Blues struggle again but Richarlison rescues a point

Come on you Blueboys !!!!!!!!!!

Also was never a pen, the guy was going down before they got anywhere near each other

Midfield is non existent. Only Gordon and Richarlison are in the game.

Totally outplayed, seemingly outnumbered such is the space and time on the ball the Saints have.

It looked to me even before Gomes' 'injury' that Carlo had seen enough and had already decided to replace him before half-time.

Then, out of nowhere, the one piece of class from Everton all game. Brilliant pass from Digne. Great 1st touch by Richie. Great finish.

Very fortunate to go in level at half-time.

A 19-year-old starting - what? only his 3rd senior game? - has been showing the seniors more heart, more energy, more guile than the rest put together.

It can't be so bad in the 2nd half...can it..?

Well done to Carlo for making the adjustments needed. We pretty clearly needed more in midfield and the switch to 3-5-2 gave that. I actually thought Sigurdsson ended up being key, sitting deeper and using the ball well.

We lost some momentum when DCL went off. Not that he had a great game but the lad who replaced him will never be a Premier League footballer. I don't feel any concern that I'll be proved wrong in that and I've been saying it since September. Shame because we've burnt a small fortune on him. Time to take a punt on another young striker (Simms) and give them the development time.

At the start of the 2nd half, the change of personel and formation gave us some control of the game which was totally absent in the 1st half.

And then, we lost it. Simply lost it. We were on our heels when the ball broke lose. The passing was wayward. The challenges easily broken through. No energy. No alertness. No skill.

All so very messy.

Well played again by Anthony Gordon and Richarlison's excellent goal are the only two saving graces for Everton from today.

I don't care what anyone says Richarlison needs a class act alongside him. (Is Alan Shearer still fit)

We know that. Not acceptable, but that's the awful reality.

We've just got a point we have no right to. We came about 5th in a 2 horse race.. but ended in a dead heat.

Rejoice, Rejoice!

For many previous sins, I have Sky Broadband... could it possibly be that they were vindictively blocking my free Prime access??? Not that I missed much. Another very poor first half, and only slightly better second.

The dead club just hobbles to another limp wristed season finishing below those might big spenders Sheffield United, who will overtake us next season, Leeds?

I hate to say it but I feel Ancelotti coming here he's just flogging a dead horse, the players and their easy lives and loser mentality, we are just too far gone as a club now I my opinion.

Can only see Carlo walking out before Christmas when he realises that this job was just a step too much at this stage of his life.

I had exactly the same problem with Amazon. They're as shite as Everton.

After the break Ancelotti earned his money having 5 at the back with wingbacks bringing Gordon inside. I was surprised Carlo took Gordon off for Bernard later in the half. He looked like the only player with enough vision to create the winner.

I don't think this team deserves a final European place and Brands and Carlo are going to have to work very hard to bring in some quality in midfield and offload the deadwood like Sigurdsson and Fabian Delph. For me, Tom Davies also needs to be loaned out.

Southampton much the better side, and were unlucky not to thrash us. Defeatism is endemic in the Everton psyche.

There's no point wishing for this season to end, and new season to begin; nor is there any point wishing for new signings, new manager, new board, new owners etc. It's all been tried - and it has always spectacularly failed.

I've said it before, Everton FC need to be relegated so they can start again from basic principles. Only then will they climb out of this awful downward spiral of mundane mediocrity.

Having said that, I'd settle for mundane mediocrity at this present time, instead of the shameful crap that is regularly served up at each game.

The game passed Davies by because he was the only one trying to get after his opponents imo, but that was so poor and I'm still trying to work out why Ancelotti let's them suffer, without making the necessary changes to formation when we are getting overrun?

Hopefully his logic, has been well thought out, although this is what happens when we don't keep a two banks of four defensive shape, meaning we can't open up because we are just not good enough when we try.

DCL ran, but did little with the ball and fluffed his one good chance. He looks tired and lacking confidence.

Davies looked more composed, and improved his passing slightly (but still doesn't hold possession well enough). But like the rest of the midfield, chased shadows when their midfield had possession.

Sidibe coming on gave much better shape and contributed to the better performance for the first 25 of the second half.

Sigurdsson was there. Very ineffectual.

Iwobi was poor with the ball and mostly invisible, Gomes was woeful and needs dropping (but yeah...who do we have).

Mina looked a bit flat footed and Keane showed his weaknesses when playing a striker like Ings (Keane doesn't deal well with movement).

Coleman did a decent job defensively, offered little offensively (as the whole of the right side).

Kean came on, looked lively then we lost control of the ball and the forwards barely saw the ball again

Bernard came on and looked better, but again, chasing shadows.

Their pen and the Bednerak yellow highlight how piss poor var is ruining the game.

Richarleson is head and shoulders above anything on the park. The others are quite happy to see him get the shit kicked out of him every game and just watch on.

Gordon played quite well again pity the pass to Digne in the 2nd half was under hit. DCL new hair cut, tighter shorts still hasn't broken sweat since the club made him a multi millionaire. Why didn't he head that cross instead of the fresh air volley.

The only saving grace is that we have 40 points. This bunch without Richarleson will take us down.

Ancelotti needs at least 3 years to sort this mess out. I still don't think we have recovered from the dross Koemann brought in. Yet again patience is required, but for once we need a long term plan and must stay with it.

At least there's spa window which won't be a long window to buy a quality midfielder and RB, CB.

It's painful to listen, I didn't watch this one but forgetting about the crowd, it's the same for every team, but let's let Carlo, draw them out and seal their fates. The past proves that we can't see a good midfielder have traded good for very poor.

