
No doubt Palace will get a bounce with the new manager coming in
This afternoon I will be, The Worlds Greatest United Supporter!
3 points tomorrow is imperative

Whatever Jamie is drinking or smoking, I’d like some! Stay positive mate.

Rob -

Stick to the drink, mate. That other shite dulls the senses and clouds the mind...

Agreed, Jamie.
No to these shady 777 dudes. We really should avoid them at all costs IMO.

I worry about the prospect of 777 Partners taking over, and at the same time, I worry about what happens if they don't.

As our American friends say, we're between a rock and a hard place. Oh for some positive news. Hopefully all will be clearer by this time next week

Soren,

If they are approved, we're going into administration. They are shady as fuck. I get the impression they'd dupe their own Mama for a buck.

I hate these guys. Dark, dark days ahead if they take over. They'll lie straight to everyone's face, siphon off all the money, destroy the balance sheet, and then dump and run.

Jamie,

Every single club they own(!) is struggling badly! Not even one half-success story, for fuck's sake!!!

Jamie, I’m on the Guinness today. Cheers 🍻

Soren – yup.

Rob – It's only 10 am here, and I've only been up an hour or so. Drink for me, too.

Just seen the tackle by Holgate, just reckless and dangerous, the man is a dickhead.

We've seen him perform similar whilst in blue as well.

Reckless Holgate, he's not helping the Everton cause, no club will want you take him on.

Oggy.

Man, Sheffield is a mess.

Hopefully Luton is worse today.

Holgate's reaction to the foul being given is priceless.

Is it too much to suggest that these lads are actually given acting/lying classes by their clubs?

And it's called being professional.

Holgate sent off after 13 minutes for an absolutely disgraceful tackle.

Tom Davis can't even get in the starting lineup for a woeful Sheffield side.

How the fuck could we have tolerated them for so long?

Feck, what does Tom Davies look like?

And now booked.

Did Davies lose a bet?

Does he now pity the fool?

Brent,

Tom looks like he should be wearing a tag (not the watch) and be under an ASBO

The Sheffield ‘keeper comes across as a bit of a dickhead. He starts a fight with Tom Davies over a corner, gets booked and gets Tom booked although he is the aggressor.

Then he catches a simple ball and dives on the floor with it like Ipswich are desperately holding on to a 1-0 win when they are coasting it 5-0 against the bottom team in the league!

Some bleedin' beauts in the world's “best league” – and Tom doesn't help himself walking round with that haircut!!

Dave #96,

I haven't met you yet, but that's exactly how I've always imagined you, with that Tom Davies style haircut.

Ipswich eh…..

Oh, nice start, United!

Shane (98), Iol! I always get mixed up between Brighton and Ipswich. I've got no Road sense.

Brent (97), I wish I had that much hair I'd spread it all over my head instead of that Red Indian look — looks like he's been to Gunnions, he was a barber in St Anne Street.

When I was a kid, every kid looked like Tom after going there, mind you I never went there, I always had the Perry Como style even before Perry Como had it!!

Luton high up the pitch and a dreadful pass, if you can call it that.

Good for us as it stands.

2-0. Damage limitation already for Luton.

Not individually but as a team, Luton better than us.

Dave (100),

I remember Gunnions well. He was nearly as bad as the barber in Great Homer Street next to Woolworth's.

He had glasses like the bottom of a milk bottle. If you came out only slightly lopsided, it was a result!

If you want to beat Luton, you need to scrap for every ball. They are a horrible team to play.

Lol. How is Maguire an England international defender is beyond me. He is so shit it's untrue!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Luton get something here. 🫣

Either Luton are great or United are worse than shit?

Suspect the first.

Soren, I agree about Maguire, and he's also a complete tosser (although unfortunately a very wealthy one).

Luton are banging on the door here.

Casimero should be off there….

The r.s will win the same as us this season... fuck all.

Chelsea to win the League Cup on penalties, you heard it hear first folks!

FFS, look at Rashford there, in fact the behaviour of many United players. What must Rugby players think, nevermind boxers!

Ross playing well, I was wrong about him. We could do with him now.

Joe,

Barkley well burned his bridges with us. Tosser.

He is playing well down there. Luton are a “proper” team, unlike United although we have to keep everything crossed and hope United get 3 points.

