Brilliant fight-back ends in another penalty shoot-out failure

Subs: Stekelenburg, Tosun, Kean, Niasse, Cuco Martina, Adeniran, Gordon

Dave, surprising to me is no defensive cover on that bench (oh... wait a minute l forgot Cuco).

Merry Christmas everyone!

i thought that you had remembered Cuco, but were making a point...

Link

We haven't been in this at all. Leicester look very good.

Midfield weakness being exposed badly. We also seem to have lost some of the intensity we've had in the last few games.

Something radical needs to be done here... Iwobi is having a terrible game.

And now just giving away cheap fouls because he can't get anything going.

Down to the bare bones of available talent.

Can all the anti-Duncan fans see, it wasn't personal with Kean?

It's a shame we couldn't get that extra bit of luck and win. Had we played extra time, I'm sure we'd have got another goal and won. We had all the momentum.

I thought Baines of all people would have scored from the spot. I also think the ref should have been more assertive and stopped Schmeichel coming right up to the Everton player taking a pen.

Even when there's no league matches, we still somehow manage to be overshadowed by those bastards, even when they are in Qatar.

We started playing too late.

The first half tonight completely let us down. Iwobi now needs dropping until he learns how to pass a ball to a blue shirt.

I expected Baines to take that first penalty in the shootout when Maddison had just missed, what the hell did Tosun take it for? When did he last score a goal with his feet?

Brave but we've had this heroic failure again, no doubt we'll be served another dose of it against those horrible Kopites next month.

You can only be so proud of bravery but the fact is, it nearly always ends up in dejection with this club.

No real disgrace really, but some rotten performances.

Now for Saturday.

Whaaaa?

A good measure of how far we've come that we came back into that. We didn't come back from behind once with Silva at the helm.

Let's not get complacent or negative with all this improvement. The place was rocking. We came back from behind. We had one recognised midfielder in the squad.. We've come miles.

But, is there anyone?

Is there anyone out there who's proud?

We weren't the better team tonight. But my God the effort was there.

And can anyone say we don't have the greatest supporters on earth?

We lost, but I have a sense of proudness. We battled like warriors and never, ever gave up.

I'll take a team with that level of heart any day. And I'll take a team with supporters who exhibit that level of heart any day.

If your goalie saves the first penalty you should win. Penalties are always a gamble. We really just don't ever seem to get a break.

The Everton crowd were immense. They deserved far more. Duncan once again showed he can motivate the team.

At the present, we do not have any midfield. We have young players who try hard most to the time, but a total lack of creativity means everything is so predictable.

We were beaten by a better team. Leicester controlled the game first half and were better for the best part of the second half.

Iwobi, Bernard were not too good and Mina and Keane looked vulnerable. We couldn't keep the ball for long spells.

At least that's what I saw.

It's okay to be beaten by a better team.

Dunc has done his best with this rabble and three games unbeaten (excludings pens) is nothing to be sniffed at after that complete joker, Marco Silva. Especially considering the quality of the teams we've played.

The positive is that we've shown some character under Dunc. The issue is, though, that energy and enthusiasm can only take you so far. We need better players and we need a wise coach. We may get the latter in a few days but, according to Paul The Esk's financials, it might be years before if and when we get the former. #KenwrightOut

This highlights the total mismanagement that has taken place with this football club over the last few years. Leicester are ahead of us in many ways which just emphasizes the failure even more.

Your posts @ 28 and 34 are a good summation of what I saw also.

Sigh.

We should have let him get on the line then reposition the ball and let him wait, not fuckin rush them.

We have seen a clean sheet since mid October, and that's just not really good enough, it's always giving yourself an uphill battle when you lose the art of eeking out 1-0 wins.

So proud of what Duncan has done though. He's restored some pride. I hope Ancelotti comes and he's a lucky manager as well as a good one. To lose on penalties with an injury-depleted side is just typical of life as an Evertonian.

I have some positivity. I had none after the derby.

I appreciate the knowledge and the banter that I read every day - it's brilliant. Looking at what we did tonight was a proper fighting performance. Keane was so at fault so the second goal (pushed out of the way), but we should have beaten them in real time. I know they hit the bar but we should have scored 2 headers and Big Dunc has done a sterling job.

Yes, Leicester are a better team, but we could and probably should have won (combination of amazing fans and Big Dunc) – good times are ahead. COYB

We were very second best in the 90 minutes. And some poor individual performances.

But hopefully there's a reminder to both players and supporters that just a little bit of heart can go a long way. The crowd absolutely did their bit tonight, and while it wasn't the most full blooded effort on the pitch, what we showed was enough to get back in the game.

I'm pleased and a bit relieved that Duncan possibly goes out without a shitshow in his tenure. In three games he's done what most blues hoped he could - stabilised and galvanised the club a bit. No mean feat from where we were. One of the better caretaker manager performances I've seen.

I've actually heard Tosun has a great track record taking penalties and Baines's history from the spot speaks for itself... so I wouldn't second guess Ferguson too much. If they miss, they miss.

The crowd was pretty flat actually as the first hal progressed but came alive when we scored.

Had we scored early, it might have been different, but we didn't and didn't look like doing so.

Now for Saturday and hopefully some reinforcements,

It shows how well Duncan has done so far, but he came up against the best team and coach he's come up against in his little run.

On we go. We'll win on Saturday

The problem we have is our total lack of creativity in central midfield. Davies and Holgate had done exceptionally well but are not creators by any stretch of the information. I frankly don't know where Iwobi should play, because out wide he's totally ineffective and inside he can't tackle for toffee. Bernard has not delivered at all this season and is too weak. Without Gomes we won't dominate games, we'll just hopefully concede fewer than we score.

Still far better than Silva's attempts, but Ancelotti will need a complete rebuild, defenders, creative midfield and a proven goal scorer.

Well done Dunc, you deserve a key position in Ancelotti's team

In my opinion we made it too easy for Leicester and no closing down. Another vpp referee didn't help Everton tonight, but no excuses as Leicester were clinical.

Second half very much better, and Moise showed his potential. I still reckon DCL should have scored but that sums up the way it is.

Great heart, old game management issues cost us. A great chance to have got to the final. One day and I wonder whatever Cup this is, over years to come if we'll get to the final again.

All in all with a bare bones squad Duncan has performed a miracle in getting the players pride and self respect back, the last few weeks.

Now for Arsenal, on paper you'd back us to win, but let's see whose available.

In anticipation, will the club be making an announcement by Friday night potentially about the new boss?

To play the last 2 games as well as he has after not playing for over 12 months at 35 shows what a wonderful professional he is. His skill, ability and modest are the only things that outshine his professionalism. I will be sorry when he hangs up his boots and salute a true blue legend in my eyes.

We took some time to get going but Rogers had done his homework and we seemed jaded until Davies scored. There is a lot of work ahead for the new manager but with a fully fit squad he will have some decent players to choose from in addition to whoever he buys.