My ma8 at Arsenal, told us Wolcott, and even more so Isobi were duds.

I'm at the point we're theres no expectation, getting deadballs, from free kicks, corners etc marking discipline, awareness Why don't these players bar a handful care about EFC?

Realistically rebuild, and this won't be quick and easy as even with Ancelotti and big wages, I don't see any major coups in this next window, bar a miracle.

Year on year, and it's in the dna, no care, don't care, take the gross wages for pretending to be footballers.

I hope we can hang on this summer to our couple genuine decent players.

Now Wolves.

Only Richarlison and maybe Gordon would get into Martinez's team.

Ancellotti needs three midfielders in the next window.

I think it's fair to add Holgate and Digne to that list. Roberto would have been happy with those two I'd bet.

What the hell has happened to our Club? The last two games have been absolutely dreadful. They've sucked any thought of hope out of my soul.

We were dreadful.

Ancelotti has to be givem a fair crack at turning the results and the performances around. He MUST be given money because he just doesn't have the players at the present time. Hopefully the new season will provide more. How many times have I said that in the past five years ?
.

Can't see Richarlison sticking around next season and I wouldn't blame him He deserves better.

Yes, we were second-best but they had better players over much of the park. But to slate every player is unfair. Given the weaknesses (woeful) across the middle of the park, pressure is increased on the others.

Seamus and Digne continue to perform at a more than acceptable level. So, too, Michael Keane. But, if you play only with 9 men, you will struggle. Iwobi was dreadful. Utterly anonymous. Gomes nearly as bad, never able to pass forwards.

Davies did okay. At least he looks to advance but he is always outnumbered having little support, and, in truth, he just isn't good enough. Gordon was the best and most progressive player and, from the moment he was replaced, any hope of sneaking a winner left with him. Bernard lacks pace and presence and will only ever be valuable in a team playing well. We retreated and were forced backwards.

So my plea now is to forget all this nonsense talk about Europe. We are nowhere near good enough and it could be disastrous for next season. Instead, use the games remaining to confirm the obvious deadwood in the squad and give at least a couple more of the aspiring and talented youngsters a chance to shine. They can do no worse and we can reasonably expect them to play their hearts out to make their mark. If nothing else, it might give us something to cheer about rather than just moaning at the same old targets.

And finally. Shearer. He has an agenda. There is something in his DNA which appears to make him despise our club. He is a complete and total self-opinionated arrogant knobhead whose greatest fan is himself.

And finally, finally, not all bad. No complete howlers from Pickford. On balance, maybe he does have a place on the bench for next season, or better still, a 㿞M move to Chelsea.

I was virtually ridiculed in some quarters, but true to my beliefs I haven't seen a minute of televised football, in the case of Everton that appears to have been a blessing in disguise. In an earlier post I said that ''Most of us know that were not good enough', and from what I gathered from the radio commentary, I view that the result as a point gained.

The team lacks fighters and playmakers. How long before Richarlison wants out? How average we are but remain in the top flight. How lucky we are. Time to be radical with this squad.

No midfield. So few players exhibiting any confidence at all. Can see us finishing this season 14th as they all looked knackered and we've another 2 games within a week.

One player who I like but has got off lightly is Calvert-Lewin. He's not had much service but he's not held up the ball at all well and has struggled to impact the game at all for the fifth time running.

He does a lot of pressing work but needs to work out how to find space or impact the game more when we are struggling. Seems like him and Richie are on different wavelengths at the moment.

The defence is generally playing well.
Why mess around on the goal kicks. Its an accident waiting to happen.

The midfield is piss poor so play it long. Ferguson wasn't too proud to get the ball into the opposition half and work hard all over the park.

Carlo isn't managing world class players. We have 2 players who could play at a higher level.

He has to recognise that and change tactics or buy a new team. I think if he doesn't get backed in the transfer market he could be gone by Christmas.

Then I wake up to reality and finding myself watching the same pitiful excuse of a PL team, going only one way and that is to become a perineal Bottom 6 side. Ancelotti can't do a thing with this slot, only 2 top 6 players in the squad, Richarlison and Digne. The rest are poor standard PL players with a fair few, not even Championship level.

Ancelotti needed to start by getting rid of Niasse, Schenderlin, Martina, Bolasie, Sandro, and a few more of the never quite made it kids. He now realises that the above was just the start, and Gomes, Davies, Iwobi, Bernard, Delph, Sigurdsson, Kean need to be shifted out as well. But like the dregs we bought 3-5years ago, most of the above are on once again 3-5 yr fat contracts and won't be going anywhere too soon.

As mentioned above I just can't see Richarlison and Digne wanting to spend the next 3 years helping a team reach the distant target of a European slot when they could walk into any Top 10 CL team now.

Ancelotti - what a challenge you've taken on, possibly one which will finish you as well.

I hope the summer break is extensive.
Ancelotti is the only postive at this club.

Dare I offer the answer - who else has he got to pick?

The current dearth of talent at EFC makes mother Hubbard's cupboard look like a proverbial cornucopia.

No pace, no endeavour and no brain anywhere, pretty thick bunch of players.

Ancelotti is just a man not a wizard, he won't be able to do anything more than Sam Allardyce did, shore things up in a dour dire fashion.

He needs some absolutely brilliant signings to go straight into the first team, not just more bench warmers.