Terry (104),

That barber in Great Homer Street, Jackson's, they were a family of barbers, they had one in William Henry Street and one not far from the Farmers pub in Clubmoor. I went Cotter's in William Henry Street, later moved to Soho Street.

Another one was The Mad Russian's just off London Road, I think most of the barbers when I young served their apprenticeship in Walton Gaol where any haircut was acceptable.

Anyway, back to the football, I think we are all nervous watching Everton games at the moment and we are getting no relief watching United with Maguire and that goalie of theirs, plus the passing and movement is scandalous while Barkley is having another good game where his movement and passing is very good.

There will be some changes soon with McTominay coming on for United.

Luton, sadly, are way ahead of us individually and collectively.

Just out of bed, morning one and all, to dickhead Holgate's nightmare 1970s muddy Baseball Ground tackle!

What a knobhead; he clearly doesn't care. On the other hand, can we have our Ross back, please?

Luton are doing well in their first season up but they still have only earned 9 points less than us. Perspective please.

Alfie Doughty, nice to have a dead proper name.

Makes me think of inter-war footy, comics, and Dave's horror butcher barbers.

Doesn't matter what you think, Luton are a real proper team.
They don't give a shit about all these million-pound poseurs at United, they just get stuck in and compete.

To be honest, a bit like how they treated us earlier at Goodison. If we can show half the commitment they do, we will survive. If not… we're down!

What matters is what the results say. Based on those results, we'd be nine points ahead of Luton.

Garnacho is a headless chicken.

Dave,

Never forget Cotters by the Four Squares. Short back and sides as standard! Leo Cotter was the dad and went there as a kid. His lad took over after he passed. Soon as I sat down he knew me, not by my name but by my head!!!! Great and funny days.

I remember we all went there to get tarted up before we came home with the league title in '63. Had to look our best before the Fulham game!!!!

John, we should be three wins clear of Luton but you know what.

Hang on, I need to check the score here, Luton must be trouncing United given John's hatter euphoria. Nope, they're losing.

Barkley goes a little quiet for a while; Luton go a little quiet for a while…

This Sky commentator is the most annoying fucking person on the planet!

Garnacho reminds me of that other Manure 'headless chicken' Anthony!

Paul,

I know the score, watching the game. My point is they're showing United nowt.

As far as they're concerned, they're as good if not better.
A wholehearted display from them. I just wish we would show the same commitment. That's my point.

I understand John (loving you and Dave on barbers) and I'm with you on that - 5live pundit just said "they keep coming at you" - but they are losing and we should be 9 points clear of them.

Forest apart, a good weekend for us: Burnley and Sheffield Utd are down, Brentford and Bournemouth keep on plunging, Luton losing, Palace about to lose.

Thank F…!

Yay. Suck it, Luton.

Dude how "Everton" would it have been for Ross Barkley to nail home that header??

Dodged a bullet there.

Luton look a better side than us right now. That game was scary to watch.

Gotta win tomorrow. Massive game!

Let’s be honest here, if Man Utd had scored half the chances they had in the second half, it would have been about 5-1.

My thoughts exactly, Rob.

Great result at Luton and a pretty good weekend regards results.

Now to beat Palace.

UTFTs!

Rob, that's good to know. I only had half an eye on that game, and only the last 20 minutes or so.

Luton, during that time, looked good. Created a lot of chances and moved the ball well in my opinion. But if Man Utd had the lion's share of the opportunities prior? Good to know.

I don't think that Luton ever looked like scoring in the second half (did Onana have a save to make?). Plenty of huff and puff but that's not enough. It's all very Blackpool from a decade or so ago.

Luton need Brentford and Co to keep on plunging otherwise they are down.

Paul,

Regardless of the 10 points deduction, we should be well ahead. I sat there at Goodison when they beat us 2-1. Shocking. Just like earlier games, Fulham, Wolves etc, we were horrendous in front of goal.

Tomorrow's game is actually a must must must win! We have to get a win after so long. We have to get out of the Bottom 3.
As regards to Leo Cotters, nowadays he'd be skint as there's nowt up top!

Jamie, 'chances'?

Onana did not need to make a save. I thought that United kept control of the game quite effectively.

I'm amazed. Luton beaten again. When I come on here, I keep hearing how good they are. They show lots of commitment, no more than us.

Going forward, they have more purpose than us. Unlike us, they leak goals like a sieve. But for Moshiri and the Premier League, we'd be 9 points in front of them.