Unlucky lads, well battled and still unbeaten having played Leicester, Chelsea and Man Utd, that's not a bad achievement!

Oh, and well done Duncan Ferguson – written off as a freeloader by many and he has really shown that he has a lot to offer.

It was not luck that we were 2 down, it was because several “professional” footballers couldn't pass a ball that you'd expect a 10 year old kid to find easy and because our defenders stood and didn't move like statues.

I can't champion hard luck stories anymore sadly, I've done it for too many years and it's always just that, tales of woe.

We need better players.

Players like what we had out there tonight are only good enough to take you to about 7th and never win anything, they have massively underachieved this season let's face it, but even at their best they are 7th and nothing more.

We need a better recruiting process as of the next window.

What Dunc has done with such threadbare squad is amazing - contrast Ljungberg and his comparatively fit and stellar players. These few games have made men of Tom, Dom and Mason. They believe they can do it now. Just a few more with the same attitude required (and maybe Isco too).

I honestly believe if it had been extra time instead of penalties we would have won tonight. Not to be, but at least we dispelled the myth that we NEVER recover from going behind!

This is the sort of performance (Second Half) that I can reluctantly accept defeat, when they have tried so hard and had the Goodison Faithful (who were fantastic to a man btw) urging them on.

Alas it was the first half that let us down!

I used to think Moss was simply unfit, but he missed Schmeichel being off his line for most pens as well as giving them a ridiculous free-kick against Baines. The man is a total fraud, unfit, slow and unfair in his judgement.

On our team, a poor first half which exposed Keane for poor marking and statuesque posing. However, Iwobi aside (who stayed on the park for an hour too long), the boys put in one hell of a shift. Poor Seamus is lacking pace but makes up for it in other ways. Ditto Tom Davies. I kept thinking "If only Gomes was fit..."

It didn't sit well with me that Kean didn't take a penalty either, you'd think the lad would have been bursting to hit the net finally, yet two bob Tosun and two defenders step up.

If Moise is that much of a goal scorer then take the ball and score?

You can bet your life Lukaku would have grabbed that ball even at the age of 19.

Under Silva, the stadium would have emptied by 9:30. Under Ancellotti who knows? Under Duncan we are always going to be in there battling.

We don't have that creativity, Maddison does it for Leicester for Vardy and all 3 Liverpool forwards are capable of doing it for each other – we don't! So Kean will struggle until we do.

Did you actually watch the first half...? Everything that came afterwards was irrelevant... the game was lost

That is what needs to be addressed.

He did buy those players Peter.

But he didn't fancy Baines to begin with and was willing to listen to an offer from Middlesbrough in the 2008 close season. He started 13 league games under Moyes.

Bizarrely he stuck with Lescott as a left-back and played a combination of Stubbs, Yoboamd Jags at centre back.

It wasn't until well into the 2008-09 season, after a poor start to that season, that he settled on Jags and Lescott as a centre back pairing with Bainesy on the left.

It made me wonder if Moyes was behind the signing of Baines at all, because he only moved him there when more or less forced to.

He also unequivocally signed Jags as a defensive midfield player.

So yes, his tenure did bring about some excellent signings. But I'm not sure he was the one-man scouting mission that made it all happen.

Maybe Anceoletti can get something out of Kean, because at the moment he's never scored and never looks like scoring. Richarlison was very quiet as well.

The usual story of zero confidence in the penalty shoot out is baffling.

You say it's never been so bad... maybe you are too young to recall the early seventies under the interim management of Tommy Casey when only the brilliance of Howard Kendall the player kept us in the top division. Mike Walker's reign was far worse... and as for HK3!!

Gomes is a huge loss as he is our one player capable of controlling midfield. Silva has left us in a mess and recruitment certainly has been suspect. I agree with others in that Iwobi does not like the physical stuff and whilst he is a good player in a team which controls possession he is struggling at the moment.

We have to have a sense of perspective – the damage has been done and Duncan has done extremely well to steady the ship. We need reinforcements quickly in new players and return from injury. A lot of players seemed knackered tonight and we need fresh legs for Arsenal.

Everton rarely win on penalties so I for one wasn't surprised.

Davies and Holgate are really playing much better and seem to be playing for permanent places now which is good with the new boss coming in. Let's hope January sees him settle in quickly and get the team up the table.

Mina kicking the ball with his standing foot says it all really..

Picture this, in 4 weeks time we could be lining up at Mordor with Ancelloti in charge and Ibrahimovich up front.

We all want class, quality, calmness and creativity, but all of those things are not worth a carrot without fight, which is what allowed us to luckily stay in the game, before Baines stepped up with that wonderful goal.

A central defender playing midfield, was our best player imo, and this just about sums it up, and the only player I left Goodison really disappointed with tonight was Tosun, because he should have went and celebrated with Pickford, after he'd scored his pen, and not before he had took his pen, which was so unprofessional for an international footballer. I honestly couldn't believe how bad of a decision that was.

I am actually looking forward to the Ancellotti / Duncan partnership, there will be no shirkers or half-hearted displays, anyone who shows any sign of not putting in 110% will be joining the Space Mission and Booted Into Space!

Still encouraged by the second half, looking forward to Saturday, that will be another cracker if Arteta is in charge.

Yes, you spotted the same thing as me in regards to Schmeichel. It would have put me off had I been taking a pen. The ref was weak and should have stopped him getting right into our players faces. Goalie's do research into what direction the other teams players will take. No doubt Schmeichel would have been saying he knew what way our player/s would shoot and his sledging did the trick.

I'm surprised some people are being so negative. Mike Price. You're being so dramatic. Yes, we let ourselves down in the first half, but we came back and looked the better side for large parts of the 2nd half. Leicester are 2nd in the league and we don't have midfield. I'd have been really pissed off had we lost 0-2, but we did brilliantly in the 2nd half. It's onwards and upwards now. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ancelotti with Duncan as his assistant. Just imagine the players we might sign now, just for the Carlo factor?!

The changes Ferguson made on the pitch and the subs worked well for us and we pushed them hard.

Sky more or less saying Dunc still in charge for the Arsenal game.

High expectations. (Nice to feel again!) but a bizarre lacklustre start. Tiredness would be a poor excuse, but the passing and basics where once again lost. Maybe players taking a ‘sit back' instruction too literally, maybe Rogers system just countered the 4-4-2, maybe the talk of Ancelotti had their heads filled with air. Who knows, but it was shite.

The big fella shook them up at the break - changing Iwobi to the middle (not a winger) and moving DCL / Rich to the wings in what appeared to be a 4-5-1? Moise Kean getting a warm reception and at least looked like he was having a go. Much better second half, although Michael Keane had an absolute mare.

Then Baines with the magic. The old lady shaking at the rafters. Whole ground Singing to the radio whilst we waited for penalties at least we'd actually fought back. Good clap for the players at the end. Although notable how only DCL, Tom and Mason seemed to go over?