For those saying we have been poor since the restart, I would say we were poor going into the lockdown. The
4-0 thrashing at Chelsea, exposed the weaknesses in midfield and defence. The return of Gomes has actually served to weaken the team. We have won only two games in eight, one of those against the worst team in the league. In all the games we have struggled to control the play through midfield.

The 4-4-2 formation works well if you have two workaholic central midfielders plus pace and guile from the flanks. We have none of that.

However nothing can escape that he was out-coached. Southampton playing 4-2-2-2 boxed our midfield two off and they were done. We were fortunate not to get a pasting.

If he doesn't freshen it up Sunday, with either 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 then we could get walloped.

Where's Bk btw? He's been very quiet lately.

Hard to know where to start in terms of analysis, but one basic thing that astounds me is how poor we are in terms of defending in pairs/groups. I think it's indicative of attitude; our players expect their team-mate to do the necessary work to win the ball back, so there's a passive, almost “after-you” approach, that gives the impetus to the opposition player to get their pass away or wriggle free of attention. And communication is poor. I watch players from other teams hunt to retrieve possession like they are hyenas - Liverpool last night vs Brighton for the Henderson goal is a good example. Our players never have their fangs out and work in groups with real conviction and belief.

I agree that performances are poor, but it is undeniable that the results have improved. Since he took over, I think we have only lost in the league to Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Spurs and all were away from home. We have won 3 away games which is generally our total for a full season. The league position is vastly better than it was at Xmas and I think since he came in we are around 5th or 6th in a mini league of the last 14 games.

The man needs time, he has inherited 4 years of dross since Koemann took over and it cannot be fixed in an instant but will take a number of years.

The style of play is awful at present but there is no doubt his management of games has won points where, with the last managers and our fragile players, we previously would have lost.

Then Richarlison goes through on goal, last man with no cover. Foul and denial of a goal scoring opportunity. The ball might have been going a little away from goal, but any striker worth his salt could have cut back if he wasn't hauled down. And VAR backed him up. Absolute joke, if that is any top 4 team it's a straight red.

We were shite BTW

They were winning most of the 50/50s all over the pitch and then gaining possession. We were on the back foot most of the time because of it. Gomes and Iwobi are not tackling at all , have downed tools for the summer and it shames them that the boys Gordon and Davies are more important to the team effort right now.

The former duo didn't get close to a Southampton midfielder all night. Gomes was spilling possession regularly yet again. Southampton had space and time on the ball in midfield throughout. We had neither.

Roll on the summer transfer window. Roll on next season with a few quality additions.

This season is petering out like a well pissed on campfire.

I agree with those who think our performances are abject.

Apart from the lack of passion, energy and commitment which frankly is unforgivable the things that make me most annoyed are:

- passing backwards every time we encounter an opposition player
- taking forever to get the ball out of our own half
- the keystone cops run around that precedes most of our goals conceded
- What appears to be a policy of not tackling. ever
- not even being second to every ball.
- not being able to complete a forward pass most of the time
- Sidibé seemingly not having even basic footballing skills.

Anyway. I'll tune in to the next one
because I love Everton.

Probably just in a bad mood because I have two RS brothers.

Come on Carlo

The Everton team had only won five of its league games and had conceded 29 goals and scored 20.

From the same number of games since then the team have won 8 and conceded 20 goals with the points gained being 27.

Whilst the defence has coped better, the goalscoring has been roughly the same with 21 scored.

We were very poor up until Duncan took control and we've been merely poor since.

Of course there was an opportunity to bring European football to Goodison for next season but this squad are about where they deserve to be lower mid-table.

Much work to be done in the window and hopefully we can buy players who will improve the first team rather than just come in and 'do a job'.

Whatever excuses are being made they just don't cut it. Fitness, injuries, pandemic lockdown and referees do not apply with these last two Everton showings in particular if not most of the season.

They were not even at the races during that first half hour despite Iwobi's close range effort and this against a team that has also struggled most of the season.

Wolves next, so it's no likely they will get a win in that one unless there is a big change in attitude from the off.

Many teams play as units of three or four and support each other but Everton's players are all over the place making it easy for the opposition to win the ball back because the Everton players are always trying more difficult passes. When not in possession they do not press the opposition in a serious manner and that allows them to pick Everton off.

Carlo has to play out these remaining games by using his young players so that they get the experience or at least give them an opportunity to stake a claim regardless of the big money players who are under performing.

Mine is : “this could be the game. err probably not”

Duncan has not been "relegated to the back benches" (Gerard #89). He is correctly being "social distanced" as are all the other substitutes and support team.

There is one thing, though, that could make a huge difference:
Duncan Ferguson must pin Carlo to the floor and, foregoing social distancing, tell him this, right into his fucking face.
"Boss, Pickford and those directly in front of him are light years short of the ability or confidence to fuck around in our penalty area. You must not encourage this. They look bewildered and frightened. Make them stop".

Finally, surely the game is up for Pickford. He spreads panic and fear. At one stage he flapped away a shot that Pat Jennings could have caught with one hand while smoking a cigar with the other. Pickford puts a knot in my stomach while I watch from an armchair hundreds of miles away. What anti calming effect does have on the defence?
We are unpleasant to watch.

To me, this is not an Italian defensive masterclass. It is a tactic used, with some success, by a series of Northern Ireland managers out of sheer lack of an alternative. Defend deep and see what happens. That is what Mr Moshiri has shelled out for. It's sad.

This can only mean playing who is the best in each position currently. This means we know Baningemi and so on are nowhere near as good as Davies or Gordon, or they would have come on as subs this season already - based on where each player is today, not counting where academy players may have been in their progress in the past.