Awful game that 2-1 John. There's no getting round that.

All that talk about barbers, that was a close shave but being honest Man Utd should have saved us that worrying with the clear-cut chances they had with the chief culprit the little blond winger who scored a wonder goal against us out of nothing.How many mistakes and wrong passes did he make besides two very good chances.

This doesn't do any of us any good watching these games, with about another 20 to watch and twitch to before we are safe!!

Casemiro should have got a second yellow.

Canute Savage just picked his three to go down: Sheffield, Burnley, us.

Paul (139),

A lot of truth there, Paul, and yet they had possibly the best player on the pitch, after their goalie, in Barkley. He stood out in most things he did and nearly snatched a late equaliser with that header. I think without him, Luton wouldn't look as good despite all their commitment.

Win tomorrow, get some points back Tuesday, Liverpool best Luton on Wednesday. 777 Partners get approved on Thursday.

A perfect week.

Yes Dave, Barkley's looking good at the moment. I always thought he was a talented player with dreadful decision-making. Not as effective as we all wanted him to be.

Maybe he's in a better place mentally, playing with less pressure.

Paul. If 777 Partners don't get approved, then it'd be perfect. 😉

And according to Paul Quinn, the Premier League have no choice but to deny them approval.

Dave @141, I remember my grandad used to go to the barbers at the top of Dryden Street, next to the newsagents on Scotland Road. I used to watch all the lads come out with a "short, back and sides" and not much on top. Nan used to say it kept the lice down... Ugh!

Funny though, grandad was a docker, used to use shoe polish to darken the colour of his hair and dripping as hair creme. Great footballer though. Lost both legs from gangrene a week after he retired… awfully sad. Different days then.

Whatever issues some fans have had with Barkley previously, it's hard to deny he's head and shoulders above what we've got playing in the middle of the park at the moment.

I remember vividly the stick Barkley would get here, some absolutely distasteful, vile even. Well, I for one am glad he is playing well and is obviously in a better place and people can appreciate his quality.

Alas, I hope it doesn't do Luton any good, as one player doesn't make a team, but he would have been an asset to us currently. But for some, I guess that's a bridge too far.

Completely agree, Christine. It was shameful and disgusting and beyond the pale. It was mean and nasty. Oh how some loved to call him thick without a brain in his head.

How they all jumped in to call him a traitor. I bear no grudge at all after the dog's abuse he got and the disgraceful way he was treated by that fecking manager.

Right now, we need him more than he needs us. That tells the story. Good luck to him and there's even whispering about him getting back into the national squad.

I can only wish Ross all the best. He’s got all the tricks when he is on song
but more importantly he can pass the ball. Loved him when he was here.

Ross was good today when he was on the ball and getting into space to take a pass and he runs a lot but he still offers little when his team is out of possession.

I'm not sure that he would fit into a Dyche team.

My abiding memory of Barkley as an Everton player is him making decent runs towards the box, then faking left, faking right ad nauseum when 18-20 yards out until a defender took the ball off him, then sitting on his arse with his arms outstretched to the ref like he was fouled. And doing this 19 times for every one time he did something good. Good for him that he's playing better now, but let's not pretend he was brilliant for us outside of (very) occasional flashes.

Neil#154.

At last someone who sees things NOT through blue tinted specs.

Completely agree

Barklay has undoubted talent but like so many who have shone as young potentials at Everton somehow managed to fade and leave, not always by their own doing.
One has to ask the question why and was it a coincidence he rarely did anything at Villa or Chelski.

I doubt he will be at Luton after the season finishes.

And he is only on 15k a week with a 12 month contract... but why.pay him that when we can get some other guy for 90k to sit on the bench..

Tom (Bowers), the only reason that Ross Barkley will not be at Luton next season is that someone else has bought him after Luton failed to keep him.

Neil, my abiding memory of Ross is of him meandering his way through the Newcastle defence and crashing the ball into the net.

I tend to forget the worst of Ross

Touchè Ian. One time in 20 at best though.

Barkley with us was ephemeral almost always, with a very occasional flash of brilliance, but always useless in trying to win the ball back for us.

He went to Chelsea where quite soon he struggled to even get a place on the bench, then Villa and Nice, where he continued as a non-entity.

