Atonement, Step 1

Frustrations with Everton over the years is that we win one week then switch off for the next two or three and lose any possible momentum.

A fantastic save from Pickford, great defending from Digne at the back post under pressure from Dunk and a howler from Murray gave us the points after a series of poor finishes from ourselves.

Sigurdsson played with a lot more discipline in the middle. He has obviously been told to hold his position and play it simple. They have a long way to go to atone for the worse performance in 40 years.

Let us hope that the manager can improve the players currently at his disposal, formulate a method of playing that takes accounts of their abilities and identifies definite targets for the summer in the next 16 games.

Brighton hit the bar and Murray should of scored late on. So, where we worked hard to grind out a result, it could of gone either way.

Richarlison, aside from his acting, is proving to be valuable to Everton with his skilful goals. Let's hope his head isn't turned and we can build a team around him.

The positive side is that are teams below us in the league who are struggling and we have fought well over the last few weeks to regain a safe league position. Now it's down to the board and manager to provide a good recruiting strategy in the short term and long term.

Killing games off has long been a problem for Everton but it all comes down to the fact that we just don't score enough goals.

Last season the two chief goal getters were Richardson and Sigurdsson, this season it's Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin.

I don't think we have anyone else in the squad with more than two goals?

Bernard 2, Sigurdsson 1, Iwobi 1, Davies 1, Walcott none, Delph none, Schneiderlin none, Gomes up until November none.

The defenders never score, nothing from our centre halves, fullbacks haven't scored and we don't have any super sub striker to poach goals.

It's a big factor in why we can't kill games off.

Walcott and Bermard rarely complete 90 minutes and so it was no surprise that they came off but we didn't have any fit similar players to replace them. The formation stayed the same, with Davies and Sidbe being pushed into the wide midfield roles.

It was either that or risk losing Walcott and Bernard to further injury.

Digne has also to protect his groin so he too came off. PErhaps Baines would have been more like for like, but Mina offered more strength and height.

A lot of people seem to be forgetting how many injuries we are having to deal with recently.

Regarding other teams winning silverware, that's nothing to do with us. All that matters to us is us winning games, one game at a time, and eventually winning silverware. When we lose, we move onto the next game and try to win that. If folks get stick from supporters of opposing teams, then learn to give back as much as is given. It comes with practice, and they don't like it.

The mentality of the entire club including supporters needs to be less defeatest. We need to be tougher mentally, both on and off the pitch. There are clearly factors beyond our control that put hurdles in our way, such as clearly biased officiating and injuries, but we need to focus on those things that are within our control.

We now have a world class manager. Let's use that fact to change to a winning mentality.

It would however have been a travesty, if Brighton has nicked a point at the end in lieu, of those dubious decisions. Like I said on the other thread, it was no Classic by any means but 3 points and a confidence booster, WAS the right outcome.

West ham will be interesting next week, for many reasons but mainly because Moyes is back ' home ' in charge there. They have proved to be a very Jekyll and Hyde side, let's hope the latter is the case at the London Stadium.

If we can somehow get some points (3) there, and then face an injury depleted Newcastle, the week after, we WILL be right in the mix at the right end of the Table. Not getting too carried away at this stage but there is no reason why my optimism can't become reality.

But there's always VAR and inconsistent refereeing to contend with too.

Our next four games are all very winnable, we are a team on the up. Carlo and Duncan are turning things around there is a green shoot here and there. I am definitely looking up the table now.

We have better players, a better squad and a better manager than those four teams. We have some league momentum. I think these four matches are now a real opportunity for us to push on and challenge for a top 6 spot. There's 10 points for us from those 4 games.

A massive plus for the club is Richarlison and DC-L playing well up front as a partnership in the fluid 4-4-2. The formation and system benefits both of them and their influence. They are both a threat, both scoring important goals and a handful for all defences.

Both young, , both athletic with skill, both improving and we are witnessing the start of a great long term striking partnership. They will be unstoppable at 24, 25 years old. That partnership can be a bedrock for our future success and I am looking forward to watching it blossom.

It should be locked in and nurtured, because there will be big interest in Richie soon.

Knowing us we'll probably get 4 points from a possible 9.

