Blues fail to edge Spurs on final day

Not an encouraging sign for Jonjoe Kenny, you have to say.

Their way looks unbalanced to me!

The injuries and their replacements highlight how shallow our squad depth is, but Silva has compounded matters and not helped himself or the team with his radical change of line up.

Instead of going with the tried and trusted flat back four that has delivered so much in recent weeks, the three centre backs has had a detrimental knock on effect throughout the whole team.

At the back we are too narrow and leaving Spurs with ample space to attack us down the flanks. Spurs are deliberately leaving players out wide to exploit this. Our right side is an open door without Coleman. The midfield is sitting too deep as a result. The forwards almost anonymous.

This is allowing Spurs to squeeze our space and there is no out ball or opportunity to play some of the short, sharp and quick interplays that we have seen in recent weeks.

The last 15 minutes was better, but even when we got into good positions, rather than take on the shot, the likes of Tosun and Sigurdson have laid it off and the chance was gone.

This was a chance to make a big statement at a top six ground to carry us into next season. At the moment, we are spurning it.

Will Silva be bold enough to revert to a flat back four, replacing (probably) Mina for Baines?

We have a strong nucleus, especially if Gomes and perhaps Zouma can be cajoled.

But no. Within a couple of minutes, Gomes gives away a really soft free kick in a dangerous position. The lining up of the wall didn't look right to me and so it proved.

Even it improved second half, the back three still didn't look right all game. There was particularly slow transition out of defence down the right where Zouma was playing. Not blaming the lad, but more the manager for setting the team up that way.

Lookman did well for our opening goal. His shimmying run drawing Spurs players out of position, creating space for Siggy and Walcott for the goal. Good pressure by Keane and ultimately Tosun for our second.

But this was a game we should have taken three points from with a bit more intensity over the 90 minutes and better game management having taken the lead.

Big summer ahead, and not just for Everton.

We might have been better off if we really played 3 at the back, or had Jonjoe Kenny replaced Coleman, which would give the back four more balanced. However, I think Silva finds Kenny unable to handle the pace and trickery of Eriksen. The Eriksen free-kick could have been avoided, if the wall was better constructed.

Nevertheless, much as it was two points dropped, and a missed opportunity to get a psychological boost by winning away at one of the top teams, we did end the season undefeated, save for the Fulham debacle.

We're getting ready, we really are. Nice to see Gomes celebrating so unambiguously by the way. Be happy, Blues, be happy.

Anyway onwards to next season where we will need to drastically improve on five away wins, games at the likes of Southampton, Brighton, Palace, Bournemouth,Newcastle need to start yielding wins if we are to reclaim 7th spot and try and seriously progress furthermore.

Our home form has been very strong as per usual and defensively other than today when injuries dictated has been sound.

I think Silva is the man to get things working again but we surely can’t start the season again with the same frailties and question marks about centre forward, and the signing of Zouma should be a must, also a decent experienced backup goalkeeper to push Pickford who many times this season didn’t cover himself in too much glory it has to be said.

Still having said all that I felt we could have won that game today, which basically was a dead rubber, but we should be developing that winning mentality for the future so it comes as second nature.

Here's looking to a busy Transfer Market with plenty of outgoings and some really new talented young faces.

So we end the season with optimism. And also, Walcott and Tosun both scored which tells you something. I really hope we concentrate on getting shut of the loanees that don't have a future and also add to what we have here. That's progression. We finish no better off than last season but the difference is that this time we shouldn't be looking to rip it up and start again.

Get behind it all my fellow Blues. This is going to be our time, let's relish it.

"Zouma was actually played at right back...So, actually, we stuck to a back four, only that it's not a proper back four."

Have to disagree Terence, based on what I saw on the pitch. For the vast bulk of the first half our three centre backs default positions were Zouma right, Keane centre and Mina left, occupying the space the width of our penalty area. There was no true right back to speak of. Digne's default position was more of a wing back, in advance of that back three.

The set up created all the problems I outlined in my half-time post @ 9.

Again, City are out on their own - 31 points - with the 'poo second on 23 points. City won 10 of their 12 games in these fixtures. T'other lot just 6.

The remaining five are really closely bunched and finished thus:

Arsenal - 15
Chelsea - 13
EVERTON - 12
Spurs - 11
United - 10

Of these group, Arsenal won 4 games, Chelsea, Everton and Spurs 3 games, United just 2. Like ourselves, Arsenal and Chelsea failed to win away in these fixtures.

This suggests to me (other than the woeful tanking home to Spurs) we can compete with and get results against 'the elite', as our late season results show. Add just 2-3 more wins against them and we can start making serious inroads into the points difference that currently exists between us.

Where we need to do better is consistently putting away the mid-table and lower teams, both home, but particularly, away.

Lot of work to do this summer though. We need a better pre-season than last and we need to get the squad sorted as early as possible.

I definitely feel optimistic, and I’m confident Brands will deliver and so next year we will be higher than 8th.

No need to remind you of his away record against 'the elite' as to why we never broke the glass ceiling.

My mini-league table highlights how 'middling' - other than the top two - the top six (plus ourselves) results are against each other. However, they are twatting away lesser sides more consistently then we do, thus the points difference.

A combination of upping our win ratio against mid-table and lower teams to the levels Moyes achieved, plus getting those elusive wins on the road to 'the elite', and a quantum leap is feasible.

You can stake your last dollar that all 'the elite' will be spending large this summer, but will they spend well? Other than the top two, there is some disarray, a greater vulnerability, in the ranks of Chelsea, Arsenal and United, possibly even Spurs if Ponch walks, than there has been for some time.

Let's hope Moshiri, Brands and Silva are working towards taking advantage of that.