With Luton for just a few recent weeks he's played better football with the ball in his possession than he's ever done before, but from what's been televised I still see his total aversion to even trying to win the ball back - pressurising his entire defence.

So no, not for me, and not least because he's now thirty with no sell-on value..

PS; And he was a shit by way of his decisions when leaving us.

Don in a nutshell you have just nailed what the very issue that is Everton. Because when will it be clear to people that not every player has to be everything, run their wotsits off and be brilliant as well.. James was never a defender and neither was the one we can never name, or going back to McKenzie, Young, how on earth are we going to improve if all we have a team of workers with little or no class? (I know, employ Dyche) I know its where we are but Lord help me, I just want to believe again..

Stop talking about Barkley. He did nothing at Everton. Went missing most games. It was years ago.

Christ almighty some of you lot live in the past. Move forward and get some pills to cure the Kenwrightitis.

An instictive player (see that Newcastle goal) that - in DIY terms - 'Has all the gear, but no idea' now aged 30, seems to finally have worked out when to play the percentage ball and for the main part has stopped zigging when he should zag.

And I suspect he's crying all the way to the bank and the angst on here.

Delightfully rich and beautifully ironic coming from you, Nick (Page) who had the most severe and long-lasting case of "Kenwrightisis" on these pages and you still have a dig whenever you can (I had to pick my jaw up from the floor - "Move forward and get some pills").

Have I missed something, Nick, in the cut and thrust of the last few weeks? Are you a ToffeeWeb moderator now? If so, congratulations and good luck.

I agree Derek (Thomas) and the irony is that some of the bitter folk on here do not or cannot or will not or are unable to realise that we need Ross today more than he needs us.

Hey Nick, ever heard of Benchmarks? You know, something you have or know to be something you measure other things by?

Well, I have news: for most of us we have them, we know class in an Everton team, we have seen exceptionally good players in an Everton shirt in recent times too... Lukaku, James, Stones, Richarlison.

They have gone, so they are in the past... forgotten? I hope not because every game we measure their replacements by what they did. No one has come close so far… but hey they can run, they can try, they can't pass or score, pretty average defending, but what effort!

Kenwrightsis? Forget the damage he and his 24/7 search and cronies have done cause he has gone.. move on? We are awaiting decisions of others on whether we actually have a club at the end of this season… Forget? Never will.

If we ignore the past, we set ourselves up for failure. Learn but don't forget. We have to build and overcome from where we are and understand why and how we got there so we don't let it happen again.

Christine, I do admire and agree with your posts, and Young did have gifts beyond others but hardly ever won international recognition, or a regular place in our team (and yes I know he was cursed by vulnerable feet).

Similarly McKenzie, who spent his entire career waltzing sideways on pitches in a bid to retain possession rather than risk serious injury from rabid defenders who were content to see him waltz like that.

James was of that ilk too - a fabulous player in a good team but, unable to attract the interest of a good team, only a brief delirious fascination for those of us cast into a desert of mediocrity (at best) by a pathetic, lying, boardroom/owner for decades.

At best it'll be a very long time before we have a squad and structure to accommodate such extravagantly gifted players who provide next to nothing in the muck-and-bullets football that the large majority of professional clubs have long had to address.

....... And that's why football's dying as a spectacle.

Andros Townsend scored more goals in a season than James did, after leaving our club James went to Qatar and did not last long and had his contract terminated.

He then went to Greece and did not last long again having his contract terminated. Since leaving Real Madrid, he has not done much in his career!!

Actually David according to the stats

James Scored 6 goals, had 9 assists in 26 matches.

Compared to Townsends 5 goals, 3 assists in 23 matches..

So, James goals and assists combined = 15,

Townsends goals and assists = 8

Same age...32

So thats impact in our games, but can you really try compare the two in terms of skill? I know who wins that hands down.. I know who I would rather watch..

Ross has done what many players do. Flashes of brilliance but fades and doesn't do it enough. He can stand out at Luton.

Remember that cheeky penalty? He's a talented footballer, just not someone who is consistent.

I wish I could have witnessed James Rodriguez in real time.

Well, providing we get a result tonight, this will have been a decent weekend. And then the appeal outcome.

I liked Townsend. Real professional. My favourite moment was against Burley at home under the headlights. Having trailed 1-0, he scored a screamer that helped us onto a 3-1 win and sent me home happy.