You should know Everton better than to make bold predictions like that lol

I have been critical of Bernard because with his talent he should be creating and scoring a lot more. But yesterday was his best performance in a long time, I also think Ancelotti playing him 15 yards in from the touchline helped him considerably. As this allowed him to play more centrally and made it easier for him to link up with DCL and Richarlison. I thought we were unlucky not to go into half time with a bigger lead, had the final pass been a little more accurate we could have gone in 2 or 3 up. And as we all know when you don't put sides away when your on top in usually comes back to bite you. Thankfully that didnt happen.

I thought that was Richarlisons best game since Silva left, he worked tirelessly and always looked a threat. Sigurdsson and Davies combined well in midfield and with every game Mason Holgate looks our best defender. I thought Keane had a decent game but he does still worry me at times. I think the Italian in Marco showed with 3 defenders coming on for 3 attackers, but it worked so no complaints. We are slowly starting to put the spectre of relegation behind us and can hopefully start looking up the table not down. As the weeks go bye Marco will be learning more about each individual player and he is yet to see Gomes, Gbamin or JJ Kenny, hopefully he may see a lot more of Gomes in the coming weeks as he returns to training next week.

Finally don't know if those watching the game on a streaming service picked up on the booing when Delph was introduced. I cant see what is to be gained by booing one of our own players, if that manager thinks he can do a job then back the managers decision. The last player I can remember being booed was Dennis Stevens on his debut, he was replacing the much loved Bobby Collins.

"If folks get stick from supporters of opposing teams, then learn to give back as much as is given. It comes with practice, and they don't like it"

Well said Stan. As much as we all hate and dispise the RS, one thing we can never beat them in an argument is the number of trophies they have won. However, as you say, I can give it back threefold
by saying what a vile club it is, with horrible vile rats for supporters. That club does absolutely nothing for the local community / fans. They are more interested in raking the money in from all around the world, something which I have first hand knowledge of by the way, but that storys for another day.

Their stewards treat away fans like animals, when in fact the biggest shower of "animals" are on the other three sides of the ground. In fact, I'm being cruel to animals, because animals don't act the way those shitbags do.I

Feel free to add anything else we hate about that obnoxious club. Maybe it could be a thread on its own, but I doubt Lyndon or Michael would like that idea?

The last twenty minutes had most Blues in the ground looking anxiously at the clock, the squad is not a strong one and it showed with how the substitutes had to be used, with every one of them the defence became more unsettled and Brighton became the stronger team and the one more likely to score, thankfully, thanks to a good save from Pickford and a bad miss by Murray we survived, but it showed what sort of squad Ancelotti is working with, and there is buckets load of hard work to be done just to get Everton back on the right track.

The last few years have left the squad and club in a very poor condition.

What about our what ifs? The post, 3 good saves at least by Ryan, 3 decent penalty shouts, one disallowed goal that probably stood last season!
Opposition sides will get chances. This time the goal keeper did what he is employed to do. I think he had the cross bar shot just about covered too.
Football is a game played by two teams. The entertainment isn't just in the winning of the game

I don't say any of this unless they have a go first, and then ramp it up starting with a bit of praise. I started doing it this way after the Clive Thomas game in 76, because some of them were so unpleasant about the whole thing. They never really have any answers, and you know you've struck home when they start making insulting personal comments, from 'fuckin Bluenose' upwards. With enough practice, it becomes a game, as I'm sure you know!

We shouldn't have to do any of it, but I'm not Gandhi!

I know we have injuries all teams do and some more than us - Newcastle / Palace for instance but it was very noticeable that in the first half Brighton couldn't live with us but after 70 minutes it was a different game, apart from Richarlson who kept on going. We need a couple of box to box midfielders with stamina to burn and a forward to convert the chances we are making and not taking to ease the burden on the defence who creak like an old fence in a light breeze after said 70 minutes.

Yet despite this we managed another clean sheet at home - just - but a clean sheet is just that and long may it continue. Richarlsons control for his goal was a thing of beauty as was the finish and Bernard was a breath of fresh air. Davies ran his heart out as he always does and provided the legs Siggy needs, who on several occasions as usual never gave his partner the option of a pass because of his statuesque moments in midfield. Delph came on and I can't remember him doing anything of note, would have preferred Baines to replace Digne who is likely carrying an injury.

We won - good that's the least we can ask for and now for WHU and Moyes.

For me it really doesn't make a difference when they had the chances. None went in. A win gets 3 points. They didn't score this time. Near misses and good chances don't count as goals.