Referee allowing Schmeichel to intimidate and be off line, but strict with Pickford. Another arrogant knobhead trying to be the pantomime villain. Like we're playing against 12 every week.

Moving forward we are desperate throughout the spine. We need to find another Andre (or a ‘viera') in the middle, and a left sided centre half who's good enough to make mason and Mina compete for the right hand slot. Bollocks to Keane, too many horror shows now for me.

Most of all, we still need a proper striker. A right wing goal threat would be nice too. We need some luck getting players back fit too. Gylfi, Delph, Sidibe and Schneiderlin would be nice for now.

All in all, feeling more positive than I normally would after another cup exit. 2-3 players, and a good choice on manager will see us back up near the top. 3 games against top teams, and we've competed in all.

People saying "it's an injury ravaged squad" are forgetting that most of the injured players are the ones who were copping the most shit for their performances.

Credit where it's due to Dunc for inspiring some life into the side, but most managers have that bounce. I'd be stoked if it could continue but people who've said this week that he should have the job permanently mustn't remember the 100s of managers who've sparked a reaction at first try.

And to defend those of us who've criticised Dunc over the years and are now copping the "you said he was shit but now he's not", the job of a manager and the job of a coach takes a very different skill set, and if you think it was a coincidence that our playing style took a nosedive when he got the gig all those years ago then maybe evidence based research isn't your forté.

As a manager he seems to be a lot more effective, but tonight showed that these players are still a limited bunch with very little in game intelligence.

Leicester's two goals where the result of weaknesses we have seen all season. The conditions in the second half where calmer and Everton looked far better than Leicester.

Agree with Tony regarding Tosun. . . He really hasn't a clue, Pickford even looked at him as if he was saying 'What are you doing?'

He won't go back to Turkey because of the RIDICULOUS contract he's on, not because he loves Everton or the shirt. He's won the Moshiri lottery, he's set for life and he's barely a League One player.

As for our "football took a nosedive when he got the gig" – what a load of shite that is. He wasn't Alan Irvine or Steve Round... he was a coach. Given instructions and learning to be a coach. Absolute ridiculous to lay and of the style on him doing his badges.

Second half, we got back in the game and then it looked like there would be only one winner. If only we'd had extra time.

Brilliant goal from Leighton. It might just be his last. Shame about the penalty but does anyone remember as I think he missed his last two and the one before that that he did score, the keeper got a hand to it and even that was a poor penalty. Seems like he lost the knack. Tosun also missed. As for Kean, how do you know he didn't want penalty number 5?

Mr Ancelotti has a lot of work to do and/or needs to spend a lot of money wisely; but I'm sure he knows that.

Baines is just a top bloke isn't he? And probably the best player I've seen in blue. There was a point where he was so far and away our best player - driving the game from left back. Incredible pro. What a hit that was tonight.

Tom Davies did not deserve that. The abuse directed towards Iwobi was disgusting. Why go to a football match and just shout crap at players all game long?

Two very hard matches in four days with a depleted and very seriously handicapped midfield. What were fans really expecting? They could have been demoralised with those two quick goals against them, but they stuck at it, had a bit of luck defending, never got any attacking, nor help from a one-sided referee, but were still in the game right up to the end.

I was disappointed we lost but, in the circumstances, with the many missing players, I think most of the players deserve some credit for tonight.

And it will be harder again on midday Saturday back into the fray and not much time to prepare. Give the manager and squad some leeway, for God's sake.

It's always been a mystery to me, when it comes to penalties, and I must hasten to add not specifically just Everton. How is it decided?

You would think, unless he was a regular penalty specialist/taker, that duty would fall to the forwards or at the very least midfielders.

How often do we see the strikers, like shrinking violets letting young defenders, who probably apart from in Training, have NEVER taken a penalty that Counts in an important game! Shithouses in my eyes!

I sit in the Upper Gwladys and was pissed off at how many were walking down the Park End steps when Maddison scored. 26 minutes and they headed downstairs.

Negative wimps getting the hot dogs in for the chaps and taking selfies with them.

He's quiet too and I can't forget Carragher saying that him and Osman were overly friendly to him and Stevie in the handshakes before derbies. He said he knew they'd won before kick-off.

I acknowledge the injuries but the fight back does not excuse the shitshow before it and I'm afraid that I think fans are entitled to show anger in those circumstances.

Personally I would have used my Mobile Phone or a Camera to take a selfie! Not a hot-dog! 🌭💙😋

Hopefully Liverpool will play a young team against us in the FA Cup but I doubt it...

Cold truth is that we botched it. Yes, there was some mitigation... but we botched it even so. That's what has to change: we must rise to the occasion when it matters. Harsh, perhaps, but it's been our crippling disease for years.

Tired of moral victories. But I'll take the continued positives from the post-Silva era in terms of spirit, organization, motivation.

I think it's all too easy to forget that this is a *very* good Leicester side. And one that is clearly going for this trophy, too.

That has been something that has been lacking for so long, and considering the amount of money that has been wasted on several players, it is basically the youngsters and those who have been bought for low cost who are proving the most worthy. Coincidence?

As regards rising to the occasion, what about us fans too? We need a mentality change. In the '90s with a worse team, and worse results, we never gave up. We kept going. We stayed with the players and roared them on. We lost more often but we still turned out and cheered them on.

Now, as soon as we go a goal down, all the anger pours from the stands, well the Park End for sure, and that soaks into the players. It affects them. We need to think about that and do more to back our team and be the 12th man.

I'm sorry, but I was embarrassed tonight and had a friend with me in the Park End who hadn't been for a while and he was shocked.

One poor game and they got dog's abuse at the game and people pile into them on here. And if it had been Holgate or Calvert-Lewin having the poor game then they would have got it too – young pros the lot. I just do not understand it frankly.

It is an aspect of our psyche as fans that we may have been conditioned to as a result of failure and disappointment, but it is a mentality that will hold us back.

Hopefully winning a trophy one day will change it.

And all he has to look forward to is Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Delph, Sidibe and Walcott... not a holy trinity, more an unholy quintet.

I bet he's asking Santa... I've had three games now, surely that's enough punishment for anybody. Please, let this Ancelotti thing actually be true.

Full marks to to Davies, Holgate and Calvert-Lewin, they've out in 3 good shifts.

Penalties, physically are simple, pick a corner, stick to it, hit it hard... and always beat the first man. Penalties, mentally, are very hard, you have to practice them, you have to 'want' to take it, and you have to be confident in your own self (Baines is not noted for being over-confident).

Next game please, one game at a time. Are Arsenal still managerless??

Far too often, though, the initial wave of support dies in the throat when the players flop within the first 20 minutes. They certainly did that tonight. Indeed, Richarlison's goal in the first few minutes against Chelsea was the first time in a long time that the players reacted with a potency which matched the fans' early enthusiasm.