As a non-Everton aside, pleased to see Villa flying high. I hope they keep it going.

I've always thought of us as similar clubs. I would like to see them sustain it and get their rewards.

A good team. John McGinn is the player that makes them tick.

Danny #172

You forget Valentines day or something?

Danny, 172, what on earth does that have to with this thread, ToffeeWeb, or Everton?

Forgive me, but when did these pages become your rambling thoughts in your diary?

Paul,

It is the Premier League thread where we all comment on other teams.

Look at the title and read above.

It’s twelve hours until kickoff Paul, so let Danny ramble, until he gets to Goodison!

Good litter interchange of views going on, and I’d definitely love one of those pills Nick, but I don’t think it would work until Moshiri sells our club, to someone other than 777 Partners.

Don’s post is sad but very true, imo, because football is mostly muck and bullets, and looking back at the only two teams, that have won anything during my 49 years of attending Goodison, although they had players with talent, it was the fight and the hard work, that always carried them through until that glorious bit at the end, when they got to pick up the trophy.

I’ve been thinking about the Moshiri era, a little bit more over the weekend, and my conclusion was that, even one of the the greatest club manager’s in modern football, had to change style, once he got to Everton, and that’s why I’m very happy Everton currently have Sean Dyche.

Things change quickly in football though, so the quicker Everton gets sold, the fuckn better🤞

Tony, you've started me. Is Sheedy fit?!!

Like you, I am pleased with having Sean Dyche. The right man at the right time. He's done a great job and when we overturn that points deduction, it will be reflective of how well he has managed this bare thread squad.

Long day and night ahead.

Fair enough Tony and sorry Danny, I thought it was the match-day thread. Stupid me. Safe travels to you.

I agree Tony, but if there is a Sheeds up there, let it not be to 777, and that your information on other interested parties is sound mate, Fingers crossed ever so tightly,.

No worries, Paul.

Wait until you read my rambling later!!

Here we go.

Excuse me wading in here in the Ross Barkley discussion but some of you have some short memories. Prior to him leaving us, Barkley was a standout player in the team and arguably our second best player (linked up well with Lukaku that season).

Not only that but he was one of us, a homegrown talent. The usual outpouring of negativity from certain "fans" played a part in him wanting out, as did being thrown under the bus by that wanker Koeman.

Add to this mix the possibility that some of the rumours were true about him running into some local trouble and of course he was going to be off. I didn't like the way he did it but I don't blame him one bit for wanting to go.

We build em' up and knock em' down, buried under the weight of our unrealistic expectations formed by a side that played 40 years ago. He needed nurturing and support, an arm around his shoulders and yes maybe a spell on the sidelines when his form dipped, not to be subjected to our groans.

Sorry, in a bad mood this morning. Where is Darren Hind when I need him to back me up with this view? Puts tin hat on.

Steve, I personally never judge a player from where they come from. Ross is a very talented footballer. He could have been better with more consistency.

He has managed to stay in the Premier League, which hardly any of us can claim to have done so.

I was just glad when that header hit the bar yesterday and didn't go in.

Thank you, Ross!!

Steve (180),

Don't apologise, you are just giving your point of view on a player you liked.

I wasn't fussy on Ross myself because of his inconsistency, he did some brilliant things that got you out of your seat but nowhere near often enough, the local trouble he was involved in was all of his own making, sometimes having good mates, which he did,got him out of some serious hidings.

Now he is playing with a load of confidence which he never had or showed before, I hope he hasn't left it too late but I think he will receive some good offers at the end of this season after the very good displays for Luton this season.

Don Alexander agreed with a lot of your post especially the Duncan McKenzie and Rodriguez parts, a few fans have said they regretted not seeing Rodriguez live, I think he might have got a lot of stick after some of those performances at Goodison although I might have added to the cheers in some of them, those games when he felt in the mood to play!!

Don, 168, “Young never won a regular place”? He played all 42 games in the 62-63 championship season scoring 22 goals plus numerous assists. With EFC he played 228 games scoring 77 goals. It was just the last couple of years he ran into injury problems.

Barkley looks good in a poor but spirited Luton team. There's a reason why they only have 20 points to our (ghost) 29, and we're a bang average mid-table outfit at best.

People are talking a lot about Barkley because he's having a purple patch so good luck to the bloke ( I have nothing against him at all). Is he worthy of an England place as some are saying? No he isn't. And he's not worth coming back to us either, not off the back of a decent half a season running Luton's midfield.