I wrote this somewhere else, but as someone from the USA who only started supporting the club several years ago (PL neutral before that), I believe this group of supporters is the quickest to rip (boo) their own team and harshly judge their young players than just about any group I have ever seen in any sport. As a new Everton fan it's not my place guess why, it's just what I believe. I hope no one takes this personally.

But. A few comments on individuals:

Theo Walcott reverted to type when the Brighton player hit the crossbar. He literally waltzed past the man and just stopped trying. Theo watched him shoot without a care in the world. He is part of the problem, and can't be considered any part of the solution. He loafs when he's not in the mood, and as you say over there, he couldn't finish a bag of chips. I'm beginning to almost detest the very likable fellow, such is my distain at his effort at times.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's heart is, and has always, been in the right place. I have never, ever seen a game he's played in where he hasn't given 100%. Not once. I do not think he's part of the future. But, I'll always forgive players any mistake if their attitude and effort is there.

Tom Davies is our midfield. Like him or hate him, we are oceans better with him in the lineup. I will never understand the criticism he receives. He plays the ball forward, he has tremendous vision, he never hides, he's a tough cookie, all of it. When he starts flagging around 75 minutes and misplaces a (usually forward) pass, take a breath, drink decaf, and hold back your venom. Without him, it's Morgan Schneiderlin. Give that a thought.

Carlo Ancelotti is, quite simply, the man. He oozes class, and for my eyes, he seems to be relishing this opportunity to take a team with ambition (his words) and mould them in his image and make them a powerhouse. That being said, I think a lot of people, myself included, need to warm up to the idea that he will, without apology or reservation, make substitutions around 70 minutes, to protect a lead. His thinking, if I were to guess, is he'd rather lose that lead now and again and leave with a single point, than go for the killer 2 goal lead, but play too open and leave with zero points. All the while the majority of the time actually closing out games and leaving with 3 full points. It's the Carlito Way. He's Italian, and some stereotypes aren't actually PC sins, they're there for a reason. He's going to shut up shop, and we might as well get used to it.

I'll be the idiot American who takes your observation a step further.

Evertonians are the single most knowledgeable fan base on the planet. As such, they demand certain things, and can actually see flaws and holes in their team's game much more than any other fanbase on Earth.

But, I agree with you regarding the young players. I've never understood it, and have gone so far as to tell some on TW point blank, they'd eat their own young given the chance.

I'll never understand why Evertonians are so, so hard on the younger players and don't let them develop, especially the local boys. I make no apologies when I say that often times (not every time mind, but often) it disgusts me. It hurts the player, hurts the team, and causes a negative cloud to brew over every one.

I don't like it, never have, and never will. It's way over the top in most instances, and only has negative effects.

Sue me. That's my opinion.

There's some things about my wife I don't like. We've been married 23 years. Doesn't stop me from loving her. Same thing with the fans. They are, quite simply, the best in the world. No one comes close. But if I could change one thing, it'd be the way we treat our youngsters.

I liken Evertonians to New England / Philly fans, Michael. They are stupendous, but dear Lord they can be rough.

It brings in another stereotype 'the consolation goal' - them I can live with.

What I saw yesterday was a team struggling with confidence trying to atone. The last 20 detracted from what was a competent showing against a side who play decent football and in Dunk and Duffy have a fine defence.

My crappy stream meant that I missed the ‘penalty.' Having seen it on MOTD I now realise how cast iron it was. As the MOTD pundits said the PL had a golden opportunity to reward honesty by reversing the referee's decision. That they didn't is so disappointing and gives further incentive for players to throw themselves to the floor after the slightest touch. The PL only had itself to blame.

And of course 1-0 after a few minutes would have changed the context of that match entirely. You never felt that Brighton would recover from 2-0 down. As it was happily the right result still came.

There were baby steps of improvement, belief and cohesion on display. Hopefully we can push on from here. Bernard's best game in an Everton shirt. And a moment of total class from Richarlison. Did make me smile as there is a split second where Calvert-Lewin looked pissed off that Rich didn't lay the ball off to him...until he saw the ball nestling in the back of the net!

One thing that really gets on my tit is that constant whistling when the opposition have the ball. This is not an English habit, so not surprising I suppose that they do it.

If somebody could knock all their fecking teeth out, that'd stop the whistling.