The ground is too quiet and we do have too many dickheads, but the players have primary responsibility.

There's kids in the stands. They shouldn't hear abuse like that as they think it's acceptable and they copy it. Often, they're picking on the lads trying and not the lads hiding.

And is it any wonder certain players hide or play it too safe when this is what happens when they try and force something to happen? Tom Davies is only 21. Still a kid to me. He's so strong mentally. He's a born leader. He has the attitude of a champion. I just hope he can keep getting better and have the career he deserves.

Unfortunately, the first half was anything but. Apart from an early half chance for Richarlison and a botched free header that Mina really should have done better with, we were second best by some distance. I think it has to be said that Leicester are a very good side. Sharp, fast, organised, there always seemed to be someone showing for a ball, their passing was crisp, first touches always seemed to stick, and they had an understanding of where their teammates were and where to play the ball. They also have a good level of shithousery, niggling, appealing, time-wasting, that you hate from the opposition but love when your own side do it.

We on the other hand seemed lacklustre, unsure, and short of the energy we'd seen in the past couple of games. I generally watch games on a dodgy stream on a phone or MOTD, occasionally on live TV, so have a policy of not slagging off players when I post on here.

However, tonight, both Keane and Mina gave me heart palpitations. Perhaps they were scared senseless by Vardy's pace, but they were as skittish and unsure of themselves as new born foals. At least twice Yerry misjudged ordinary balls into the box and at least twice skinny Vardy bullied big Mick off the ball.

I came into tonight with positive vibes for Iwobi but left Goodison with a different attitude. Big kudos to Seamie and Tom. Even though they struggled at times, (and Tom's passing was sometimes wayward, but usually forward), while others were hiding, they were showing for the ball, trying to make things happen and driving on. I was glad to see Bernard come off. He was nowhere near the pace of the game.

A special word for Jonathan Moss. If there's a worse referee in the higher echelons of the game, I don't know who that is. Not sure that the Gladwys Street end consistently pointing out his weight problem endears him to us.

Dominic was up against a big strong ariel bully tonight in Wes Morgan. He's a tough experienced veteran and several times he just jumped craftily into Dom, forearm into the back of his neck. A foul, but not one that's going to be given by an overweight out-of-puff ref halfway back down the pitch.

Moise Kean. I'm on record in supporting Dunc 100% on Sunday, but was delighted to get the chance to see him play. However, honestly, for the first 25 minutes he was on the pitch I wondered if he was another of George Weah's cousins. Half of the lads in my Wednesday nights over-40s game look fitter than him. And every touch he took bounced off him, not that he got many, as Morgan and Evans swallowed him up. Yet as we dragged ourselves back into the game, so did he, and there were flashes there that offer hope. I'd get a personal trainer and a high-intensity fitness program going straight away.

Even though we were outplayed and the Big Dunc bounce seemed to be deflating, the really encouraging aspect of tonight's performance was that neither the team nor the crowd gave up. Dogged determination got us back in the game and I was delighted it was Davies who scored it, as he hadn't stopped running all night. There was one chap close to me who concentrated all his ire on Tom for 70 minutes despite people around him protesting. He was pretty quiet after that.

3rd best moment of the match apart from the two goals, when Tom slots that one, Dunc rips his jacket off and prowls the tech area in his shirtsleeves for the rest of the game. I had 4 layers on, the outside one a down jacket and I was doing star jumps to keep my circulation going at half time.

4th best moment, welcoming young Anthony Gordon on. He's young, he's slight, he's light, but he does have something about him, and he acquitted himself well in the time he had. More please.

Sometimes you get a feeling, and I just knew around 80 minutes we'd get an equaliser. A couple of opportunities came, some frustration followed and I'd more or less given up when Baines took it on and drove forwards. The Scotsman beside me was screaming “Shoot!”, the Scouser behind me was shouting “Hit it L'ah”, and I roared “Give it a lash Leighton!” None of us expected a 30-yard laser into the top corner. Delirious Pandemonium.

Worryingly, I thought that all of our best performers on the pitch tonight pre-dated Brands and Silva. That's not Andre Gomes' fault because he could definitely have improved that side, but apart from that....

Not knowing the Carabao rules intimately, I drew breath and WhatsApped a few mates assuming extra-time was on the way. Suddenly it's pens. We all know what happens after that.

If Duncan gets a performance against Arsenal he can hand over to a new coach as a hero.

He was so up in Tosun's face, Cenk should have punched him. Does anybody know what the rules would dictate if he had? Would he have been sent off and another penalty taker required? Or would that one have been deemed a miss?

Despite what some on here say, he's not a boy anymore. He's 21 and played 100 games. That's a man in football.

Difficult to criticise a patched-up side who did well to come back against a very in-form Leicester.

Then we seemed to get the Duncan effect and the team started to have a go. Even though Leicester were the better team and deservedly 2-0 up, we were at least putting some energy into the game.

However, even allowing for the injury-ravaged squad, I thought we were miles away from Leicester's quality.

A half-time team talk by Duncan lifted the energy levels, the crowd responded and Leicester wilted.

A goal was hoped for but seemed to allude us but then the tireless Tom came up with a goal and it was game on with only one team in it.

When Leighton Baines scored a worldy, I thought we would go on to win it but Rogers spoiling tactics worked and the momentum was gone.

Onto penalties. I can never understand penalty misses unless it's a great save by the keeper and I couldn't understand why Tosun would take the first but luck once again deserted us – and with it Carlo's chance of a trophy in his first season with us.

I really worry about Arsenal at the weekend because our midfield is so depleted and we are running on empty now, but that's another game.

He is far closer to the players than anyone else. He is constantly on TV and every emotion is there for all to see. He shows passion, desire and total commitment to the players and the team. His positivity seems to work and must be followed by the same fervor by each and every fan.

For all those who feel compelled to have hissy fits and do nothing but pull down players and complain about Everton in general, then seriously think about following Lawn Bowling or synchronised swimming. I agree it is hard being an Evertonian over the last number of years but, for me, there is no other alternative. ALWAYS BLUE FOREVER.

Has the Italian arrived yet..

Big Dunc is a fan first and he has done well as interim boss... good to see he has shut up the boo boys who as usual spout shite not knowing the facts...

Myself and a couple of other posters were talking about Schmeichel getting right in the face of the penalty taker to psych them out, by no doubt telling them which side they were going to shoot before they took the kick. Someone also mentioned that by walking back slowly Schmeichel gave the illusion that goal was smaller space to aim at which is also a good comment. It wasn't about him jumping off his line before the kick. Personally, I think the ref should have stopped it.

Of course I wouldn't be saying this if Jordan Pickford had being doing it to the Leicester penalty takers. I also remember Jonny Heitinga putting Ashley Cole off taking a penalty against us an FA Cup game. Cole missed and we ended up winning the shoot out. It's just sledging, but it's really annoying when it makes your own players hesitant when they're about to take a pen.

