Silva frustrated by Probert decisions in loss to Watford

Saturday, 9 February, 2019 128comments  |  Jump to most recent

Marco Silva was looking for answers from referee Lee Probert after the referee sent Kurt Zouma off for dissent after the final whistle of today's defeat at Vicarage Road.

Everton's players had angrily questioned the official's decision to award a 65th-minute corner for what he believed was a touch by Jordan Pickford and Watford scored from the resulting set-piece.

Zouma continued the protests as the players left the field and was shown successive yellow cards by Probert, handing him a one-match suspension that will see him miss the trip to Cardiff in two-and-a-half weeks' time.

Silva shared his defender's frustration but also admitted that his side's attempts to rescue the game were ineffective.

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"He told me, he received yellow card and then the referee gave the second yellow card to him,” the Portuguese said.

"It is the moment for our players to be calm but sometimes that is not easy and the referee has to understand because many, many mistakes are coming against our team.

"What he said to the referee is what all our players are saying in that moment. It wasn't a corner and they asked for them to see that because it was clear.

"The ball went a half metre past Jordan, nobody touched the ball, only the referee saw this.

"After we reacted well and strongly, not with very good football, but we created enough chances to achieve a different result and score goals here.

"But we were not effective and that made the difference."

 

Reader Comments (128)

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Henry Lloyd
1 Posted 09/02/2019 at 18:55:36
Not to worry, Marco, it must surely be all over for you now...
Ian Edwards
2 Posted 09/02/2019 at 18:56:49
Defend the set piece properly you clown.
Jim Bennings
3 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:02:20
If you don’t defend properly and you don’t score goals then you only have yourself to blame.
Christopher Morris
4 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:04:31
The consensus is he has to go. Just because the last 2/3 managers have been poor appointments does not mean we stick with a bloke who is simply not up to the task. It is widely accepted the players are nowhere near but Marco Silva is not the man.

Time to make the decision. Give an interim manager this period without a game some time to sort the mess and make a plan to see the season out.

Brands then has to make his own choice without Moshiri being involved. The new manager and Brands need then to have a proper 3/5 year plan and continue ridding the club of it's appalling playing staff.

Gordon Crawford
5 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:09:47
In all seriousness, who could we get to replace him at this stage of the season? As no top manager will want to touch us.
Pat Kelly
6 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:10:56
"Many many mistakes are coming against our team" and Silva is the biggest of them all.
John Keating
7 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:24:51
Every game now it’s someone else’s fault
it’s the slippery downhill road Marco
Bobby Mallon
8 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:44:20
I have to admit it now, he has to go.
Russ Quinlan
9 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:47:34
If they put as much effort into 90 minutes instead of moaning about a corner it may help!

I'm just totally sick of the way this is going, his 'moment' must be gone.

Never mind paying stupid money for average players, spend it on a top manager; they are mercenaries as much as the players so just pay decent money for one.

Phillip Warrington
10 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:52:49
I was watching Keyes and Gray pre-match and we were given some air time, for conceding the most goals at set pieces at this stage of the season since the Premiership was formed. The next two teams under Everton where Hull and Watford, and guess who the manager of those teams was.

Even more damaging considering neither of those teams Silva managed for a whole season. Maybe we should be thinking like American Gridiron where they have offensive, defensive, kicking and god knows whatever coaches if we are to keep Silva.
Peter Morris
11 Posted 09/02/2019 at 19:56:48
More poor defending at a set piece.They thought they had cleared their lines,but an albeit fortunate deflection hands the ball to Watford to go again. Zouma is playing Gray onside, and Keane, who is supposed to be marking him,is 5 yards away, a spectator, as usual.You just have to look at the depressing results this mob dish up,week in, week out. Can’t score for love nor money. Burnley,BURNLEY! go and turn Brighton over 3-1 this evening,when we, as usual, roll over there 1-0. Teams must relish seeing Everton looming on the fixture list. Cardiff will fancy mugging us too, after they won at Southampton, where as usual, we lost. This team lacks guile, physicality, and confidence. Let’s hope this two week break affords some serious soul searching.It can’t carry on like this.
Anthony A Hughes
12 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:00:30
It's not just the defensive errors. We haven't got a goal in us for love nor money.
Gordon Crawford
13 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:05:53
He has to go now, I’ve had enough of this crap. Oh and he could take two thirds of these players with him.
John Malone
14 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:15:00
Sack him now get Moyes in on a one year like West Ham did and go from there.
Tony Everan
15 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:15:42
The ref was rubbish, yes, but so were we.

We were second-best and lost because of it.

Harry Hockley
16 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:17:12
Silva has a lot to answer to, this is becoming a circus.
Ian Riley
17 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:23:48
John#14. Give Moyes till the end of the season? I'm not his biggest fan but let's give him a bit of respect. We gave him a limited budget and still made very average players defend, and get results. I think some on here may look back and realise he did a fantastic job with resources he had. Moyes made mistakes but compared to now. We are in relagation form. Luck may save us as teams are worse than us. How? I will never know!

If Moyes comes in he gets a two year deal. Let's start again!

Jim Bennings
18 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:24:20
Look at the teams that have beaten us since Christmas.

Brighton we lost and failed to score in.

Leicester at home, atrocious and fail to score in again.

Southampton outfought and beaten, a late consolation goal meaning nothing.

Millwall, a shite Championship team that we failed to outclass.

Watford, another game failed to score in.

All these teams have beaten us in the last six weeks, workmanlike average units and we have failed to score in most of them, that’s how bad we currently are.

Joe Hurst
19 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:36:58
Things must be bad for there to be calls for getting "Captain KITAPO" back in...

Surely this is the clearest example of our malaise, for there to be even any suggestion of a 'homecoming', for that 'baron of boring football' (who showed how much his "People's Club" gimmick meant, when Manchester United showed some moolah).

Not welcome back... ever.

Jim Bennings
20 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:44:35
Joe

Bit harsh on Moyes for me.

The football at times might have been boring but he had some dazzling football sides when the likes of Pienaar, Arteta, Yakubu, Cahill were here.

Moyes might have never won anything but at least this club had a bit of pride and identity back then, unlike this current mishmash of average foreign imports and expensive castoff reserves.

Silva is showing himself to be Martinez minus the good attack.

Bill Watson
21 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:47:03
Just on the way home from Watford. Same old, same old just like Brighton, Southampton, Millwall, Leicester and Wolves.
He has had enough time to, at least, demonstrate that he has some kind of strategy or plan but the same failings are there game after game.
He must go, and go soon, before he does irreparable damage
Anthony A Hughes
22 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:56:58
Yeah because the football's so dazzling under our "world class" coach now isn't it. Boring, hopeless, aimless, pointless football.
Eddie Dunn
23 Posted 09/02/2019 at 20:58:38
Bill- fair play to you and the other travelling Blues, there again in good numbers and in good voice. Marco ran straight down the dressing room at the whistle. He abandoned ship, and subsequently missed our best defender getting done for dissent.
What Silva should have done is march the whole team to the away end and applaud you lot, never mind any catcalls from the Hornets.
Well done you lads and lasses. It's a big investment of time and money to support your club and to have to put up with this from a "progressive" coach is not good enough. We resorted to hoofball- just the stlye that Allardyce was being criticised for. The systems are a busted flush, the marginal improvements still don't bring the results and the manager talks absolute gobbledegook to the press. What's to like?
Trevor Peers
24 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:10:56
I'd have Moyes back John@19, on a temporary basis. He knows the club inside out, he will get the best out of whatever playing talent is available and put us back on course ready for a Brands appointment in the summer.