He sunk without trace at Chelsea, and that shouldn't be forgotten either.

I guess my expectations and hopes have died on the terraces.. I don't care the name of a player, I just want to see players playing for the club I love, that make me cry with pride. I am not stupid, I know where we are and how we got there and what we need to get out of this mess. But I hold on to the day when Bramley Moore will see a new class in the school of science. When we have enough guile and skill to carry the next superstar and not run them out of town. I will fight for this club, we are nowhere near where we need to be, we need Dyche and his grafters but the day will come when we will claw our way back to where we want to be. Till then, hold on to the good bits, they will keep you smiling.

On Ross Barkley, imo, he is one of those players who are late developers. You see them from time to time, Vardy is a prime example.

He's been around the block, learned a few different things, and has matured as a player. Pity Luton are getting the best of him.

This is where we differ Dave @186, Ross isn't a late developer, he was a quality youngster with high potential, everyone knew it and that is why Chelsea courted him for such a long time.

The fact that he handled the whole affair badly, took some dodgy advice/believed his own hype and disappeared up his own arse is immaterial to my point which is that we mismanaged him. The fans turned on him after a handful of poor displays and the whole thing was avoidable IMO.

The fact that we mishandled it, sold him on the cheap and then replaced our second best player with Klassen, Rooney and Sigurdsson for best part of £80M is what was criminal to me. The boy just needed us to love him and to not have a golf playing twat of a manager who treated him like shit in the media. I wanted him in on a free in the summer, now someone is going to have to pay £25M, good work Everton.

Your opinion lines up with mine Steve.
I’m not sure that Ross has shown his new found ‘maturity’ for long enough to show its a permanent uplift, but people making out he just looks better because he’s in a ‘poor’ Luton side are showing a clear prejudice.
Luton are below us in terms of points won this season but have improved / are improving. I think they were a banker for relegation before the season started but plenty have adjusted that view, and Barkley is getting credit for that from many observers.
Whether we’d / he’d be interested in giving it another go I think is a valid discussion point because our squad remains so thin and he could be an asset if his improvement is permanent and consistent. You don’t worry about sell on value if someone can be picked up on a free and doesn’t ask for top wages (presuming they are grateful for the opportunity to restore their reputation as much as they can).

Just watching Man City v Brentford. Haaland and Silva both missed sitters.

Donkeys?

I couldn't see this listed, Brian.

Is Maupay playing?

You're not watching an illegal stream, I trust!

Brian #189.

They must be donkeys as they don't score from 25 yards out every game, which is a reasonable expectation.

Thankyou Brent. 😁 💙

Michael. An illegal stream? What in the name of Cliff Richard is an illegal stream? 😉

Maupay's on the bench Michael.

51 minutes gone City still nil nil. They're all shite coz Brentford are lower mid table and therefore City should batter them from the off.

Coz football works like that y'know.

Maupay's getting ready to come on.

Probably tell Haaland he's a donkey.

Haaland made that look easy-peasy.

Great 25 yarder.

Nah Michael. Like the one-on-one Calvert-Lewin scored, he hit it badly; he was lucky, and the goalie was shite. 😇

About time. Haaland 1-0. Though another slip by the last defender gave Haaland a free run on goal.

Yeh Rob we need City to keep the pressure on the rs for tomorrow.

lovely goal that looked even better on TV

Lucky.

The donkey strikes again

Wonder how many passes there were in that build up? Seemed to go on forever.

Piss poor by Foden. Should have scored. 😁😁😁

What is he Rob?

A donkey, Brian. 😀😀

Give that man a coconut. 🤣🤣🤣

Hee haw!!

Aaaand City win, just, to make sure the rs HAVE to win tomorrow.

I definitely hope the pressure gets to Liverpool, Brian, wouldn’t want them to win a raffle never mind the fuckin league.

job done

Jota will be a huge loss to them, the tide is turning.

I'm struggling to hope the Shite do us a favour tomorrow night.

Me neither Tony mate but if needs must when the whole world seems to be against you. Just hope they beat those teams that can affect us then bottle it and get humiliated by City.
Not a lot to ask for.

Not when you put it like that Brian!

It feels very unclean and I will say my Hail Marys but I will send my brother-in-law my best wishes that they win tonight.