There's a lot written negatively, particularly Roman... I think that's unfair. We have an injury-ravaged squad. It was a great comeback, with two great goals from us, and if we'd taken the Mina header or not conceded as we did... or even played injury time, I think we'd have won.

Baines rolled back the years with a magnificent (to coin a superlative) strike. Peter Warren
57, spot on... and Moyes often eventually did things almost in a petulant way, weeks after it was apparent, expecting to fail but that (mostly) would work.

Big Dunc has been brilliant in the time he's had. He's been brilliant at getting performances against better teams with a patchwork squad to work with. We dragged ourselves back from being two goals down against a team that sit second and the league, four points clear of Man City.

Two cracking goals from us which gave us hope, in a somewhat better second half. But, oh, our penalty-taking!

Ah well, I'll move on to the Arsenal game.

Those saying Leicester are a better team; really? At he start of the season pundits and papers were predicting Everton AND Leicester to challenge the Top 6; maybe even Top 4.

Leicester have: Schmeichel, Chillwell, Maddison and Vardy. I'd struggle to name any of the rest of their first 11 that would add depth to the Everton squad.

OK, Everton have a chronic injury list, but what Leicester do have more of in abundance than Everton is 'organisation'.

Seriously when Jonny Evans was up for sale from United who here would have wanted him? Yet he plays in a Leicester defense that is well drilled and organised and looks a decent player. Whilst our central defenders sometimes look like they've never met; never mind played together.

I dunno who coached the defense under Silva and who is coaching them now; but a strong football team is built on a solid rearguard; something Everton is seriously lacking.

It's no coincidence that Everton played well on the run in last season when the defense appeared to finally gel; then acted negligently in replacing a central defender who was never likely to come because of Chelsea's issues.

Coleman only average doesn't want to cross a first time.

Keane: useless, not strong enough, couldn't mark a bingo board a poor centre half.

Mina: just as incompetent, 2 headers that every centre half in the country would have buried, same as Keane - couldn't mark a bingo board, both players' distribution was crap.

Iwobi: works hard but his passing is awful but he has no structure around him.

Davies: not a Premier League player will cost us dearly by getting double yellow cards, a lazy player, so many passes going astray.

Bernard: just a bad game.

Holgate: seems lost at times in midfield, makes the wrong decisions sometimes on passes and shooting.

Richardson: poor player and a waste of money, sulking and skulking, needs a pair of boots on his arse – that's where 50% of his time is spent – for a Brazilian, his first touch is awful.

Calvert-Lewin: typical game for him, work, work, work getting nowhere.

Big Duncan just wanted the fans to lift the team. Get out of the suit, man there were more gestures to the fans than the players. Not the answer to our problems.

Director of Football at the club should be sacked. I noticed Franny Jeffery is part of the staff – that speaks volumes of the lack of quality throughout the club.

Duncan may manage Everton for another 3 games, but he has shown less fear and less caution than Moyes did in 11 years.

Maybe we never win penalty shoot outs close we never get to practice them in matches. Maybe that's why Liverpool always win a shootout?

Given the injuries, 3-1 against Chelsea, 1-1 against Utd., and 2-2 against Leicester are reasons for optimism.

Evertons squad cost a lot more than Leicester's and man for man, position for position, Leicester should not be streets ahead.

They are ahead because they are better organised by an intelligent manager and they play to their strengths. If Leicester had continued under Puel, they would not be the force they are now.

Vardy looks a different player and the team are playing with an air of confidence that their former manager didn't instill.

It's no coincidence.

The thing is, it was dire in the 90's. We had a team that almost deserved to go down. We weren't good enough, we regularly got stuffed. We went to games knowing we'd probably lose, and lose at home. But yet, we still packed the stadium out. We turned up and we played our part and we roared the blues on.

Does anyone recall that crowd for Wimbledon '94? We were 2-0 down. We were relegated. We did not give up. We dragged the players up off the floor and got them going and they achieved the turn around that has gone down in Everton history.

Imagine that game, those players, but this crowd now. We would not have won that game, we'd have gone on to get hammered. My favourite ever player was Anders Limpar. I can only imagine the stick he'd have got in that game from the guys sitting around me now. He was dreadful in that game until he "won" the penalty as he tried to make amends. Limpar was often dreadful, blowing hot and cold as wingers often do. But the crowd loved him, forgave his mistakes and marvelled at his genius.

Now you cannot have an off-day, you cannot hit a stray pass, you cannot mistime a tackle. The boo boys will be on you. The mentality of the crowd has changed, and we need to change it back. Groan when something back happens, you can't really help that anyway. Complain if you must. But do not sit there and wait for your favourite scapegoat to make one mistake and then let him have a non-stop tirade of vile abuse. It's got to stop.

Tom Davies is often the favourite for this. And he has been getting it since he was 19 years of age. The lad tries his heart out. He has never given less than 100% and for me, you cannot ever criticise someone who is doing their very best. If the player is not good enough, then that's down to the manager or his tactics, or down to the recruitment for not getting a better player in.

Come on blues, you want a winning team? Be a winning crowd.

There is no excuse for it, you don't win many games unless you are maximum for the whole 90 mins. We improved after the break, probably after Duncan got stuck into them, and I thought we deserved the equaliser.

I agree with the above comments about negativity. We have a midfield that is decimated by injury, two first choice full backs injured and still we came very close to knocking out the current no2 team in the country.

When things stabilise with the new manager and key players start coming back from injury we will be more than a match for any of the 18 clubs outside of last seasons top 2. Especially as the new manager will bring a player or two with him in January.

Come on Carlo sign on the dotted line, although I would have taken Dunc. as manager gladly - that is if he would have taken the job.

The new manager coming in has a lot of work to do, not least getting the fitness levels up to an acceptable standard whereby we can challenge for a full game. In the grand scheme of things, I am very happy that we managed to get back on level terms, in my opinion that was something that wouldn't have happened a few weeks ago and when Baines shot went in the atmosphere was incredible. Penalties are always a lottery, win or lose I just don't like them. I don't have a problem with what Schmeichel was doing, as has been mentioned previously, Johnny Heitiga intimidated against Chelsea, all fair and all that.

I do have to mention well done to Holgate too, he was the only vocal one on the pitch really, getting stuck into the ref for some awful officiating, maybe future captain at some point?

We can feel optimistic, we have turned things around, technically still unbeaten since Silva has gone and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing off arsenal too on Saturday.
Up the blues

We had a patched up midfield due to almost our entire midfield out through illness or injury.

Hate to single players out but Iwobi was having a nightmare, just one of those nights, could happen to any player, once he was replaced we seemed to get hold of the game and put a Leicester on the backfoot.

With what we had available in a Midfield at Old Trafford and Goodison, Davies and a Holgate stood up and gave it a damn good go.

Although we are out, that moment at a Goodison when Baines pulled the trigger was a hair on the back of your neck moment, the ground erupted.