In Carlo we trust, and hopefully with some luck we can avoid as many injuries as possible and push on.

We earned the luck yesterday, and whilst we didn't get all the right decisions, we got a hard earned victory

Same as last season v Ginger Gollum, on Saturday.

This is why I split supporters of our loveable neighbours into two firm categories: 1) Reds and 2) Kopites.

Reds are the rarer, more tolerable breed, that actually know bits about the club and don't look down their noses at everyone. They tend to be the people you can have a decent discussion about football and banter.

Kopites are the plastic, never-been-to-Anfield, shameless creations who poison the club and the wider football community with their adoration of Saint Steve, King Kenny and of course, Ratbky, while denouncing similar acts from other perpetrators as "everything against football"

The latter are to be ignored and despised and, when they do win the title, the former are to be congratulated (through gritted teeth). I have a few friends in the former category for whom I'll be happy, the latter can all go forth and multiply.

There's no right or wrong here, we all feel what we want to feel.

https://www.grandoldteam.com/2020/01/09/fault-lines/amp/?_

For what it's worth, I agree with you 100% on the substitutions.

With Carlo now in charge, I'm in hands-straight-out-in-front-of-you, mindless-zombie-walk-forward mode for the foreseeable future.

Dude has how many trophies in the cabinet? I'm just going to roll with whatever he does for a long while.

Everyone who watches football knows Oliver, will give a penalty, or a dangerous free-kick for the same type of offence in the next six weeks, hopefully then a clever player, will tell him to go over to the screen on the side of the pitch, because he will see it was exactly the same offence as the one he refused to give Everton a penalty for, because it does feel like some (fucking all) of these refs are playing God?

Imagine, had it been awarded and missed, what that would have done to the atmosphere. It's just possible we had a lucky escape.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm just a bit of a schizophrenic, regarding this man, but with our neighbours top of this VAR league, and us at the bottom, I'm not prepared to let them section me just yet!

The first change was mystifying and the only excuse is that Bernard normally fades and Carlo made a similar change against the Magpies which won back control of the midfield.

Clearly the pendulum swung at this point but credit must also be given to Graham Potter, who had already made two attacking subs, and took off the ineffective defensive midfielder, Stephens, and replaced him with Glenn Murray; this was as important as Bernard's removal.

The second sub was perfect as Sidibe was struggling defensively and perhaps should have happened earlier. The third sub was also understandable to counteract Murray's added height, which also helped see out the Newcastle win.

The problem I felt with yesterday – and the majority of the season – is too many of our players became 'leggy'. Come the last third of games like this, we have Davies, Sigurdsson, Bernard and Walcott who were struggling and Coleman and Delph normally do when in from the start. This means that our three managers this season have to make tactical changes based on fitness and less on form. Bernard may have been an example of a pre-emptive sub as the tank normally hits the red at this point...

Pete #53, that's a truly pessimistic way of looking at things... personally I've never seen Siggy shrink from a pen, he always wants the ball.

Jamie #31, you cannot possibly compare Everton fans to Philadelphia fans. Not even in the same universe. They don't just boo their own, they eat them. For you non-Yanks, Philadelphia Eagles fans once booed Santa Claus at a Christmas game and bombarded him with snowballs. Flyers fans used to throw flashlight batteries from the balcony. Phillies fans booed their own newly-acquired superstar, Bryce Harper, after he struck out in his first two at-bats ON OPENING DAY. A famous columnist once wrote that Philadelphians boo funerals.

Rob (26), well you're the goalie and know the score, so I'll have that off you.

As they are a team that actually wins stuff they naturally will have more fans that like to big themselves up at other's expense. No doubt the same applies to City now (not so much when I lived in Manchester in the 90s when they were garbage).

If Liverpool win the league it's because they have played the best over the season and good luck to them. It's unrealistic to hope they're never going to win the title again. I'd rather focus on us improving and actually competing for trophies again. I could care less about what LFC win.

Also can we bin the delusion that officials etc are anti-Everton? They blew the pen call on Walcott yesterday due to sheer incompetence, not any intrinsic bias.

Of course that would be a step in the right direction, but lets be honest here. It wont be enough.

I'm thinking more what-comes-around. Retribution. Vengeance. We have got to find a way of wiping the smirks off their infinitely punchable faces

Yeah we still have to keep winning in order to get the highest finish possible. But only by seeing them off on March 14 can we really say the players have redeemed themselves.