One example of how he can motivate a player who is in the depths of a bad run is -Arnautovic at West Ham last season, when Moyes took over the guy started scoring goals for fun.

Moyes also has the ability to organise a defence another quality we badly need right now. As for his untimely leaving, personally I don't blame him, how would you like to work with Kenwright's sewn up pockets for 10 yrs. That would drive anyone insane. He deserved his crack at the top. Where is the Arteta money ?

Neil Carter
25 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:12:26
In this moment just go Marco.
Andy Meighan
26 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:14:32
Always somebody else's fault. And to think I was in the corner of giving him at least 3 seasons, Sorry, no more. This is disgusting. Can't even see us scoring another goal never mind garnering 4 or 5 pts to take us to so called safety.

Shocking. Why can't he come out and say we were poor at least I'd have a bit of respect for him. This is the death throes of Martinez all over again.
Keith Dempsey
27 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:22:12
It would be a dream job for an ambitious manager who wants to manage in the Premier.A blind man on a galloping horse can see things aren't great but we are still are a big club with despite some of the whinging the fans are very loyal and love the club so please somebody come to our rescue and give us our weekends back.
Ian Riley
28 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:25:00
Joe#19. What team are you actually watching? We are playing shite? Shite at attacking, shite at defending and more shite in midfield. This adds up to one big shite!!

Don't want Moyes back! Fine, but we are in trouble. Sadly we need a manager who is going to organise and get results. If Silva can't get the team to defend or score goals. One outcome. I don't blame Silva as I think this squad is mid table at best. Problem is we have played teams around us and struggled. We can't buy so let's stick with silva till the end of the season. Nothing to lose now.

Really tired of Everton being average!!!!!

Brian Williams
29 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:32:12
Moyes back? Ffs how pathetic.
Trevor Peers
30 Posted 09/02/2019 at 21:36:09
Your suggestion Brian ? We're a complete shit show I bet you were all in favour of Marco the brave pathetic indeed.
Scott Williams
31 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:09:40
Moshiri says Silva needs time. I say his time is up.

Absolute pathetic display once more. How we are defending set pieces is mesmerising. When the players see setpieces on the schedule they must be thinking that they've got the afternoon off. I literally turn to my Mrs when the other teams get a corner or a free kick within a sniff of our area and say “They'll score here.” My records not bad either.

I want a manager that's done stuff now, and knows what it takes. Or at least cares. Don't get me wrong I know a Pep or a Poch isn't going to happen. But fucking someone. Someone with balls. I must admit I like the Arteta and Cahill combo that's been suggested. Arteta must have learnt some things from Pep whilst Cahill can beat Brands up if they want to sign someone and he argues.

Anthony Dove
32 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:09:57
Moyes back? Send me to Dignitas.
Kase Chow
33 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:12:21
Brian #29,

What's so pathetic about the Moyes suggestion?

At least we could defend, attack and win matches. Players played for the shirt and we always had a win in us at Goodison against the Sky Six.

Now it's dreadful football, dreadful results, no-one to score any goals and we'll lose all our Goodison games vs the top six

I'd take Moyes over Silva in a heartbeat.

Michael Lynch
34 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:19:58
Hull – relegated after half a season in charge; Watford – sacked after half a season in charge; Everton – on current form, deserves to be sacked after half a season in charge...

I'm struggling to see any logical reason to keep this guy on. He's clearly incompetent and has been promoted beyond his abilities. Nothing against the guy, but with a record like his, only a fucking idiot would let him carry on in charge of a Premier League football club.

I don't give a flying one who sees the rest of the season out for us – Unsie, Allardyce, My Nan – just get this man out of our club.

Jim Bennings
35 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:25:20
I don’t know if it would be possible but I quite like the idea of Gareth Southgate to be honest.

He did a decent job at Middlesbrough, he’s spent his whole career in English football so the risk would be minimal and I think most importantly I believe he’d have the respect of the players.

He seems in tune with how modern day footballers tick also and the requirements needed.

I’d rather try and coax him here than go down another route of dodgy foreigners with no real experience or personality.

Marcus Taylor
36 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:27:14
Premier League stats* for our last 5 managers; points per game, win percentage and a crude 'points over a season' extrapolation (Silva's 48 points looks a tad optimistic).

Marco Silva: 1.27 ppg, Win% = 34.6%, ppg x 38 = 48 points
Sam Allardyce: 1.42 ppg, Win% = 37.5%, ppg x 38 = 54 points
Ronald Koeman: 1.47 ppg, Win% = 40.4%, ppg x 38 = 56 points
Roberto Martinez: 1.44 ppg, Win% = 38%, ppg x 38 = 55 points
David Moyes: 1.50 ppg, Win% = 40.5% ppg x 38 = 57 points

Marco Silva: 33 points from 26 games
Sam Allardyce: 34 points from 24 games
Ronald Koeman: 69 points from 47 games
Roberto Martinez: 163 points from 113 games
David Moyes: 642 points from 427 games


* At Everton only

Ian Edwards
37 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:36:47
Ian Riley. No. Let's not give Moyes respect. He gave the supporters no respect when he pitched up in every big away game with a huge fuck off yellow stripe down his back and parked the bus and lost. The biggest tactical coward that ever sat in a dugout.
Derek Thomas
38 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:37:58
All Premier League refs are poor, but, given that standard, I didn't think the ref was any better or worse than any other.

The answer lies nearer to home, Marco, look in the mirror for the real culprit.

Colin Glassar
39 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:50:41
I think Marco should hire Roberto as his interpreter. I can’t understand what he’s on about most of the time.
Christopher Morris
40 Posted 09/02/2019 at 22:51:54
Here you go Marco Best case is;

Cardiff - Draw
H Liverpool - Lose
A Newcastle - Draw
H Chelsea - Lose
A West Ham - Lose
H Arsenal - Lose
A Fulham - Draw
H Man Utd - Lose
A Palace - Lose
H Burnley - Draw
A Spurs - Lose

Resign and do us all a favour Mr Silva. If I was as shite at my job, I'd be sacked without any payout or kiss my behind. Never thought we'd have a worse manager than Fat Sam. Mike Walker – all is forgiven!

Bobby Mallon
41 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:02:15
He reminds me of that fella who was Chelsea and Spurs manager.
Jimmy Hogan
42 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:06:40
No, no, no to Moyes. NEVER go back.
Ken Kneale
43 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:09:05
Bobby. He reminds me of a rabbit in headlights. Get rid and unlike the post saying take two thirs of the team, I say take the lot and include the coaching and boardroom team. We are a complete mess as a club at all levels
Simon Smith
44 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:17:50
It's scary to think just how much of a mess we are in.