Long after this match is forgotten, flashbacks of that goal and the roar will bring a smile to fellow Evertonians who were inside Goodison to witness it.

I have no doubts Leicester will go on to win it, I have no doubts Dunc has done brilliant with his patched up squad he had available, so even with the first poor half, everyone should be proud of the effort that team over the past few weeks have put in.

Contextually this. Duncan has got on with the job without complaint. Injuries, games aplenty and not one hint of moaning. He was just happy to be given the chance. Be still me beating heart? Fuck no. Whilst we are still miles away from being good, the restoration of feeling in the club is intangible.

Steve, your post is excellent, still drunk you ask Jp? Maybe. It captures where we are but, come on lads that was boss wasn't it?
As Vardy stroked home the winning pen I was not even a tiny bit gutted. All the lads around me were instantly felled but within minutes we were talking about how good it felt to be connected again.

Look for those wanting to shred the game plan and tactics fair dos, there's plenty to chew on, however Duncan has had zero time to change an iota, so 4-4-2 it must be. The players are shattered, yes yes smarter not harder I hear you, totally I do. However the platform he, Duncan, has given the next manager is clear.

Hair of dog I think.

Now Duncan's formation & tactics may be old, some may think outdated, but he has given the team a sense of purpose. Leicester had it in spades last night; their movement off the ball was far better. You'll notice it in City & Lpool. There's more to it than just fitness.

If Carlo comes in, he'll need to fuse that purpose with more skill and nous, which I'm sure he will.

As for penalties, they're not a lottery. They're a test of technique and mental strength. We were second best there too.

For all that, we showed great resolve in turning it around last night. Unbeaten against three good sides is pretty good in my book, especially with a depleted team.

I think though your recollections of the Goodison Park crowd in the mid 90s are themselves patchy. No, we didn't pack the stadium out every game. Nor is it true that we only ever gave the side our full support. And the truth is that we turned round the Wimbledon game purely because of Limpar's dive for the penalty that got us back in the game soon after we'd gone 2 down.

Our vocal support recently has been exceptional. No, it's not in full throw for 90 minutes – the tension gets the better of us for that to be possible. And, as events last night confirmed, we are not a club that does the impossible; often nearly but never quite.

You say “He has never given less than 100% and for me, you cannot ever criticise someone who is doing their very best.” Well, sadly they can be criticised – and should be criticised – maybe not for a lack of effort but certainly for a lack of quality on the ball, a lack of game-smarts (something Davies is often guilty of), and absolutely for a lack of ability to learn from mistakes (something Davies is definitely guilty of).

I sometimes wonder what the coaches say to him, such is his propensity to dive in, not get the ball, be spun by his man and leave a huge gaping hole in behind him. Great goal, and he is certainly a trier, but I am increasingly seeing a player who lacks the pace, skill and passing range to be a top Premier League midfielder. I hope I am wrong.

As for the rest of what's happening, I haven't got a fucking clue...

There is no excuse for players at this level for not being able to last a full 90 minutes competitively. Leicester looked much sharper and fitter. As such, decisions made by the players looked tired, they weren't thinking sharply, and certainly not playing smartly. When you're properly fit, these things go hand in hand, you think more clearly when you're not gasping for air.

As to penalties, well again I respectfully disagree. All the great teams have bad days from the spot, well all apart from the devils spawn the RS. Would you say that Moyes's teams were mentally stronger than Ferguson's Man Utd team at Wembley? That we were more mentally stronger than the Chavs when we beat them in pens at Stamford Bridge? In general probably not but on the day we prevailed. For me it's all about on the day. Well, that's my opinion, but I respect yours too.

I thought Seamus should have led by example, and considering the shot from about 30 yards at an impossible angle that arrowed into the Swansea net, (among others) 12 yards wouldn't be a problem.

If Baines had taken the first, without being unnerved by Cenk Tosun's pathetic effort (What was he doing taking a pen ahead of first teamers?) and Coleman second, I reckon it may have been a different story.

Whatever we may think, an Everton crowd or indeed any other crowd are not an homogeneous group, they vary enormously in educational abilities, lifestyle choice and most other socio-economic aspects. To expect them to behave as one is unrealistic and to castigate the majority for the unwanted behaviour of the few is ridiculous.

When the crowd is quiet it is usually because the players are under-performing and there is very little to react positively to, out on the pitch. It can even mean that the supporters are engrossed in the game and are paying full attention to the game itself.

When Everton have a good to very good team the crowd will react accordingly and be more voiciferous in their support, when the team is lacking in key aspects, the crowd will quite naturally be quieter.

If an actor constantly fluffed their lines on stage or a musician kept on playing bum notes would the paying audience be shouting out encouragement and therefore helping to improve the performance of the performer, I doubt it, but perhaps I'm in the minority in that view.

It took an awful long time last night for the Everton players to show that they were in a cup-tie, and when they did the crowd responded positvely to it, that's all it needs, the players to show willing and stitch a few passes together, throw in a few tackles and look as though they're interested.

"John Boon #125 – best post on the thread by a distance; well said, mate!!"

And here's me thinking it was one of the worst posts on the thread, especially his condescending and dismissive final paragraph.

In the 150-odd posts in this thread only 1-2 are being excessively negative. The vast majority are making, IMO, an honest and accurate evaluation of the game.

Many acknowledge the team – and midfield in particularly – has been decimated by injury and sickness and that players are being asked to play out of position.

Many acknowledge in his 3 games with very few options available to him, that Duncan Ferguson has both inspired and coached the team well.

Many acknowledge because Ferguson is having to rely on so few options every game that it tests their energy levels with games coming thick and fast at this time of year.

I consider myself an extremely positive Blue. I sincerely believe we can win every game we play. I don't have default players who I see no good in. I don't resort to abusing young players. I call each and every game and individual performances within each game as I see it.

And last night – even allowing for the aforementioned conditions – we were largely poor.

Unlike the previous two games, for the first 30 minutes we did not press Leicester tigerishly enough. We passively sat off them, mostly within our own half. This allowed them to establish a comfortable platform to settle into a rhythm.

The first goal resulted from Mason Holgate, possibly by instinct, dropping deeper into a central defender's position rather than keeping tight to his man, James Maddison. Give a player of Maddison's quality room and time in that area and he will hurt you, as he duly did.

The goal from a corner was a soft one. Evans is clearly Michael Keane's man. A clever push by Evans sends Keane a step or two away from him and he is left with ample time and space to finish at the far post.

Only then did we stir. The energy and effort improved, but the football, which from Everton until that point, had been non-existent, improved only marginally. Even so, Mina should have produced a better header to make it 2-1 at half-time.

Either one or both of Bernard or Iwobi needed hooking at half-time, so ineffectual both had been, and Duncan selected the wee Brazilian.