In the meantime. we can get behind the boys and hope they can build enough momentum to qualify for a European tour.

Mind you. I may be alone here, but I would trade Europa league qualification for humbling these arrogant fuckers. Then we can have go at CL qualification next year

When he does, (honestly when) I bet you it is one of the bigger clubs who benefit from his decision, which surely means that sometimes it's just a little bit more than incompetence?

(I know it hasn't happened yet, but I will donate a £50 note to any charity you choose Kevin, if we get to March and this hasn't happened with Oliver)

You are right of course. We all have red family members. . . and I swear if we beat them at the Old Lady in March. Mine will be the first to get it.

The only situation in which a player could be assessed a penalty and a red card is if he commits an egregious foul in the box that would get a red card anyway -- a dangerous tackle over the ball, an elbow in the face, etc. But no red card can be given for a last-man foul in the box.

I'm a ref of 40 years' experience.

Bear with me, there is some unraveling to be done.

This is too funny.

Firstly, regarding Philly fans, Santa totally had it coming to him. It wasn't the real Santa, it was a fraud, and the Philly fans were totally justified pelting the fuck out of him.

I'd expect no less of Everton fans. Smell a fraud, expose him. Ask Morgan Schneiderlin how that works.

And I disagree further. Everton fans, for me, are every bit as tough as Philly fans. They are quick to turn, quick to love, and when you get on their bad side, they're wicked.

And for the record, I have absolutely no problem with that whatsoever.

They are, definably for me, a perfect meld of New England and Philly fans. Somewhere between those two, lies Everton, in the footballing comparison game.

Throw in a dash of Steelers for raw loyalty, and you've hit the nail on the head.

Go cheer for Iran, I'll be pulling for the Pack. 😂 For the first time in the history of TW, Mike Gaynes, you're wrong friend.

I love ya.

Jamie

If you look back over the years there has been many wrong decisions against us, the ones against the RS stand out.

Call it confirmation bias but the crash test dummy that is Collina came out of retirement for one game, (if reports are correct) and disallowed a legitimate goal against us (to fuck us over) and then went back to retirement once again. Do you not find that strange?

The Clattenburg derby? The c**t should be lynched, even now.

The Poll derby after the RS keeper hit the ball at Hutchinson's back, then blew his whistle after the ball crossed the line?

Clive Thomas?

The year Palace came back from 3 down, I actually stated that I'd never bother with footy again due to the refereeing decisions that those red c**ts got.

There was a time that the 'buck toothed dobbin diving play acting cheating Mirallas injuring dirty twat ' named Suarez got away with everything, play acting, dirty challenges, and nothing was done, racial abuse too. Did the media or anyone kick up a fuss, did they fuck, and they never will.

Conspiracy? Who knows? But favouritism for are neighbours, undoubted!!!!

As I intimated @25, using praise to recognise that they are indeed a good team is a powerful starting response, on the basis of which they can easily be made to realise that they're not as good as they think they are. It's a lesson in humility for some of them. It's one thing having genuine banter, but quite another to be faced with unpleasantness. And nipping it in the bud substantially, without personal attack, is a very sensible approach.

It's very. very depressing and, aged 65, I now expect to die before it gets any better.

Looking on the bright side though, at least Kenwright has trousered £10's of millions as we forever decline.

Besides, Jamie is a Yank, a Bostonian-turned-Floridian and a Republican in addition to being a Cheesehead (Packer backer), so we have to make all kinds of allowances for him.

Love you too, Jamie my man.

As Mike says, that was a very funny comment he made in jest on the Live Forum yesterday.

There's nothing clever or nefarious behind it.

But I do appreciate your moderator instincts.

This happens all the time, you only have to look at the world about you to see its chock full of mostly dickheads (present company excepted) and they Never seem to take a day off.

Anyway - Atonement; Its going to take more than one barely average 1-0 win.
Full atonement will not come until we hand them the sort of thrashings they've just handed us in Dec. and Jan. On a regular basis.

Not many of the present squad will present to mete out that revenge...I fear it will indeed be seved cold.

I can wait...but not indefinitely.

What other options do you have?

Edit; or just take it one game at a time...until I run out of time.

We are all getting hood-winked by VAR, because it's still professional referees making these decisions. Decisions that can only be described as very inconsistent on a weekly basis, with refs being allowed to pull rank, whilst “hiding” inside a studio. It stinks.