Managers in and out like blue-arsed flies, not a glimpse of silverware in years, and now we're going too and fro about whether to bring down the axe again.

Worrying times again for us Blues; we can't defend for shit, we don't score enough goals and one of our most sort-after players can't get a run of games.

Surely Marco has to stop changing his team every game and try to get a bit of continuity!

I'm worried he's aware the job is too big.

He should have done with Lookman what Martinez done with Barkley and stuck with him all the time to see where he can get to.

Far too much faith in gobshites like Walcott, a man who has never fulfilled his promise and clearly never will, is keeping out a guy who half of Europe seems to show an interest in.

Calvert-Lewin in and out like a tampon, and replaced by another guy who knows he doesn't have the manager's trust.

Something has to change quickly.

Bill Watson
45 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:22:06
Eddie #23 and Michael #34,

I supported the appointment of Silva and, despite a few poor games along the way (Huddersfield and West Ham spring to mind), his set-ups appeared to work apart from lacking a decent centre-forward.

However, since the derby cock-up, the side has been in freefall and Silva appears clueless to fix it.

I'm seriously worried we'll be dragged into a relegation dog fight and I don't think we have the players to deal with that.

At the moment, I don't care who comes in; I just want Silva out of our club before it's too late.

Jim Bennings
46 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:23:35
Simon

Trouble is Lookman and Calvert-Lewin don't pull any trees up when they do start.

Walcott has been awful, no doubt about it, but really Lookman hasn't taken his chances when they've come along, he was appalling against Championship strugglers Millwall.

Calvert-Lewin for me will never be more than a late sub where, every now and then, he might grab the odd goal but a regular starter he isn't (Cue the Calvert-Lewin Fan Club, Darren Hind, attacking me from all angles).

The difference with Ross Barkley, in Martinez first season he was producing some match-winning performances and scoring and creating goals and in 2015-16 he was outstanding going forward with Lukaku and Deulofeu.

Lookman and Calvert-Lewin are nowhere at that standard.

Paul Hewitt
47 Posted 09/02/2019 at 23:36:52
Fans wanted Moyes out and Kenwright to sell up. Well, we have that and look at the Holly mess we are in. The grass isn't always greener.
Phil Sammon
48 Posted 09/02/2019 at 00:06:36
Why the hell are people suggesting Moyes or Southgate? What completely uninspired choices.

I think people are also re-writing history with Moyes. He did some fantastic work for the club but, towards the end of his tenure, he was completely out of ideas. Add to that the utter lack of respect he gave us with the way he left.

No way would I have him back. He's gone on to do absolutely nothing with other clubs. Why can't we just look forward?

Jim Harrison
49 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:08:07
Moyes back? No. Football has moved on, and the fact that he can't get a job anywhere should indicate how far his stock has fallen.

That said, he did do a good job as other posters have mentioned, his biggest achievement was the defense, something we could do with sorting right now.

Jose anyone?

Liam Reilly
50 Posted 09/02/2019 at 00:10:40
The side needs some fire up their arses from a leader on the field.

I said it before; the Captain needs to be a leader and not a fucking kid. It's a disgrace that Davies has the armband. it needs to be earned and respected.

No other leading club (I say that with hope) in the country dismisses the armband like we do and the result is the lack of responsibility on the pitch.

Andy Crooks
51 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:27:11
Moyes back? Gareth nice guy, but soon to be exposed as fucking useless, Southgate? God almighty.

Moyes is done, finished, a footballing joke. Southgate has achieved, as England manager, what anyone who has ever been remotely interested in football could have done. As a club manager, less.

I would keep Silva way before having either of those two. If Silva goes, his replacement must be fucking stellar. Otherwise, why bother.

Fuck me, Southgate. Now that is special in its absurdity. Jim, you know better than that. Next thing it will be the dream team. Roberto and the fat man (Allardyce, not Unsworth). Never concede or score a goal. Imagine that double act at a press conference.

Andy Crooks
52 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:30:01
Liam, I agree. Brian Labone and err..
Dick Fearon
53 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:40:01
We must grab the bull by the horns and, regardless whether a candidate is ex Red shite, if he is the best we can get then get him. Silva and not one of the players shows the tiniest bit of presence.

We are in desperate need of players with character and genuine fighting spirit. We need a few Roy Keane types to lay into the backsliders.

Silva gives the impression of being a misery guts who cannot motivate himself — let alone his team.

Tony Twist
54 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:50:24
I have no objection to Moyes coming back on a temporary deal with an option on a long-term deal if he meets certain milestones till the end of the season. I don't think many would accuse Moyes of not trying if he came in for the remainder of the season, he cares for the club. I can't see any other option that is a safer bet.

Yes, I can see the attraction of say Arteta but what a risk that would be. We could get the same change of fortune United have had but I doubt it knowing our luck.

Silva was a very poor choice, again by the majority shareholder, it is now time for Brands to really earn his money. Now is not the time to hide, Mr Brands.

Bobby Mallon
55 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:52:10
Dick Fearon...

Allan Stubbs it is then!

Derek Thomas
56 Posted 10/02/2019 at 00:55:43
It shows how bad things are when all sorts of daft replacements are being touted...Moyes ffs, how desperate are we?

We are in danger of having an embarrassment become a laughing stock...or is it the other way round.

Strange days indeed.

Marcus Taylor
57 Posted 10/02/2019 at 01:00:19
Alan Stubbs? Is that a wind-up?

He was sacked by Rotherham after 1 win from 14 games and then sacked by St Mirren 4 games into the Scottish Premier League season because he'd allegedly 'lost the dressing room'.

And in the 18 league games in charge of those teams, they conceded 46 goals. Hardly a ringing endorsement of his coaching and motivational skills.

Derek Thomas
58 Posted 10/02/2019 at 01:03:26
Paul Hewitt @ 47; Wins the ' Stating the obvious with the benefit of Hindsight' award... not completely undeserved I might add.
Jason Leung
59 Posted 10/02/2019 at 01:06:16
Silva isn't going anywhere so I don't know what the discussion is about. Moshiri said last week that he'll be given time. Yes, we can complain about him, but he's going nowhere.
Kristian Boyce
60 Posted 10/02/2019 at 01:14:43
How ever good Benitez might be, George Graham at Spurs or Redknapp at Saints (after Pompey) just spring to mind.

Tony Twist
61 Posted 10/02/2019 at 01:21:54
I know Moshiri said Silva needs time (what a load of bollocks) but hang on a minute, Marcel Brands runs the football side of things. Moshiri is really on a run of screwing things up if he thinks extra time will cure the problems Everton have.
Gordon Crawford
62 Posted 10/02/2019 at 02:12:09
If we don’t change something soon, then we are getting dragged into a relegation battle. I don’t see where the points are coming from.
Bob Parrington
63 Posted 10/02/2019 at 07:15:35
Cut the crap at the back with crosses and corners and we'll get some points. Marco – what's up? Get your head out of the sand or we're going down. What a plus to the reference. Only manager to have had Everton relegated!