Whilst endeavour was long, the football was still sparse throughout the second half. As always, the much-maligned Tom Davies didn't hide and the finish for his goal was excellent. Leicester still looked far and away the better team and it took something special to equalise the game because it didn't look to be coming from actual guile.

Having gained the advantage by saving the first penalty, Tosun and Baines immediately conceded that with two poor penalty kicks.

Of the players, Pickford was superb. He made three great saves that could have seen us 3-0 down.

Coleman mixed. He looks increasingly exposed when defending against speedy forwards.

Baines sound. His quality continues to shine. Stonking goal, dreadful penalty.

Mina awful, at both ends of the park. Air shot clearances. Stooping to head away ankle high balls. Two glorious chances to score with his head spurned. That was as bad as he has played since arriving.

Keane extremely mixed. He won some difficult challenges, brought the ball out on occasion and played some nice passes. At the other extreme, he was too easily shoved off the ball or not sufficiently alert to what was happening around him.

Iwobi and Bernard I thought were dreadful. Iwobi was perhaps fortunate the bench was so thin that he didn't get hooked earlier.

Holgate again did well in an unfamiliar position, but he was culpable for their first goal.

Davies, not outstanding, probably carrying an injury, but by 'eck he doesn't half try. Great goal and whilst not everything he attempted came off, he still showed the courage to seek out the ball and try to do something with it. If, as some are reporting, he has many a boo boy at Goodison then they are blind to what he gives the team.

Richarlison, apart from the cross for Tom's goal, was largely subdued.

Calvert-Lewin once more doing sterling work at centre forward.

Moise Kean, largely peripheral with some glimpses of what he is capable of.

Tosun, made the crossfield pass to set up Baines for his goal. Poor pen. Anonymous otherwise.

Gordon too little time to make an impression, but as this video interview shows, he is happy as Larry to have appeared at Goodison for the first team:

Link

Heroic failure this may well be, but put simply, I want more. I conclude this was a missed opportunity to be within two games of a Wembley final and silverware.

Too negative for the likes of John Boon? Tough titty!

I won't be taking up his sneering advice to take up "Lawn Bowling or synchronised swimming". I will bring my burning passion for the Blues to each and every game they play, believing they can win every one of them.

And if anyone thinks my assessment is too harsh, listen to this video interview with the manager himself whose description of the game pretty much echoes my own.

Link

Regarding shootouts, I've had this argument lots of times over the years. There's an element of randomness in penalties when they are miss-hit, the ball moves, or when players take them when they're injured/too tired. And on the day, like the examples you quoted, one side will be stronger than the other.

I'd argue that over time, the strongest mindset and technique wins. Look at Germany, or grrr, that lot over the park. You just know, don't you? Look at all of England's failures, with talented individual players, then look at how Southgate and his team worked with them before the last World Cup. We won the shootout against Colombia.

I'm a great believer in randomness and the need to notice it and go with it. I also believe in good technique and mindset; they're both things that you can learn and control.

To your point. I'm a terrible match day attendee if noise is what defines fandom as I'm usually a stressed out bundle of nerves saying a Hail Mary quietly every time we lose the ball. I enjoy and appreciate the raucous fans but it's just not in my mantra, I'm afraid.

All you need to know:

1. We were playing on short rest, no rotation, with the last 2 games highly charged and effort maximized in both. Tired legs coming out was always a real possibility

2. Players were playing with knocks

3. The squad was threadbare. And when I say threadbare, I mean tumbleweed blowing by in the desert wind bare

4. That team battled their brains out. I've not seen effort like this, in the three games under Dunc, possibly ever.

Having a pop at players who leave everything they have on the pitch, despite many, many quality-lacking moments, is silly. Again, for me.

We'll improve. We have a world class manager coming in. We will get healthy. We will invest. Youngsters will improve.

I entirely understand the disappointment. It's palpable.

The the negative, “He's shite” comments? Throw that at some tossed who doesn't try. Our boys battled like their lives depended on it.

FFS be proud of that.

I questioned Silvas motivational skills from day one even though many of his supporters thought the opposite

His one track tactics with no consideration for anything else have been proven one dimensional

His inability to use the squad available to him has been shown up

Although only a guess I doubt he would have picked up 4 points in our last 2 league games and given a full strength Leicester team a run for their money

No matter how the rest of this season pans out getting rid of Silva was definitely correct and should have happened much earlier

But, not two “the”

Jesus auto correct!

We are getting a world class manager, to work alongside a man who has exceeded a lot of people's expectations, and who is also a world class Evertonian.

Fight wins games, but it's usually quality that wins the bigger games, so let's just get behind the team until the quality arrives, because even an Italian, could'nt fix Everton in a day!

Interestingly, after that game, Klinsmann was asked how they coped with going a goal down at a packed, rocking Wembley. He said they looked into the eyes of the England players and could see they couldn't believe they'd win.

Now that's mindset.

I was one of those disgraceful fans according to some on this thread who sat in the park end last night.

I pay my money, moaned when we sat too deep, shouted at Iwobi a few times, laughed at Michael Keane's attempted outside of the foot pass in the final minutes that went off at right angles, I jumped up like a loon and celebrated with my son's when Davies scored and went ballistic when Baines hit the top bin for the equaliser. I also came out of the match dissapointed and also with a sore throat from singing.

For me that is exactly why I go to the game. Ok we lost but the players put another good shift in and I felt the passion.

I don't judge others who have half full, half empty attitudes. If fans sing or don't sing, moan or don't moan. It's all part of going the game.

Roll on Saturday for Duncan's final game in charge. I can't wait.

I think the most telling thing you can say about us now is that we will give anyone a game under Dunc and are no longer the soft touches of the Premier League people look forward to facing. That was certainly not the case under the last manager!

When you think that we had people playing with injuries, people playing out of position, and people running on empty, yet still held a very good team in top form to a draw over 90 minutes, it is actually pretty impressive.

I used to blank everything out when it came to a penalty shoot-out, talk to nobody and visualise over and over again, where I was going to put my pen, and it worked every time, and that's why I couldn't believe Tosun last night, because it was just so unprofessional imo.

Again coming out the ground, I heard a few Evertonians saying, they knew we wouldn't win on penalties, which immediately got me thinking back to the day we beat United in a shoot-out at Wembley, or the night we knocked Newcastle out of the Carling cup, when Wayne Rooney was a youngster.

I've seen Everton win on penalties, not often but I've seen it happen, but too many only have bad memories, and this is the mindset that needs changing.

I've wrote before that I once asked my mate, who was very close to an Everton player, that I wanted to see the player. When he asked me why, I said it was because I wanted him to ask David Moyes, could I do part of the team-talk before Everton played Liverpool in the cup semi at Wembley.

I'd come out of the stadium of light, rejoicing in possibly the finest support I'd ever witnessed Everton receive, (an I've seen a few!) and had a picture of that old Guinness advert with the harp, with my only thoughts being we will beat those bastards at Wembley, but only if we “BELIEVE”.