I wish I had time to watch this programme for the next six weeks, such is my paranoia, on how these people often change their minds on the same decision, depending on the player, and the team they represent.

"I think people need to get a grip. The FA Cup defeat wasn't a humiliation...It was disappointing because we lost a game, that was it."

Stan, I'm not bipolar about Everton's results or performances. I'm not given to hysteria and hyperbole in reaction to a win or a loss. I've become almost totally inured to our appalling record against t'other lot in the last 2-3-4 decades. I've got a pretty decent grip on life, not just football.

But the loss in the FA Cup a week ago really hit me hard. I have never, but never, felt such despair or despondency after a defeat in any Everton game in more than half a century of following the team. NEVER.

There was a golden opportunity to end to a degree the suffering we have endured at 'their' hands for so long. And the players totally, but totally, bottled it.

I truly cannot recall an Everton team being so totally abject, pathetic and submissive as they were in that appalling second half surrender.

That is not being reactionary, extreme or hyperbolic. That is what happened.

It hurt. Badly. It genuinely plunged me into despair for 3-4 days.

The importance of the match (progress to the next round of the cup, our one remaining chance of landing silverware this season). The venue. The opposition. The history. The whole context of the game.

It MATTERED!

Or at least, it mattered to the supporters. To the players, it didn't appear to matter at all. I side with those - some very seasoned and level-headed supporters - who described it as quite simply the worst defeat in our history.

Now you and others may point out any number of critical defeats that cost us trophies and even relegation. The shame of numerous cupsets against minnows.

But for me personally - and quite a few others, evidently - EMOTIONALLY, the defeat against them last week was the worst that I can recall by how it impacted on me and my well-being.

In conclusion, I will refer to your own conclusion which states:

"The mentality of the entire club including supporters needs to be less defeatest. We need to be tougher mentally, both on and off the pitch."

I have that Stan. I want my team to be WINNERS!

So why open your post by berating fellow supporters for expressing the hurt that they felt in the wake of the cup loss, then close by saying all need to be 'less defeatist?'

It strikes me those that feel the hurt more are doing just that - wanting, believing, we CAN win at place like Analfield.

YOU'RE the one being stoical and accepting of the defeat and performance. Not those you berate.

For me here in Brazil the game KO about 12.30pm.

The missus knows better than to distract me in any way when the game is on, but she knew something was amiss as my expletive-filled yelling and thumping of the table increasingly became subdued and turned into numbed silence long before the final whistle went.

We were due to go to the in-laws for lunch. She went. I excused myself. 'I knew you wouldn't want to go after that,' she said.

The phone had already started 'pinging' with gloating messages when it rang. I checked the number. Mum-in-law calling. Didn't answer. Just turned everything off.

Three hours later the missus returned home. No telly. No computer. No cell phone. Nothing turned on. Just me lying on the sofa, not even sleeping, just staring blankly at the ceiling.

She came back with a tupperware offering of the lunch. I didn't touch that or anything else all evening, only eating again the following morning.

'You've got to eat', she pleaded.

How could I explain what my belly and head was full of whilst my heart and soul were so barren?

For the next 3-4 days I took refuge in the excellent test match between SA and England, admiring the gutsy performances of the likes of Anderson, Sibley and Stokes in getting England over the line. I avoided all things Everton and TW for 3-4 days before finally emerging from my torpor.

It MATTERED, Dave. It mattered big time.

As Lyndon's title suggests, there is still a lot to atone for I fancy in a good number of Evertonians hearts and minds.

But back to Jay, I know exactly how you felt, facing the Red fans wasn't bad at all, well some of them, my own mates never rubbed it in on Monday night, noticed a few smirks around town, from the Sky reds, they don't matter to me anyway and they know it. In church yesterday, yes church!!, one smug Red, goes when his son gets him a ‘freebie' went out of his way to let on to me, sorry for what I thought Jesus.

Really and truly though it was the players who represented us last Sunday in such a pathetic way that my anger was saved for, and it is still there,Saturday got us three more valuable points added to our total, nothing came off the bill they owe us for last week.