That's not to say next season they can be good enough from coaching, e.g. JJ Kenny.

I just reckon Carlo thinks they don't show better than what we see on public display from the first 11, compared to the academy players in matches behind closed doors. Ouch!

Paul 96, Tom, fucking Iwobi and Gomes on current form wouldn't get into a league 2 team. They are worse than substandard.

Just a general train wreck on that play.

Gordon sounds he is building on his previous promising performances.

I think you'll all enjoy

As I was watching Spurs v Everton last night a thought struck me… what is the point of Everton?

Everton have been ever present in the Premier League and in that time (28 seasons and counting) they have never finished in the top 3 (and obviously never in the bottom 3). 28 seasons of never competing for the title and never being relegated. In that time Norwich, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Newcastle and Leicester have all finished in the top 3 but not Everton. They have reached 1 FA Cup final in the last 25 years and haven't reached the League Cup final since the 1980s. Everton have never actually won the League Cup which puts them in the shadow of such luminaries as Oxford United, Stoke, Swansea, QPR, Swindon, Luton, Birmingham and West Brom.

Since the start of the Premier League both Middlesbrough and Fulham have reached European finals but Everton haven't. Coventry City, Blackburn, Newcastle and Sunderland have all had a Premier League top scorer but Everton haven't. They haven't had a Player of the Year since the mid-1980s and have never had a Young Player of the Year.

The sun rises and sets, players come and go, presidents are impeached and pandemics threaten our existence but through it all Everton finish mid-table. Always and forever mid-table. I mean, seriously, what is the point of Everton?

As other supporters have stated you cannot blame the shutdown as all teams were involved in it, yet Everton seems to have come out of it lethargic, with no fight, and no ability to move from defense into attack and yet, other teams have been seen to improve. It just makes me wonder what kind of fitness training goes on at F.F.

Its no use looking to next season unless the mindset within the club changes to one of a winning attitude. what we need desperately is the owner and chairman to get rid of the plucky Everton attitude and adapt the J.Moore's attitude of Everton supporters need the best and we should give them the best. (apologize if that is not the correct statement but older supporters will no what I meant )

That's enough for now will have to sit down take a pill or a few rum and cokes and chill out to build myself up for the next disappointment. It's becoming more and more monotonous watching Everton and can imagine other managers have no fear in playing them.

I just cannot take these games seriously. The Everton players seem as bored as most of the idiotic fans like me. This season was over in March and all the games are practice games. We are playing really badly. Unfortunately this closed door stuff is very likely to go on for the new season. I do not have sufficiently high Principles or strengh to deny myself the pleasure or pain of watching Everton play.

I will be watching next season from Game 1. The difference is that I will be far more willing to have a critical eye and mind for the games. My expectations will be much higher. I want Ancelotti to be successful and I hope he is given funds. However whatever happens I will be WATCHING the games. At our age we need to take the opportunity to watch as many games as we can. Football still means too much to me to deny myself the chance to see one more game and then another one. And as many more that I am capable of watching.

Come on John just turn on that TV and torture yourself like ME. Wolves next. Everton will win just for you !!!

Baningime has got to be given some game time, tough tackler and handy on the ball as well.

Gomes plays that deep to get on the ball he often interferes with Evertons defence and makes tackles in dangerous areas, which he should be making further forward.

Perfect analogy with Northern Ireland. They've got a ragtag crew of hasbeens and nobodies so that's the best they can do and they do it very well. But you're right, when Moise makes a run it's like watching Shane Lavery thinking “he's shit but please God a miracle.” When Keane and Mina are under pressure it's like watching Anton Rogan and just hoping the gravity of his large head sucks in the ball so it doesn't reach the opposing striker. But we are paying these absolute ass clowns millions. Coleman had “difficult” discussions to agree a partial wage deferral. What a bunch of shameless crooks they all are.

The paradox is that the two best Everton players on the pitch were Silva's players Richarlison and Digne. We should be very grateful to Marco for that.

My Optus worked fine - the only thing you missed was a magnificent Pin point cross field pass by Digne to Richarlison who brought it under control and finished it beautifully.

There's a reason this kid hasn't played a Prem minute since 2018, hasn't started a game since 2017, and never came close to playing a full 90 minutes except for 3 Europa League games. We don't know what that reason is, but there assuredly is one.

Carlo will play him when he thinks he's ready. Whether it be next game, next season or never.

Apologies if I have echoed similar sentiments posted earlier. Promise to do better next game, though I hear the lawn-mower is rattling a bit

I've long believed that the whole of the football world, mainly involving agents and not-quite-good-enough-to-win-anything players, see Everton as the best they're ever going to do contract-wise. With us they're comfortable, for years, on fat contracts given them by our ludicrous chairman (every agent's favourite boss).

Thus we now, yet again, see a squad bloated with complacent millionaires who know to their core that they simply don't have to try, until their contract renewal approaches of course. Kevin Campbell lived that life twenty years ago. It kills us as trophy winners.

Moshiri has made seriously unwise decisions from day one. Now he's appointed Ancelotti. If he has any hope of achieving success, financial as it will always be to Moshiri, he simply must take a really big gulp and provide Carlo with the mega-millions he squandered under his former appointees.

Otherwise, why is Moshiri involved?

Unless you have the team playing really good and loosing on a questionable decision Excuses are not except-able

I can't quite understand Bernard's lack of game time since the restart. He's not a better option than Iwobi?