Buck up your fucken ideas and get us some points. Stop this zonal marking at corners and free-kicks. Simples! Test the Meerkat later!

Lewis Barclay
64 Posted 10/02/2019 at 08:15:44
Mikel Arteta maybe?
Alan Rooney
65 Posted 10/02/2019 at 08:24:27
If we sack Silva now, who would WANT to take his place? The fact that three managers have failed and been sacked in such a short period of time would likely dissuade any decent potential candidate from even looking at the job.

Maybe we should bring Moyes in alongside Silva with equal authority in the hope that the latter's pride forces him into resigning, Moyes can steady things whist we find the right man.

Darren Hind
66 Posted 10/02/2019 at 08:51:18
Jim Bennings...

"Calvert-Lewin fan club"?

You make a bigger fool of yourself every time you expose your morbid obsession with this boy. You will not find a post from me claiming this guy is a top player. What you will find is a steady stream of reactions to your vindictiveness towards him.

Despite playing well last week, the boy wasn't selected. Silva opted for Richarlison, Tosun and Sigurdsson. All three stunk the house out yesterday; in fact, they have been stinking the place out for weeks... but they cost the club £100M so they appeal to your not fanboy mentality. You give them a free pass.

Calvert-Lewin came on with about a quarter-of-an-hour left yesterday and you singled him out FIVE times on the Live Forum, that's once every three minutes... that simply isn't normal behaviour, it certainly isn't healthy criticism.

While the club is in free-fall with your poster boy heroes failing miserabley on a weekly basis, you have systematically battered away at the guy who cost the club £1.5M. There is hardly a day goes by without you doing it. You've even lied about his age in an attempt to make him more responsible.

There are four threads following yesterday's match and you have appeared on all of them to single him out. Did you actually witness the 75 minutes of shite that went on before he got on the pitch? Or was you simply focusing on the bench in the hope that your whipping boy came on?

Richarlison and Sigurdsson have been cheating Evertonians with their bone idleness and shithousery, but you choose to hammer the late sub. Fair comment or nasty scapegoatism?

Even handed criticism or lost-the-plot obsession?

Good footballing knowledge or empty-headed nonsense? "Calvert-Lewin fan club" or an intense dislike for the moronic hammering of young players?

Michael Mcloughlin
67 Posted 10/02/2019 at 09:16:34
I can't see how sticking with Silva is the correct option as I don't see that he is able to improve the team. He continues to struggle on with players who are clearly not up to the fight for whatever reason. We sent a team out against Man City who put up a decent show against them, only to have three of them sent back to the subs bench. Where is the motivation there?

There are many managers available at the moment who would improve Everton, Mourinho, Conte and Wenger to name but 3. I don't believe Moyes is the answer but I would have any of the three mentioned. The new manager would get the rest of the season to assess the team and along with Brands set up a team which can at least score goals and defend.

Kim Vivian
68 Posted 10/02/2019 at 09:54:35
Darren – I'm with you on the Calvert-Lewin persecution by some posters. He has a way to go but I do believe he has the potential. I like the guy.

However, I do think he might have given a funny look at Jim Bennings's missus sometime in the past!

(BTW – I enjoy many of your posts, Jim.)

Paul Burns
69 Posted 10/02/2019 at 09:59:54
The club is being totally mismanaged from the top and the silence from them is deafening.

These people obviously know nothing about football and it shows in everything the club do.

The same mistakes are being made over and over again, abysmal managerial appointments, shocking scattergun player recruitment, bad apples whinging in the background despite being given chance after chance and failing, a total lack of decent coaching.

We've sold all our best players for a pittance to rivals and paid more for far inferior garbage. It reminds me of Brewster's millions and having to spend a fortune as quick as possible with no results expected.
Its shocking.

Silva has to go, he's not up to the job and never was, but we have to totally change the way the club operates from the top down before this shambles leads to disaster and it has to start now with no hiding behind a wall of silence as is the Kenwright way.

Oliver Molloy
70 Posted 10/02/2019 at 10:04:46
i had a dream last night that a change in form is not far away.

We will play out of our skin and beat the Red Shite at our place in a few weeks and all will be well, the hero of the day will be Bernard scoring in the last 5 minutes to win the game 2 -1- and then I woke up!

Can you believe that apparently the club may be looking at Marcelo Bielsa if Silva gets the "you're fired"?

Silva is right about the ref, Deeney 100% got away with not one but two very bookable challenges in the first 15 minutes. if Keane had been more crafty he could have had the arsehole sent off for the challenge on him - sliding in studs up, 100% booking.

Deeney was at it all match with the ref and having wee foot in here and there, with a right few Everton players, how it took the ref as long as it did to book the dickhead was just very poor refereeing.

I'm not making excuses or defending Silva for the result but at least let's be fair – the ref bottled it. I can't believe that challenge on Keane has not been shown on the biased Match of the Day, or nobody is even mentioning it. I bet if it had been an Everton player on Deeney it, would be all over the place!

John Audsley
71 Posted 10/02/2019 at 10:29:34
Got to move forward.

Moshiri doesn't like or want Moyes so that's not going to happen thankfully, he would be a quick fix for this season alone but was a busted flush in his last season with us and we all got sick of his lack of ideas. He had the best team since 85-87 and bottled every big game we had.

We should have got Bielsa In 2014 but would he and Brands work together in the current format which is clearly going to stay?

Silva can't inspire and yet again at Everton the players have stopped playing for a manager.

It's embarrassing to watch and I hate it.

Danny Baily
72 Posted 10/02/2019 at 10:39:15
I wouldn't object to Moyes coming in on a short-term basis to sort out this mess. If he does well he can stay.

I can't see Rafa joining now. There's no money left so he'd be leaving the frying pan for the fire.

This circling of the drain will lead to relegation if we don't stop the rot.

Dick Fearon
73 Posted 10/02/2019 at 11:01:51
The big mystery is Finch Farm and what they do there. Do they practice the Black Arts or human sacrifice? Whatever they do, it can have no relationship with whatever is practiced by the rest of world football.

The evidence is clear that Silva is deliberately stripping the players of their natural and accumulated skills and then trying to remake them into his preferred hybrid style.

As seen by so many good players going backwards the skill stripping part is well advanced. Sadly the re-making part is lagging well behind schedule.

Nicholas Ryan
74 Posted 10/02/2019 at 11:15:48
Ciao, Marco.
Brian Harrison
75 Posted 10/02/2019 at 11:30:35
Well, whether Silva gets the sack or not, you can be sure that he and his coaches and players will walk away from Everton a lot richer than when they came. Yet us supporters will be financially poorer and emotionally drained, and we have had so many downs that we don't believe there are any positives we could take from another sacking.

Yes we will get a new manager spouting the same positives as most of the others who have come and gone. He will bring in his own coaches and no doubt all on a 3-year contract as that seems the norm now.