Last season at Anfield, there was a last-second blunder that led to defeat. Our goalkeeper implied that it reflected habitual bad luck against that opponent, when it actually reflected a cock-up by him. A better mental approach requires recognising things as they are and dealing with them, learning from them where necessary, and moving onto the next game. It requires keeping calm and carrying on, focusing energy where most useful rather than wasting it on hand-wringing.

I suspect the impact of that defeat will have been felt by Carlo Ancelotti far more than it would have hit some of our previous managers. We now have a very knowledgable manager, a proper football man, at the helm. He is not a magician, but I have a lot of faith in him if he is left alone to lead the club.

"How could I explain my belly and head was full of whilst my heart and soul were so barren"

I think we were all angry after last Sundays second half no-show most of us unforgiving. . but post 94 sounds like Am Dram night at the women's institute

I wonder if he was wearing smoking jacket and cravat ?

It was also abject, pathetic, shameful, disgraceful, cringeworthy, and a few more adjectives besides. But I think it's you who is misunderstanding the sentiment of many and in doing so Stan, you aim at the wrong target.

Of course 'that' opponent at 'that' venue is - and should always be - an important one in the Everton calender. That only added to the hurt and (the word you contest) 'humiliation' of the loss.

How can that be disputed?

But it is my belief that what outraged so many much, much more was the PERFORMANCE. Or rather, non-performance.

I'm not given to calling players cowards, but the vast bulk of them that day - particularly in the second half - showed themselves to be lily-livered, meek, passive, submissive.

There was not a single one among them who stood up to rally the team and say: 'Enough! Let's get to grips with this and twat 'em!'

And the overriding concern I and I'm sure others felt as the train crash unfolded before our very eyes was:

'If they can't get up for a Mersey Derby at Analfield in a winner-take-all-cup tie against a team largely made up of inexperienced adolescents, then when can they?'

You could have randomly picked 11 lads from the 8,000 Blues who filled the Anfield Road end that day who would have played with more heart, pride and commitment to the shirt than the disgraceful rabble who did take the field last Sunday evening.

The players humiliated themselves and by extension the club and the supporters who had to bear the brunt of...well, it doesn't even take the form of scorn anymore. It's more one of pity, which is even more condescending.

It wasn't and isn't the supporters being defeatist Stan as you label them.

It was the players.

Tee-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, all day, every day.

Klopp wont play second string players at the old lady. especially if they can win the league that day.

The only answer to "you couldnt beat our third team" is "Yes but we beat your best team"

As the Yanks say. "Dont get mad, get even"

Looks like a back 3 with Gibson, Con Ouzi, and Feeney. John and Foulds at Wing Backs. Iversen, Baningime, and Markelo in the middle. Evans off Simms up top.

And Joao Virginia back in goal. How's he playing?

Is that right?

Yes it does Brian. If City lose a few, they can win the league earlier, Brian. The thing about winning the title at Goodison is based on them both winning every game up until then, or so I am led to believe.

Link

So would this not be more apt? Link
City make a good Red Rum.

For all you foreigners, Red Rum is one of the most beloved adopted sons of Liverpool, with at least two statues of him, and not many great sportsman can say that.

Continuing the Hummel kick this week - and given the rumours about @Everton switching kit supplier - we've mocked up a couple of Toffees designs of our own. Home or Away? If you like these, please give us a follow - always great to welcome new followers 🙂 #Everton #EFC #Toffess pic.twitter.com/6WNfgWLtTk

— KonceptKitz (@KonceptKitz) January 11, 2020

I've never been put off my dinner by any footie match.

Who for?

Edit: After a Simon Cowell style slow reveal on the official site, it turned out to be for Arsenal and some fella called T-Bola.

Many know they are beyond atonement.

By the way Lyndon, I have a suggestion and I'll probably get laughed at/shamed/threatened by self-styled hard cases - I couldn't care less. Instead of having over-paid no marks in the top right hand corner of the page, could we have proper Evertonians?

The sight of Keane's gormless "goat that has just been lamped" expression infuriates me, as it is the one he frequently wears when some divvy from Millwall/Soton/Brighton etc does him with a very interceptable long-ball. As does Coleman's pout like he's blowing chunks out of his arse (quite accurate I guess).

I would suggest Dean, Latchford, Sharp, Ferguson etc. Some fans too perhaps - brave people like Speedo Mick and Bradley Lowery, not the cowards that get undeserved airplay on the TW banner.

These are people who should mean more to us than any of those overpaid tossers.