This season means not a great deal more than nothing. We've got a few games left, we can't do anything worthwhile, it's July and we're playing weird modified games with drinks breaks and extra subs. No fans makes it a slightly less intimidating step up for youngsters.

If you're not going to throw a few in and see how they do then there's little point having them in the system. It's not like we'd be dropping high performers who don't deserve to ride the bench.

Get Beni in there. Get Simms on the bench for some decent game time. Keep Gordon - he's shown the value of this approach.

I imagine Carlo a) doesn't rate the kids and therefore b) doesn't want to gamble on them and have a few humiliating thrashings to round out the season. He wants to finish as strongly as possible and get every penny of prize money he can to help the rebuild. 30 years ago in a dead rubber it was different because there wasn't 3 million quid at stake for each position. But extrapolating from that, yes we we need to offload a lot of these under 23s since he obviously doesn't rate them

Carlo has always been diplomatic and a players manager in public. In private, I imagine he has more to say.

If that is the case then Dunc needs a pat on the back and the mard arses who cannot take criticism shifted out.

Carlo Ancelotti heard about this and - in front of all the players - tore Delph a new one. Not that any of them understood. Carlo's rage was in Italian, but everyone very much got the message behind his words.

Don't mistake his suave, smiling manner at pressers as evidence of being soft.

Ferguson in our club is anathema to improvement. He's just one of the large gang of complacent yes-men ex-players still infesting USMFF courtesy of our delusional chairman.

USMFF is the antithesis of professional. It's a comfy place where ordinary players are year after year indulged by their ordinary coaches, all of them, one and all, recognizing that the one person key to the continuance of their own lavish lifestyles is the chairman, our owner having publicly stated that his own inadequacy as a football-man led to him most recently enhancing Kenwright's role in his own boardroom.

The rest of our boardroom leave me cold frankly, but with Kenwright in the chair we're fucked for all time.

You're out of line on Bernard. He'd never hack in a pub team. He's a beach soccer player surely? Probably even prefers a beachball although it may knock him over

As good as Carlo is, I doubt he realises what he is up against. Not just trying to offload these idiots but changing the mentality that he touched on last week. I hope to god I'm wrong and his next steps are to suss out the albatross round his neck in the chairman and probably most of the staff he's been left with.

One other thought, we scored using a long diagonal pass from a full back against their high defensive line. It is a tactic that shite use a lot, but we did not attempt a similar ball for the rest of the game.

You're spoilt for choice when trying to determine our biggest waste of money over the last 5 years but Yerry Mina has to be well in the conversation.

Watching him ‘sprint' actually had me laughing out loud at the tv. He sprints like someone who learned to walk that morning.

People talk about Europe but we seem miles off at the moment. There's a lot of deadwood, impacted finances and not enough players who are good enough for our great club.

People have mentioned corruption in the past and though there is always denial that any of our referees are corrupt, it does seem strange that whenever Mason is in charge of any game involving Everton there is always some degree of controversy connected to his performance. So, if he's not corrupt, he is at least inept or biased and should not be allowed to referee in the Premier League.

Premier League Clubs have the measure of Gomes and know how to play him. He was never going to be the player to build the Everton midfield around. The fact that he has provide 1 assist in 49 games shows that he is going to be the opposite, a passenger in midfield.

Birmingham City, Swansea City, Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, Leicester City, Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man UTD, Chelsea and Man City. All of these clubs have won a major trophy since Everton last did.

What's worse is that we've had so few games with something (positive) really riding on them in the last quarter of a century. One FA cup final, 3 semi finals, two League cup semi finals. Maybe home games against UTD/Newcastle in 2005 and Arsenal/UTD in 2014 in the league.

Let's hope this changes starting next season.

If last night's insipid performance is anything to go by then I wouldn't be surprised.

However, he has to try to motivate these players to give their "best" for the remaining games.

He therefore can't openly criticise them as being lazy, incompetent, nor inept.

He has said, in an interview reported in the more serious press that he has been promised substantial funds, by the board, to improve the team this summer.

So, all we can do for now is, watch this space.

Hopefully, with the signing of two or three key players, he can make to who team "tick".

It has happened before - let's just hope it will happen again.

Iwobi looked like a rugby player who had been asked to make up the numbers.

Gomes thought he was on the beach playing 5-a-side.

Mina looked like he was running in treacle, and Keane was even slower.

Pickford should have dived at the lad's feet instead of watching him score.

That was utter shite and no manager could get them into the top 4. No way.

He has to change the mind numbing mediocrity that pervades the whole club. It is like rising damp seeping into the walls of our institution.

In his quiet moments, lying in bed, Carlo will be thinking “ What the fuck was going on here before I arrived”. Some of the players on our books contribute next to nothing and most of them never will.

Thank god this season horribilis is over and the Carlo revolution can start, with his players and his team.

I have had enough of false dawns, can we have a spectacular real one for a change?

“VAR” is only there as a safety net to ensure that the cabal that run football get the verdicts that they want.
For example, at the moment the cabal are ensuring that manyoo, as one of the biggest clubs in the world, get into the Champions' League. Very conveniently, manyoo are at Leicester City for the final game of the season. The cabal will probably already have it sorted by then. If not, that could be very interesting to observe.
I consider VAR to stand for “ very awkward results”.

If Carlo Ancelloti can turn us into a top six side next season I personally will rank it among his greatest achievements in football.

The one shining light amongst the lot of them is Richarlison. This lad has been getting kicked off the park but he keeps going again and again.

The number of times he has had the sides of his legs and ankles deliberately raked in the last two games is in double figures.