But he will inherit many who played under the last two or three managers and all failed to deliver. We will all believe the new man whoever he is will be able to somehow galvanize these under performing players into a team able to challenge the top 6. But as the months fly past and very little changes and after a bright spell we are still between 7th and 12th after having spent another £70-£100 million.

I am afraid I have lost all faith in this club ever winning anything in the next 10 years, and maybe even longer than that. Sadly I have inflicted the disease of supporting Everton to my sons and grandsons.

David Connor
76 Posted 10/02/2019 at 12:25:07
I've lost patience with Silva now; he really needs to go, as does most of this squad. Take a massive hit on them and just get rid to the highest bidders. £400 million spent on this shit squad and we are worse than we've been in >20 years. It can't be allowed to continue.

Get them in Monday morning and tell every single one of them that they are all playing for their footballing futures as not many will be signed for bigger clubs than ours. That, if nothing else, should get a reaction. We know they are shit but maybe they don't. That at least will give them no doubts about how all the fans feel.

These useless fuckers will take us down for certain – if not this season, it will be next season. A truly awful squad run by a truly awful coach.

Jim Harrison
77 Posted 10/02/2019 at 12:43:27
Oliver, 70

Not just Deeney! They were at it all match. Although Richarlison was going down too easily I swear he took at least two elbows.

They were nastier and pressed harder. Problem was, if we did the same the ref blew, or so it seemed to me

Simon Connor
78 Posted 10/02/2019 at 13:02:47
Description of a 'circus' is very true of EFC - but who is paying good money to watch the mega rich, non-performing clowns?

Who is laughing behind the scenes?

Raymond Fox
79 Posted 10/02/2019 at 13:03:20
Another game where the officials left a lot to be desired. I think we can safely say that Pickford didn't touch the ball that was given as a corner going off his and other players reactions. Yes we had the chance to defend the corner, but sure enough they get a goal off it to add insult to injury.
If the ref. is not sure if the ball is touched or not he shouldn't give the corner.Then Zouma get's sent of for presumably protesting about the same incident so its a double whammy against good old Everton again.
John Kavanagh
80 Posted 10/02/2019 at 13:27:05
I forecast on the live forum before the match started that Probert would send off one of our players; the only surprise being that he left it until after the final whistle to do it! Our players did well not to respond to the Watford fouling as Probert was itching to get the red card out for a bit of retaliation, as seen at Bournemouth earlier this season (the only other Probert red cards this season).

Silva is a dead man walking and we need action now as a damage limitation exercise because it is getting worse with each passing week and we are already in freefall.

As to the criticism of our younger players – they are the only ones (other than Gana and to a lesser extent Digne) showing any real commitment to Everton (Zouma's commitment is to winning a place at Chelsea – he's said so). That is why Davies was made captain. It is a shocking indictment of our experienced players and big money signings who provide neither example or leadership.

Anthony A Hughes
81 Posted 10/02/2019 at 14:25:04
Whilst I don't agree with any persecution of Calvert-Lewin why is ok to unload on Richarlison? He's younger than Calvert-Lewin with the same amount of Premier League games yet he's getting a shit load of it.

He's a young man in a different country apparently learning his trade as well. They both should be judged equally and not under this "kids" moniker. They're both first-team footballers – let's not defend one and shaft the other.

Mark Stone
82 Posted 10/02/2019 at 15:16:32
Yeah, the ref, that was our problem.
Stan Schofield
83 Posted 10/02/2019 at 15:31:40
The ref was 'a' problem, if not 'the' problem. Refs have been a major problem all season, they're either incompetent or corrupt (or perhaps both). Probably both, because the game overall seems corrupt, rife with cheating, and it wouldn't surprise me if it were rife with backhanders.

But none of that is an excuse for the way we play. That's down to us, and if we can't ride out bad luck and bad officiating, then we have no chance of progressing.

Kim Vivian
84 Posted 10/02/2019 at 16:47:17
Anthony 81 - Expectations.

I am not disagreeing with you particularly about the stick but the trouble is he has this big price tag hanging over him, same as Sigurdsson actually.

A pretty big hole knocked in £100m for the two of them and most of us (certainly myself) are not seeing that value being brought to the party. They both have their moments but yesterday, apart from the lob which landed on top of the bar, I don't remember noticing Siggy at all. Richarlison gets noticed mainly for the wrong reasons but as I said we should be expecting more for £45/£50m (I am unsure what the final figure ran out at).

That is what is adding weight to the criticism. That and his impetuous attitude.

Jerome Shields
85 Posted 10/02/2019 at 17:13:59
Blaming the referee won't get you anywhere. Blame yourself and you would be closer to the truth.
Fran Mitchell
86 Posted 10/02/2019 at 19:03:50
I don't see any point in blaming particular players when it is clear they are being very badly managed/trained.

Gomes looked like he walked on water when he first arrived. Richarlison was dynamic and dangerous. Lookman full of flair and movement. Digne looked a class act. And so on and so on.

All of the players have regressed at alarming rates. Davies can barely make a straight pass. We are inept at corners, both defending and attacking.

Silva quite simply has to go. 11 games, 8 defeats. Just not possible.

We have a 2 week break, so time to get a new manager in, be it Unsworth or Moyes on a short-term basis or not, and time for them to remind the players how to play football. And at least some pride for the last 11 games, and hopefully get the players playing enough to derail our beloved neighbours' title challenge.

But Silva has to go. Spurs, before Poch, also had a seemingly never-ending revolving door of managers for seasons: Ramos, Sherwood, Villas-Boas.

We need stability, but that will only come with a competent manager at the helm.

Ray Roche
87 Posted 10/02/2019 at 20:21:10
The Shite have got a Throw In Coach, FFS, and we don’t even have a defensive coach. Laughable!
Jay Harris
88 Posted 10/02/2019 at 20:30:40
Kim,
You are talking about two players who have contributed 2/3 of our goals this season.

Good players especially ones who score goals are at a premium and that is why they cost big money.

The problem comes with a poor coach not what players cost.

Steavey Buckley
89 Posted 10/02/2019 at 21:32:29
It would have been more mannish of Silva to support Zouma than letting him take all the flack in the tunnel when Probert was dishing out 2 cynical yellow cards knowing he could not appeal against them.

Probert represents refereeing in the Premier League which is so bad that no referees were invited to the last World Cup in Russia. In one of Everton's last games, the referee and the assistant could not see a blatant arm scoring a goal.

Kim Vivian
90 Posted 10/02/2019 at 22:11:27
I get that, Jay.

My post was a comment on Anthony's question about Richarlison specifically. I happened to bring up Siggy as a parallel case. We know good players, whatever their position, command a premium and goal scorers are thin on the ground relative to say midfielders.

My point was that Richy's price tag gives us a certain level of expectation and to my mind he is not living up to that. One doesn't have to look very far (maybe as little as a quarter of a mile) to identify midfielders and strikers who have far exceeded their expectations as determined by price alone.