We never won, another mistake killed us when we should have been looking to score a second, instead of trying to contain Liverpool, and I will never forget Phil Neville saying after the game that they knew Liverpool were going to throw the kitchen sink at them?

Fucking hell Phil, surely Accrington Stanley would try and throw the kitchen sink at you, if you was beating them in an FA CUP semi? And another big game was lost through a lack of fucking belief.

They could just try the Joe Royle method, which was to kick it as hard as possible. "If I don't know where it's going, neither does the keeper"!

"Groan when something back happens, you can't really help that anyway. Complain if you must. But do not sit there and wait for your favourite scapegoat to make one mistake and then let him have a non-stop tirade of vile abuse. It's got to stop."

Do you think it's fair to give a non-stop tirade of vile abuse? Or did you misread this as me saying you cannot have a moan and a whinge. Because there was a lot more than a moan and whinge going on last night and from more than a handful of guys.

In fact, I believe that supporters at the game have a DUTY to either support the team vocally or keep quiet. It's a matter of 'responsibility' versus 'right'. We have a responsibility to support the team through highs and lows, but we don't have a right to voice negative criticism or abuse. And paying to watch the game does not confer such a right.

Shouting at players achieves nothing positive, but can and often does make things worse.

Paul, the Joe Royle method was also my method. I recall David Unsworth describing his technique as "I hit it as hard as I can, straight down the middle, and then watch it fly into the corner!". I did the same every time I took a penalty, hard and low, but I don't think I ever managed to hit it straight and low and usually it ended up high to my right.

Like Mason, Joe hit it high and handsome just below the bar. It was hit with such force you expected the goalposts to be uprooted.

I side with those saying you CAN prepare both the technique and the mindset to give you the edge in a penalty shoot out. Leicester's keeper and penalty takers had that last night. We didn't.

Abuse is unnecessary. I am not suggesting players be subject to a torrent of unscrupulous abuse. But support can- and must - include negativity.

People enjoy the game in many ways. There is obviously a line for common decency but don't tar everyone who sits in the park end as some kind of idiot.

Like most fans if I see a player giving 100% I can't ask for anymore. If a player makes a fantastic pass or scores a goal I will jump up and down like the majority. If a player makes a mistake I have no problem in letting the people around me know about it.

I think the first thing Carlo will do trade Keane for a bollard, the bollard is at least of use some of the time. The lad is ruined I'm afraid.

The chances we had though in the second half.

For the height of him, Mina is terrible in the air. He never looks like scoring and his defensive headers are so weak it's shocking.

Paul McGrath could head a ball further than Mina could kick it. Now there was a centre half.

As many have said before, Keane is just so weak and gets pushed off the ball way to easily.

Having said all that, I enjoyed the second half last night and we showed great fighting spirit. Duncan is doing a fantastic job.

2. Why should I move because of idiots who lack common decency?

3. Keep vile abuse out of public places. There's children about and they shouldn't be allowed to think that this is acceptable behaviour.

Get on it dudes, be good to see you boys over, especially via courtesy of a Win.

'fraid he doesn't, Dave.

His opening paragraph makes a blanket complaint about there being 'far too much negativity' from people who 'have nothing else to do but complain.'

The (false) assumption here is that this thread is full of negative complaints. It isn't.

Ironically, the thread is full of acknowledgment of the very points that John makes: that injuries and sickness are restricting our team selection options; that Duncan Ferguson has inspired and coached the team well.

But even allowing for that, many a (balanced!) poster legitimately also comments that the performance of the team and some individuals was generally poor last night. A view shared by the manager himself, as you can hear in the post-match video interview I linked.

Again, in his final paragraph, John presumes to describe and instruct such posters as 'those who feel compelled to have hissy fits and do nothing but pull down players and complain about Everton in general, then seriously think about following Lawn Bowling or synchronised swimming.'

John does two things here:

1) reinforces his (mistaken!) belief that any posters in this thread offering an honest assessment of last night's game are perennially negative, always complaining

2) basically tells such imaginary Blues to 'feck off' and follow another pursuit.

And then he has the gall to sign himself off as 'ALWAYS BLUE FOREVER', vainly elevating himself as superior to other Blues.

I won't pretend. It gets right up my nose when a fellow Blue looks down their nose at others as I believe John does here.

Doubly so when what he claims is simply not the case.

I will keep an eye out for people getting ejected.

I sit in the Upper Bullens and for the last 5 minutes of the normal time everyone was on their feet singing along, now believe me that doesn't happen very often. I was as pleased for Ferguson as for the fans that we got back into a game that for large parts we weren't even competing.

Ferguson is about to be replaced by Ancelotti but he has put the pride back into this club and this group of players. There are still too many players who are not good enough, but on such a stirring fight-back I don't think this is the time to criticize.

Do I take it by your last response that you dispute that there was unacceptable vile abuse? Or are you still insisting that this is just part of going the match and I should just put up with it?

I'm afraid some fans are just morons.

I was unaware of the HELP to 60030 line. I wonder how many times it has been used.

I know if I was surrounded by people like that at the game I would move seats.

My point was more about fans letting off steam, positively or not away from the normality of the 9-5.

I don't condone any form of vile abuse.

I'm talking about stuff beyond that. I know about the helpline number because my seat and the entire section I was in, had a yellow card with the helpline number and requested we report any further incidents. I was very embarrassed to have had that on my seat, and hoped that no one was thinking I exhibited such behaviour and so I made efforts not to swear for at least the next 5 matches!

I will always be critical of obscene WRITTEN derision directed to any Everton player or irrational invective directed toward MY passion that is Everton. Just to fill you in read below.

I was born in 1939 about two miles from Evertons ground. I saw my first game when Everton played Bolton in 1946. As well as playing football I was able to go to see MY beloved Blues as often as possible. On one occasion I rode my bike to Burnley with a couple of other fanatics. From my house it was 65 miles each way just to watch a game.I followed the Toffees all over England

As a young man I emigrated to Canada but my dedication has never waned. After I married I had two sons John Everton and Andrew Goodison. I also had a daughter. My wife would not let me call her Gladwys. I now have quite a few Grandchildren. All fanatical Evertonians. I now watch every game on television. Believe it or not I rant and rave, scream at bad plays and go into raptures when we score. I try to get back to see Everton whenever I can. In fact I am bringing my sons and my son in law over to see the Derby game in March.I will probably have to watch the game in an Everton pub, It will still be worth the money.

I actually play lawn bowling and still enjoy a good swim. I do not write too often on TW and I sincerely apologise for appearing to be a lukewarm dismissive fan. I only write when I feel I have something to offer. You have managed to jab your knife in a little too far. I try to be humble but I am prepared to say that I AM TEN TIMES THE EVERTONIAN THAN YOU WILL EVER BE, and I have no doubt that you are an avid Blue. Please do not put my rant down to old age. Besides being an Evertonian that is one thing I cannot change.

He's no Per Koldrup.