These referees (rotten swines) need to take a long hard look at some replays and start giving the lad some protection.

If they don't he will pop very shortly and get sent off.

As for Kenwright hes the one common connection going back well over 20 years that has been ever present during Evertons catastrophic demise. The fall from grace is now insurmountable. We are awful to watch, home stadium is still a outdated shocker (BMD is years away if at all) and many awful players signed for eye watering fees on ludicrous wages on long contracts. Theres the reality.
Rant Over.

Carlo needs to change it up - if he wants to keep the Ritchie DCl combination then there are other formations he can try to the end of the season that keep them up top without leaving the midfield so exposed. Maybe try the 352 he went with 2nd half yesterday or 4312 or 4132.

Whatever, point is, how many games does it take of having to make changes to the balance of the team at half time (because of the same issues) before you think - maybe i'll Just start the next game with that 2nd half set up?

From what I witnessed the players showed heart and desire in all the games Ferguson was in charge for, but as we've touched on they are just not good enough.

In my opinion Brands and Walsh have a lot to answer for, it's their jobs to bring top players in and they have failed, let's hope Brands gets it right this summer!!

You hear a lot of good things about Brands and recruitment in his first year was a marked improvement on previous.

Looking at last year though, selling Gana for 30 mil and bring in - Iwobi circa 30 mil, Kean circa 25 mil, Gbamin 25 mil and Delph (whatever it was it was too much) - have any of them improved the team or hinted that they might improve the team in the future?

That's around 90 million on duds to make the team worse - it's approaching Steve Walsh levels of incompetence. Nobody can defend that recruitment. He needs a good window this summer for sure.

Ok Mason dropped a clanger for the spot kick, but how many times against us have var given the ref a signal when he had not given anything, where was var yesterday asking Mason to have a second look.

Although I haven't seen a minute of any live televised football, I have seen the occasional clip on Sky Sports News, the injustice of some of the decisions of both referee and VAR in some games has been unforgivable. The latest being the penalty decisions in the Aston Villa vs Manchester United, and Everton vs Southampton games, together with the non-penalty decision in the Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur game.

I listened to both the Everton and Aston Villa games, and during the latter game the commentator John Murray, I think, implied that the 5 from 9 substitution rule was to be implemented in the Premier League next season. I have already purchased mine and my Grandson's season tickets, and if what he said is true there is every chance that I will walk away from football, if the 'Grim Reaper' allows me the time.

With regard to the Everton situation, I think that it's been patently clear that we have lacked pace and creativity in mid field for a number years, and whether Carlo Ancelotti is the man for the job or not, is too early to determine. The football that fans are demanding, [in my opinion] can't be achieved with the current players at his disposal, I am prepared to cut him a bit of slack and hope that any signings he may make will give the fans what they deserve.

We have an ever expanding list of vastly overpriced/overpaid duds that no one wants, whilst the big clubs look to take whatever talented players we have and offload their rubbish onto our books. Can anyone say with confidence that Richarlison, Digne and Holgate will still be Everton players next season - or that Jones and Lingard won't be? Answers on a postcard to Bill 'The Negotiator' Kenwright.

The other big issue highlighted last night is corruption in the EPL. It has been written off as simply incompetence or off days by officials for years now. We don't find corruption simply because we don't look for it, as the cricketing authorities found out with the various Asian betting scandals.

The ridiculous decisions last night in all 3 matches were backed by VAR; a system meant to overturn clear and obvious errors not compound or create them. If something unexpected happens once, it's unfortunate. If it happens twice it's an unfortunate coincidence. If it happens three times something stinks.

Whose to say that big money or Dubai condos haven't been changing hands over Man U getting a CL spot, Villa being relegated or on penalties being awarded (like the infamous 'no balls' bets in cricket)? Was Crappenberg's retirement following - to put it politely - some highly unusual officiating an example of things being swept under the FA Axminster? To assume that corruption only lies at the very top in Blatter's Fifa and Platini's UEFA is complacent. There are at least four referees who you would be very unwise to buy a used car from. Unfortunately, we got one of them last night.

We have no midfield. Gomes & Siggy are picked on reputation and the hope that they'll start living up to it. Davies is a willing young player desperate for on-pitch guidance. Bernard & Iwobi don't impose themselves on games.

That's the problem. Won't change until replacements come in.

The fantasy of Ferguson doing a Mike Bassett act on the players is nonsense. Doesn't work these days. Whatever he did, it didn't go beyond his first two games.

Since the lockdown ended, the defence has been better organised and we have two excellent young strikers. That alone will mean we'll win more than we lose.

This summer we need to buy two centre mids who can tackle, pass and locate the other teams' penalty area.

I hope Carlo will be in charge of this, as I trust his judgement more than Brands'.

Amidst the rubbish last night, that goal was a thing of beauty. Wonderful pass, first touch and finish.

Everton defender Michael Keane stepped on Brighton forward Aaron Connolly's foot in the box and match referee Andy Madley deemed there to be no foul. But VAR got involved and awarded a penalty to Graham Potter's side making Everton the first team to have a penalty awarded against them by the video assistant referee.

So why did var not step in yesterday, you can bet your life had Southampton played a top 4 side,he would have asked var to check it first.

As per usual, we get the shitty end of the stick.

After all, Siggy had his best goal-return just last season. The opponents running past Gomes this season were running past him last season, too. And how many attacks never reached our backline last season?

Gana covered all of it. One player.

It's been said again and again in here, for good reason, that Problem #1 for us is the midfield. We all know it and Carlo has stated it.