I accept he has knocked a few in (9?) but we are such a mess right now I do not even bother looking a statistics any more. Richie didn't really pull up trees at Watford but our terribly astute manager, who we are finding more about each week, clearly saw something in him which made him worth the £45/£50m, but as I said - and I know he plays for Brazil etc etc etc, but I am not really seeing it - yet. But then who am I? He could do with starting to act his age rather than a 14 year old pubescent teenager.

Anyway, that was my attempt to mitigate the criticism of Richarlison to Anthony. Perhaps if he had cost half as much the criticism might be a little more muted.

Soren Moyer
91 Posted 10/02/2019 at 22:34:59
I say sack him and bring back Joe Royle as an interim coach. He knows what to do with this bunch of useless cowards.

Big No to ginger Dave make 2 from me. A few suggesting Stubs, Gerard, Southgate, some dude from championship/ league one, etc, as replacement. Are you having a laugh?

Andy Crooks
92 Posted 10/02/2019 at 22:45:41
Siren, Joe Royle? Was that a serious comment?
Soren Moyer
93 Posted 10/02/2019 at 22:52:35
Andy, at this point, I'll take him in a heartbeat till rest of the season. Just bring back the Dogs of War!
Michael Kenrick
95 Posted 11/02/2019 at 00:33:11
I'd love to know what he said. Whatever it was only took two seconds:

Eric Myles
96 Posted 11/02/2019 at 01:25:06
Fran #86, on the subject of Spurs revolving door of managers I counted them up one time, 27 in the 30 years before Pochettino, including interims.
Geoff Cadman
97 Posted 11/02/2019 at 01:37:07
The fact is we have had more than our fair share of poor decisions:

● City Midweek 5 bookable offences some worse than Jag's red at Wolves, same Referee.
● Mason both Newcastle and Wolves – too many offences unpunished or not given.
● Second goal at Arsenal yards offside.
● The penalty at Man Utd.
● Our penalty same game, no 2nd yellow for Smalling.
● Jorgino at Chelsea on Sigurdsson should have been a straight red.
● Even after the second goal was shown on the big screen at Millwall, Oliver stilled booked players for dissent.
● Spurs: Calvert-Lewin's goal; at 2-0, who knows what might've happened? We were playing okay up to that point.
● The only ones I can think of for us is Walcott in the build-up to the 1st goal against Watford and Gomes penalty not given vs Bournemouth.

Yesterday Zouma walked up to the Ref' complained received a Yellow, as he walked away he pulled out the red card. Was that yellow his 2nd. Was he booked in normal time?

Even Fixtures Last to play before Xmas 1st to play in the new year. Wednesdays game because City are Successful meant 5 games in 15 days. Not excuses facts.

I know everyone is pissed off me included, But I think we should stick with Silva. Most of us were happy up to the derby.

Lots of names have been mentioned to take over. How about Unsworth to move up to 1st team coach, his kids have a winning mentality. It worked for Kendall with Harvey.

In Martinez 1st season Stubbsy was coaching the defence, it was only when he left that we started shipping goals. We could bring him back.

Would United be where they are without Micky Philen and no doubt Fergy's major input? It's not all down to Solskjaer.

John Boon
98 Posted 11/02/2019 at 03:05:44
It really is a shame that there are fans who never really give our younger players a break. We have plenty of highly-paid over-priced players who really should be shouldering the blame for our dreadful season. Our younger group of home bread players or those we signed under the age of 21 are bound to be inconsistent. It is part of growing up. They may all become top class players or they might not. This is the gamble that every club has to take.

I certainly don't think that they are beyond constructive criticism but that is usually up to the coaching staff. Unfortunately this season, I am unsure what they are hearing from our present manager. They also need positive reinforcement when they play well. I fully understand the frustration of our loyal fans. I think a good coach could get far more out of Calvert-Lewin. His main problem is an inability to take chances that he gets. However, he is speedy, good in the air and appears to be able to handle the physical side of the game. Positional sense and shooting are major problems. Agreed on that they are vital needs but they can improve with the right guidance.

If that does not work, perhaps he could play midfield or defence. We should not just give up on him or any of our younger players. Rather work on their strengths and give them the confidence to go out to play in front what is an angry group of frustrated supporters. They are probably far more frustrated than anybody else.

Laurie Hartley
99 Posted 11/02/2019 at 04:32:07
A few random observations after watching the game.

Watford delivered on Troy Deeneys promise to kick the shit out of us. It wasn't just him – he was ably assisted by Holebas and Capoue. They never stopped all through the game. Dirty, sly, after the ball had gone follow throughs, knees into the thighs, and standing on players legs when getting up after a tumble.

Dragging us back by the shirt or arms at the slightest chance of a breakaway.

Deeney making a back for Zouma all through the game – no wonder Zouma lost his rag with that referee – he let Watford away with murder.

Zouma cares. Gomes cares. Two loan players.

Richarlison got kicked from pillar to post. I though he was going to drop one of them at one stage. And the referee let them get away with it.

I thought every single one of our players tried hard on Saturday – everyone of them, subs and all. I bet you they are all black and blue.

Our manager having the mickey taken out of him by their fans.

So what do we do – sack our manager. Not for me fellas.

The rest of the football world would just love us to do that – they don't like us at all. In fact, they would like to kick the shit out of us also. Let's not play into their hands. Time to fight.

We have to get behind the manager and the team. I am well cheesed off.

Phil Sammon
100 Posted 11/02/2019 at 06:57:17
Laurie

You're a very generous bloke, clearly!

It doesn't matter who Richarlison is up against, he's always moaning and throwing himself to the ground. He gets quite rightly booed by opposition fans every week for his antics and that makes him sulk even more.

It's embarrassing and I'm surprised that nobody within the club has pulled him to one side and explained how we do things at EFC.

Completely average footballer with a terrible attitude. £45 million. Unbelievable.

Martin Faulkner
101 Posted 11/02/2019 at 06:58:32
Laurie, totally agree, mate. I was telling a lad in work today about Deeney playing the man, not the ball, for every header. It's actually quite dangerous as he's not attempting to jump and causes the defenders to go off balance, can end up with a bad landing and bad injury. The commentating I was watching on Optus Sports here downunder was unbelievably biased, it was a fucking joke.

I couldn't remember Capoue's name this morning but I agree totally he got away with murder, as did their left back. The referee was a fucking joke and nothing gets mentioned either by our hierarchy; we need to come out and start highlighting this to the powers that be.

The last few games I've watched, we always seem to get fouled in our half as we break via a deliberate foul. Man City did it quite a few times before that ref finally booked someone. A deliberate foul is meant to be a straight booking – no matter where it happens – but teams are doing it all the time now.

Steve Guy
102 Posted 11/02/2019 at 07:13:20
Well said, Laurie!
Kim Vivian
103 Posted 11/02/2019 at 07:54:11
Did Moyes not at some point produce a video of dodgy refereeing incidents which may or may not have been presented to the relevant people?

Or am I getting my wires crossed here?

Simon Connor
104 Posted 11/02/2019 at 08:38:55
We have Unsworth and Duncan – true Blues. We don't need or want 'big names' – look at Solskjaer at Man Utd.

All about dedication and enthusiasm and understanding EFC.