We would have well qualified with ease for the Europa League, so let's hope we do actually build on what we have achieved, both in terms of points and personnel over the Summer.

Obviously a lot hinges on what happens with Gana, Zouma and Gomes, and whether they stay or go. I appreciate we have a large contingency to be found new pastures for, but I am hopeful again that Marcel Brands can weave his magic in the Transfer Market.

A lot criticised Mina, but I think he is a decent player, but not really on today's showing. Why Jonjoe wasn't used in place of Seamus, and our usual shape retained, is a mystery.

I would have also liked to have seen more of the younger ones on the bench, I know it was almost a 'dead rubber' but even a loss today would have still seen us finish 8th, but that is retrospective. Arithmetically, we could have been caught.

On the whole, a very inconsistent season, with some dire moments that hopefully will not return, but ending with a positivity that should lead to a positive summer.

A lot of movement to happen, with deadwood moving on. Big questions of Tosun, and Walcott who, in my mind, need to be moved on. And Lookman... does he have a future? Schneiderlin has done a bit of a Teon Greyjoy and gone from Public Enemy No 1 to almost full redemption – the Schneiderlin who played the last 6 games or so is an asset.

Gomes hopefully can stay but, if he does get poached, I imagine we can find someone, or maybe give a chance to Davies, Bowler, or Adeniran.

Keeping Gana is imperative. A striker (or wide forward) also, as Bernard lacks goals; Calvert-Lewin has promise but also lacks goals.

6th next season is the target; with Man Utd looking decadent, there is an opening.

Overall, Everton played well, though not at their best. At last, they looked to have the beating of Tottenham.

Only the present and the future matters, the past is gone.

I agree that we should try very hard to keep him but, if he really wants to leave, then I think he's earned that opportunity and, at his age, he may not get too many more.

That is a great point. I'm of the mind that Gueye will be off this summer.

But as you say, why?

If we're going to gate-crash the Top 6, we need to start to act like a Top 6 club with our dealings.

Stay or go, I've no doubt Marcel Brands will, in the end, make the right move regarding Gueye. But your point is well taken.

But we hold the contract on Gana. Gomes and Zouma are more out of our hands.

But Gueye? He's ours. In the end it's our call. Gana has demonstrated, quite beautifully I might add, that he'll buckle down and do the business no matter what.

So in that regard, we do hold some cards in the poker game.

I am on the fence about Gomes. His error in tackling like a schoolboy on the edge of our box is symptomatic of his lack of pace and application in the Premier League and his inconsistency shows why Barca and their fans do not rate him.

Zouma makes an otherwise leaky defence look very solid and I have little faith in Mina who was at fault for their first goal and always seems to have a mistake in him.

Our weakness up front was ruthlessly exposed today when Tosun wasted chance after chance and Walcott wanted too much time. Bernard, for all his silky skills, was again wasteful in front of goal.

We desperately need a clinical goalscorer and more reinforcement up front.

I couldn't agree more. The lack of a top class striker has, once again, cost us dearly. But we have all known that for a few seasons. Hopefully, Brands already has someone lined up.

What a great stadium Spurs have! Easily the best I've ever been in and whets the appetite for what is possible at Bramley-Moore Dock. The away end and the Spurs part behind the goal is obviously designed for safe standing when that, inevitably, comes in, and the large banking at the home end certainly generates noise and must be intimidating for away teams.

I really hope we sign Gomes as I believe both him and Bernard will be vital for us going forward. I believe both will be far better next season with a full pre-season under their belts. Always assuming we get Gomes, of course.

Keeping Gana would be a major coup for us and Zouma is a must if a deal can be sorted out. An interesting summer lies ahead. . .

By Wayne Veysey

Everton participation in this season's Premier League will earn them £125.7million of TV money, it can be revealed.

The north London club are to pocket the huge sum of broadcasting revenue as a result of their eighth-place finish and 18 of their matches being shown on Sky Sports and BT Sports.

This says all you need to know about Everton's profile with the media. Who the fuck is this Veysey fellow?

Hello, Are you the person that writes in Football Insider? If so, I suggest you get your facts right before spouting to the media. Check out on your satnav the location of Everton (that North London Club) which you have written about. Get your facts right mate, this is lazy or ignorant journalism.

This summer is going to have to be massive off the pitch if we are ever going to be able to really compete with the big boys on a more consistent basis on the pitch.

Silva, may have owned up to the defeat in the changing room, which might then have allowed him to then be a lot more honest with some of his players, and Pickford, got destroyed in the media by absolutely everyone, so this was the biggest game in some respects.

I'm happy with about 9/10 players, some of whom might not be here next season, so I just think we've got a massive summer ahead of us, if we really want to push on.

However I don't want to be selling our young promising players for an overpaid, lazy, no heart or desire to improve for a few seasons.

However, the seasoned pros who just can't cut it or improve the first team should be the first to go namely Bolasie, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Jagielka (great player in his day).

I believe in Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Lookman, Kenny. But I can only judge on what I have seen and the hope they will continue to improve.

For me Zouma is a must but I don't think Chelsea will sell. So we need a new centre-back. To many Qs over Mina.

Gana is probably the hardest player to replace. The talented, unselfish workaholics are not easy to find.

The second goal we gave up was unforgivable. Gomes committed a really stupid foul in a dangerous position. You can't do that, especially at that position on the pitch, at that time of the game.

Poor foul leads to a goal.

You can't hand goals to a side like Spurs. Really poor by Gomes.

For those who say he was part of a 3 centre back system, please have a look at the link below on the official site. Click on Stats on the banner, scroll down to the team and click on Zouma to view all his touches.

http://www.evertonfc.com/fixtures/2010-to-2019/2018-2019/english-premier-league/spurs-vs-everton/match Link