For now anyway, our defenders are good enough, might even improve next season. At least we're not Arsenal, still sending out Mustafi and Luiz. With that, I'm definitely in the group thinking we need better than Pickford.

But opponent after opponent simply pouring thru our midfield has to be addressed first or we're going nowhere. And everyone, opponents especially, knows it.

Kean reminds me of Vaughan. Desperate to impress but an injury or red card ready to happen. This is a difficult side for a young player to come in to, a side shot with indecision, bereft of confidence and devoid of passion. What is concerning is that this really should be a time, with nothing to lose, to be expansive, bold and confident.

You simply cannot make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.

It is my belief that since the re-start the two players playing a midfield role who merit of modicum of praise are the two youngest, Tom Davies and Anthony Gordon. Iwobi has flickered, whereas the two senior players who should be our 'main men' have been almost invisible. And between them I would say Gomes has contributed even less than Siggy.

It's obvious to most where are frailties lie and what needs addressing. I rather fancy that Carlo Ancelotti with all his experience knows that too.

For all the (justified) stick Iwobi gets I have to say I honestly believe he shows glimpses of more inventive and progressive plays than anything Gomes and Siggy have offered this season.

I don't deny the physical side of his game is seriously wanting. Both Dave Abrahams and I called that after his first 2-3 games. But played in the right position he can and does have the ability to open up defences with a telling pass. Something that Gomes and Siggy rarely show these days.

I would play Holgate defensive mid for the rest of the season in a 4-3-3 (4-5-1) with Sidibe and Davies, front 3 of Richy Gordon and DCL.

That should give us the "bite" we have been missing and with that front 3 should get us goals.

I thought at the time it smacked of panic buy because I couldn't see where we had any position he was going to excel in.

The crazy thing about it is that in his first three or four games at the arse end of August and early September he was probably our brightest most innovative player but around early October his form just dipped and then never levelled out again.

I think his Everton career will sadly be over within the year unless a miraculous turnaround in form is evident but I've seen nothing to suggest it, he doesn't create goals and he doesn't look threatening going forward.

He's not a winger because unlike the likes of Deulofeu, Aaron Lennon, he's not direct enough or quick enough, but likewise he's not disciplined with possession to play in the centre.

I can see him eventually ending up somewhere like West Ham for about £12-15 million.

Just a wild guess really.

Has many have said our performances look so negative yet Ancelotti is playing a 4-4-2 system to start with and the front 6 are all attacking players so nothing negative from his approach. The central midfield no matter who he picks from Sigurdsson, Gomes and Davies have been ineffectual in most games and their lack of pace means they never get to help out the forwards. Our wide players are even more ineffectual than our central midfield, who ever thought buying Iwobi for £30 million when he couldnt get into a very poor Arsenal side has a lot to answer for. Same goes for Bernard never has an impact on the game, creates very little and his goals are as regular as the Preston guild.

The pluses are Holgate, Digne and Richarlison, heaven help us if any or all of these see their futures elsewhere. Since lockdown Gordon has made a big impression and both Keane and Coleman have played well, although still not sure about Mina or Pickford.

I would really love to hear what Ancelotti thinks of the squad he has inherited, they seem incapable of making more than 3 consecutive passes when in our opponents half, and with stats like that we are hardly going to create a lot for our 2 strikers. I think DCL has struggled since lockdown and I agree with Alan Shearer when he said we need a 20 to 25 goal a season striker to help Richarlison and DCL. But the problem with that is what striker who can score that amount of goals would even consider coming to Everton.

I said when Ancelotti signed that this would be the hardest job he has ever taken on, and I think after our last 2 performances if he didnt already know that then he does now. Lets hope he gets the support he needs in the market when it opens, and please don't let Brands sign anymore players without Ancelotti approving the signings, as so far the majority of Brands signings leave a lot to be desired.
I would love to hear what Ancelotti

Silva said that he was for left midfield, coming in on his right foot, but Brands in a subsequent interview said he was brought in to challenge Sigurdsson at number 10. Which is probably closer to where Iwobi would see himself playing

So take your choice but it doesn't indicate joined up thinking or a common purpose. Either way he's not playing in either position currently.

Brian, that Brighton decision was also another occasion when the FA admitted that VAR got it wrong.

Something very odd happened last summer in the window. Moshiri being reported as talking to Zaha direct over a massive transfer, and a collection of signings that seemed to be to thicken up the squad, rather than for guaranteed starters- Delph, Sidibé, Kean et al.

There was a pointed comment by Brands at the AGM to the effect that we can't afford £70M players, so whatever it was that went on it rankled a bit.

I still think we may (hopefully) see better of him when he's told to stop hugging the touch line but if we don't we'll be able to shift him. Probably for £10-15m. We certainly overpaid for him!

He's been very poor for us (familiar theme!) but his playmaking stats at Arsenal were solid if not spectacular especially off the left and playing centrally.

I like Iwobi's attitude. He's a grafter and he's useful to have in the squad because he can play across the entire midfield, but a squad player shouldn't cost 㿎m. Brands can't afford to make any more mistakes like that. I'm now at the point that I prefer us to hold onto our money if we can't get the players we want. Iwobi was clearly plan B when Brands realised that Palace wouldn't sell Zaha.

There's so many people been stealing a living at Everton for years, I'm surprised the organised crime police haven't intervened. Or maybe we need to be better organised to be considered?

I don't agree that we should be grateful to simply be in the Premier League though. That's an absolute minimum expectation for a club of Everton's stature.