Chris Gould
105 Posted 11/02/2019 at 08:39:14
Laurie, that was a great post, and I'm in complete agreement.

Silva was brought in because Moshiri and his mates believe in his methods, they believe in his style of play. We all new what we were going to get with Silva. We all new about his defensive frailties, but maybe he hasn't had long enough to get the players he needs to make the system work. Look what happened when Klopp brought in Van Dijk and Allison. Before they arrived their defence was a shambles.

The media are circling as they are vultures who love their power. They celebrate when a manager gets sacked as it gives them their back pages.

As Laurie said, it's time to fight. If all the fans began to show the same passion and support then the players would respond.

Look at Cardiff, a tragedy has inspired them to 2 wins on the bounce. First time they have achieved that in the Premier League. Nothing has changed regarding their management, but they've all got fire in their bellies. They're playing for Sala. They have a cause.

I'm all for supporting the manager and roaring the team on. Sometimes it just takes one performance for everything to click.

Fuck the vultures. Hold your nerve and support the manager through a disastrous period. Let's see how he responds. We have nothing to lose this season. No genuine threat of relegation.

Laurie Hartley
106 Posted 11/02/2019 at 08:55:20
Phil # 100 - Richarlison gets clattered every week. Guess who is the third most fouled player in the premier league this season:

Most Fouled Premier League Players

That number doesn't include ones like the two committed on him by Capoue 47 minutes into the game on Saturday, when he made a back for him and then stood/stamped on his shin when he was getting up. Snides they are.

When Richarlison did react earlier in the season in the Bournemouth game against that snide of a player Smith he got a red card – by guess which referee?

Richarlison gets hammered by the media every week – unlike Zaha.

He is a good player: 10 goals from the wing and as a makeshift centre forward at 21 years of age. Two less than Sane, Sterling, and Hazard.

Martin 101 – I have got Optus also – those commentators were loving it. Away with them!

I have had it with them – anyone that isn't in a blue shirt is the enemy. But let's be careful that we don't succumb to the enemy within. I did momentarily after the Millwall game when I called for Silva's head but I quickly changed my mind when I realised that that is exactly what the jackals are wanting us to do.

Up the Blues... Grrrr.


Stan Schofield
107 Posted 11/02/2019 at 09:20:22
Laurie, great posts.

It's difficult to comprehend some of the terrible officiating that's gone against us this season, which looks likely to have had a significant detrimental effect on our results. This is of course not an excuse for our poor performances, but it surely must have a cumulative effect on players unless they're all robots, which they aren't.

The whole thing at the moment, the repeated cheating, and the apparent biases from the authorities which do nothing to prevent this cheating, is putting me off watching the game, regardless of how well Everton are doing.

Dave Abrahams
108 Posted 11/02/2019 at 09:38:31
Laurie (various posts), I never saw the game on Saturday so I can't comment on that game. I certainly agree that numerous incidents have gone against us this season with poor referee's decisions which have cost us points with very few going our way in reverse.

Regarding Richarlison, he is better than he has been showing for the last few games (hopefully), but he has to realise he is being targeted by every opposition team going out to wind him up. Some tackles are out of order but lots of them are next to nothing and he is making a meal out of them. Best to just pick himself up with a little smile at the aggressor, that will wind them up.

He is doing himself and Everton no favours with his childish actions; get on with the game, he'll get more respect from us, the opposing team and, more importantly, the referee. Maybe easier said than done but that is the only and best way to behave in my opinion.

Mal van Schaick
109 Posted 11/02/2019 at 10:05:14
Probert got away with ‘play on' advantage, when Everton players were clobbered, when the ‘advantage' did not materialise. So, where was there any advantage to Everton? He should have brought play back for the fouls on a few occasions.

We need 7 points from the remaining games, and to start afresh next season.

Stan Schofield
110 Posted 11/02/2019 at 10:07:53
Just to add to what Laurie has said:

I have been utterly gobsmacked over the atrocious officiating this season. We have had the shit kicked out of us in so many games, and put up with horrendous decisions. Unless I'm missing something, this is bound to have an effect on players.

We were playing decently against top-6 sides, but had to endure dirty play and bad decisions in those games as well. I have this image in my mind of that terrible tackle on Sigurdsson in the Chelsea game, which went unpunished, as an example.

It strikes me that the cock-up in the Derby could well have been the straw that broke the camel's back. The players are not robots, and no amount of money they get paid can make them immune from the kind of shit that we're witnessing, the continual cheating and biases that are ruining the so-called beautiful game.

None of this is an excuse for poor performances, and Everton do appear to have problems right through the hierarchy that we'd all love to identify clearly and remedy, but progressing from this situation is not made easier by the shit that's happening in the modern game.

When Koeman came here, he said we were too nice. No doubt he was right in that. We do not go round kicking the shit out of other teams, it's never been the Everton way. We're not Angels by any means, no team is, but we don't do what many other teams, including top-6 sides, do habitually, which is cheat, foul and get in the face of officials. And ironically, the authorities appear biased towards those sides that commit all this shit, particularly the top-6. So not only are the authorities doing fuck-all about it, they're effectively encouraging it.

This whole thing is putting me off watching football, regardless of how well Everton play. Even the World Cup last summer was won by cheating. It's gone too far.

It seems that we'll never achieve better things unless we join in the circus of cheating and have officials biasing decisions in our favour. But if that happened, I for one would lose interest in Everton as well. I don't expect the Corinthian spirit of Brian Labone to prevail, that would be far too much to expect, but perhaps EFC could be more vocal in raising concerns about what's happening.

In this respect, Marco Silva was absolutely correct to raise questions about the referee on Saturday, and I believe we should all support what he's said there.

Paul Cherrington
111 Posted 11/02/2019 at 10:11:20
I think if we are at the point of blaming the ref for losing games, we are in deep trouble. We should be putting games to bed so that the odd decision in a game going against us does not matter. It is only the de truly desperate managers and teams that need to hang their hopes on the refs calling it our way.

On the Richarlison issue, I agree that he goes down to easy and also that how he does it seems to only encourage other players to target him more. Much better to do it the old Tim Cahill way, where you would leave it a few minutes before getting your revenge on the player who fouled you with a poor tackle of your own. That seems to put a stop to it much quicker!!

Ian Flanagan
112 Posted 11/02/2019 at 10:14:10
Refereeing problems is nothing new when it comes to Everton.

I was there for the infamous Clive Thomas disallowed goal against Liverpool in the 70's and the Alan Hanson handball against us in the Milk Cup Final. There are other incidents I have witnessed as well.

We also missed out twice on qualifying for the Champions League under Moyes. I worked out on one season that we had lost 14 points on bad refereeing decisions and gained 2, a net loss of 12pts and we finished 5th about 8pts behind Arsenal.

The following season, that wonderful referee Jeff Winter did an alternative league that shows what would have happened if the correct decisions were given. The only team to lose out were Everton, who would have finished 4th instead we finished 5th again.

It also has an effect during the game when you realise that the referee is giving all the decisions to the opposition and your best players are getting no protection.

Peter Barry
113 Posted 11/02/2019 at 10:16:22
Hasn't he gone yet?
Brian Harrison
114 Posted 11/02/2019 at 10:55:11
I see that Marco Silva has given the players an extra few days off, and will make a decision whether to go for some warm weather training later this week.

I know some fans will be up in arms about giving the players some extra time off having just lost to Watford. But I think its a good move. I know Clough would very often say to a player you are not playing next week take your wife and kids away for a few days. You usually get a reaction when players are expecting extra training and instead they get extra time off. A time for the manager and players to have some time away from one another to try and asses what has gone wrong since the derby game.

I would hope he does take them away, so they can between them come up with ways to put right what has been going wrong. Kendall used to take his team for a Chinese meal in Southport were players could say what they thought was wrong and it usually worked in improved performances.

Peter Mills
115 Posted 11/02/2019 at 12:50:16
Neat headline. It could just as easily have read:- “Evertonians frustrated by Silva decisions in loss to Watford”.
Soren Moyer
116 Posted 11/02/2019 at 13:33:46
Make Zouma captain and take it from there.
Laurie Hartley
117 Posted 11/02/2019 at 21:35:24
Dave and Paul,

I respect your point of view and agree Richarlison does milk it but I am sure if he did a Tim Cahill he wouldn't last the full 90 minutes.

Paul I also agree that we should be putting games to bed but we are not, but as a fan I think if we were getting a fair crack of the whip from the officials we would have a far better chance of turning things around.

How did Deeney get away with his pre match comments? I bet if he had been an Everton player he wouldn't have. The FA gave him, Capoue and Holebas open slates by not at least issuing a pre-match warning about violent conduct.

Simon Connor
118 Posted 12/02/2019 at 04:11:27
Giving players 'holidays' is not the answer – how about taking their bank accounts away from them all – that would get a reaction.

Paul Cherrington
119 Posted 12/02/2019 at 13:10:56
Laurie @117 – I know what you mean, there is a fine art to taking revenge in a way that doesn't get you sent off. I'm not sure Richarlison would be able to have the nous to do that. Even if another player could though after he has been fouled then it would send out the right message to other teams not to mess with us.

I know what you mean re the poor decisions not helping but I am a big believer in making your own luck. Silva should be coaching us to dominate games and be in a winning position so one poor decision in a game isn't so disastrous. If you rely on the refs to get you through, you will always be in lumber.

You are spot on with the Deeney thing though – I cannot believe he got away with that and nothing was really said about it by the media or FA. I bet if one of our players had said it, they would have reacted differently.

Simon Connor
120 Posted 12/02/2019 at 16:57:11
It is not that bad. Everton won't get relegated this season – look at the Wimbledon and Coventry games in the '90s.

Everton are not allowed to get relegated – God just told me that and he is okay.

Simon Connor
121 Posted 12/02/2019 at 17:23:59
Moshiri is just a businessman – all about money, not football. He does not understand the concept of people going to work... shitty jobs for shitty pay, and who look forward to the football weekend. Maybe he does understand the working class as he creates those factories.

I would not trust any of the money people because they are just about money and always look sad.

EFC just need a Joe Royle and or a David Unsworth. Evertonians in charge – not some foreigner looking for millions who can't speak English – and who knows, next to nothing about EFC.

Dead simple. Get a Blue Nose(s) in charge – David Unsworth and Duncan Ferguson right there and ready and waiting. True Blues. Dedicated. They love EFC and understand what it is all about.

Jay Harris
122 Posted 12/02/2019 at 17:49:18
Does anyone remember Jack Charlton and his notorious black book that he kept for recriminations.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

123 Posted 12/02/2019 at 17:53:44
Simon.

Most interesting insights into capitalism and the proletariat.

Even more interesting insights into what is needed to turn Everton around.

Dead simple this social history and football management lark, innit?

Dermot Byrne
124 Posted 12/02/2019 at 18:05:06
Simon 121: with ya but the money men have an amazing ability to leave a trail that even the most "dedicated" like the smell of. Who will always call the shots?

In the end, everyone has a price. It is one of the saddest truths.

Laurie Hartley
125 Posted 12/02/2019 at 21:42:35
Dermot #124 – this a football fan forum but your comment that “everyone has a price” has to be refuted because it is just not true.

There are some that do and some that don't.

Simon Connor
126 Posted 13/02/2019 at 05:59:26
Russ Quinlan, I couldn't agree more. Every club we steal managers from who were doing a good job we seem to destroy. Just buy a really good manager – probably Scottish or English, Welsh or Irish.

The players these days are just cavalier. No more foreigners who just want to rob all of EFC's money for 3 years or less.

I'm not a racist – just been looking at historical facts in football management; we invented the game, so there is an inherent factor in there.

Simon Connor
127 Posted 13/02/2019 at 06:08:43
Dermot – it is indeed sad but true that everybody has a price... mine is about 48p. I'm cheap, but happy. I've got loads of guitars and a recording studio, helps to keep me sane.

Everton could drive a person mental but I can't get out of it: Once a Blue, always a Blue – unless you are Wayne Rooney and his family.

Raymond Fox
128 Posted 13/02/2019 at 08:44:03
Paul, I understand what you mean about making your own luck such as trying harder, becoming more able etc and I agree. There's lots of happenings though in football and life in general that you have absolutely no control over whatsoever; refs decisions are one.

I guess every clubs' fans think they get a rough deal but I do genuinely think we have had the bad rub of the green this season to add to our woes.

We are playing poorly and that is the main reason we are not getting the results we want. I don't lay all the blame at Silva's door though, far from it. We won't be a top six side until we can attract better players.

Going back to the officials, the levels of incompetence that many of them display is very disappointing. Are they sufficiently scrutinised after each game by the FA and penalised if their performance was poor? I don't know; they should be.

Paul Cherrington
129 Posted 14/02/2019 at 14:06:30
I know where you are coming from Raymond – I think it's because you cannot control or rely on the refs decisions that we need to avoid doing so though. But yeah, some games you will get a shocker that can swing it against you. over the season though, if you are having to blame refs for why you have been rubbish consistently, I think it says more about the team. a decent team gets a bad decision and then uses it as motivation to go on & win the game.

We have had some bad calls though, I cannot dispute that, unfortunately. As you say a lot of the performances refs and linesmen have put in this season across the whole Premier League has been often lacking.

I think in terms of scrutiny, it depends who the decision has gone against. If it goes for the favourite teams like Man City or Liverpool, I suspect it is conveniently ignored. If, on the other hand, it goes against such teams, I bet more is made of it behind closed doors. Look at how players from teams like Liverpool get away with obvious diving still, yet other teams (like us) get picked up on it.

As regards who is to blame for our current situation, I would have to say it is Silva's fault myself. I know what you are saying about the players but other managers like Moyes or Allardyce managed to get us playing as a team with desire, organisation and the chance of picking points up with less at their disposal.

He has to go for me as we will only continue losing with him in charge. He has already brought players in that he wanted for lots of money and not done anything with them.


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