Watching Howard's Way really gives you hope that a few signings can turn it around and get us challenging again.

I think DCL, in particular, was flying from mid-winter onwards until the enforced break, because he had his eyes on the prize of an international call-up for the European Championships and he does appear to have lost his mo-jo since the resumption of play. Cynics might say he has his prize already with his recent contract and the five-fold increase in his salary.

The fact that the club offered and he signed that new contract, would suggest that he'll be part of the team for the foreseeable future, obviously, he could still be sold, but so too could any of our players at any time.

I understand your position on not watching games at this particular time. It is almost like being in the Twilight Zone and of late the Everton team seem to be from another Planet. Unfortunately I still HAVE to watch games. I must say that the recent games are as nerve wracking to the point of exasperation.

I have always started to watch games at the beginning but find myself either wandering outside of the house during games. OR worse still going to the fridge to eat something I don't need. It is NEVER relaxing to watch the present "Blues". Over the past five years we have bought enough players to send out an entire eleven who perhaps could be referred to as USELESS UNITED.

However I have been tainted with a "Blue" brush which lasts a lifetime and I just have to watch,grin and bare it. Does anyone have any sensible options for an eighty year old Evertonian?

Anyone who had seen him play and wasn't simply looking at meaningless stats could tell you he would be a crap signing and that's exactly how it's turned out.

Brands should be the first out the door for considering spending 34p on Iwobi let alone £34 million.

Leave this summers transfers to Carlo and we might have a chance of bringing a couple of half decent players in.

I can understand the situation of those fans who, like yourself can only see Everton via television, but together with my main reason for not watching televised games, is the fact that at the ground I'm part of the occasion.

My world for the best part of two hours is 120 yards long and 75 yards wide, they could be dropping bombs on Broadway Bridge and I would be oblivious to it. The only advice I can offer is, "Grow old slowly."

They are good players in their own right but don't complement as playing partners.

It's part of the frustration of supporting and watching EFC, more so the last thirty years. But whilst the same at most clubs, Everton is all that counts.

We play in my view, with bad odds before we start most games, as we have no capability in midfield to recycle the ball forward, back, or side either way, bar the odd 1 pass in 30.

I'm guessing but on average the EFC recycle, ultimately more than most goes to Pickford. Most teams can now deploy a floating attack.

From back to front, as we have no mid field. It's a picnic these days playing EFC, and I purposely didn't watch the game v Soto, but they could have been Real, Barca or City, the way they passed and moved with purpose and belief.

I'm sorry for Tom Davies, who tries his best, but the game is won and lost in the mid field, as it stands we don't have a midfield. If we don't buy, then next season, will be very tough to compete and avoid a relegation battle.

Gomes looks, with due respect he's never gonna be fit and is now passing back, sideways, and backwards, with the odd punt cross and cross field.

Nothing so far has proved effective and being brutal, the Pickford RS game and his great goal v Wolves, at home in 03/2020?, I've not seen the body language of a player who wants to kick arse and dominate the midfield battle on the day.

Being brutally honest of late, our midfield is creating mayhem and almost totally diluting any team set up and game plan.

That's my view, but as it is, we are pissing in the wind for a good team any time soon.

EFC needs a miracle and there's hope but the players mindset and mentality must be checked out before we buy.

One flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, but EFC, in terms of style, quality and standard, is light years away from the best teams in Europe.

We are where we are, and it hurts, but like never before the team must show up at Wolves.

I hope and pray Carlo can deliver EFC,and deliver EFC to a great place, in the next few years.

DCL and Richie are feeding on scraps, but that beautiful pass from Tom Davies was a big juicy bone.

The pass caught the keeper cold and he was in no mans land. It demanded an instinctive header or volley over his bonce. If the attempt went wide or over well that happens, he should have done better.

DCL is the type of personalty who will fight harder when things are not happening, so I have got every faith in him to resume his pre lockdown form and to be better still in Carlo's improved 20/21 team.

Don't you think this is a tad melodramatic given that Carlo still has a very decent points return since arriving, despite our whole central midfield being hit by injury bar Tom Davies?

The last two game have been very poor but our poor squad has meant little or no rotation and with this ludicrous schedule the lads look knackered. Let's not start the relegation anxieties too early! If we had a fully fit Delph, Gbamin or Gomes I'm sure we'd have seen a little more control of the middle in the last two matches and we look better defensively. The lack of interplay up front is concerning and the lack of chances and dynamism but don't think we need to start ringing the relegation dong of gloom just yet.

I agree with many, we should have moved the millions wasted to land Vardy. 100 premier league goals in 5 years.

Carlo Ancellotti has inherited a Sunday pub squad and has achieved some good results but for next season, for the long haul, in my view he will rebuild as this squad is not good enough other than to be floating in the mid table positions.

I've every faith in Carlo Ancellotti, and as I've said in previous threads, he's in my view the best addition EFC, has made in years.

A proven player and coach. He will have sussed out this squad by now.

Let's see what team turns up tomorrow.

Clearly the squad needs work, especially in the middle but we won't be getting the sort of clear out that many call for each summer. 2-3 first team signings, likely at CM, CB and RM. Many keep saying that Carlo must make these signings rather than Brands but Carlo's history suggests someone who is not at all hands on in the transfer market so let's hope Brands does better this summer.

Sorting the defense out is a good start and hopefully some more dynamism in the middle will allow us to play a slightly higher line and connect our midfield to our forwards more. I remain cautiously optimistic though much will rest on Carlo's ability to get better performances out of players that many on here think are not good enough.

He gave Irish people the most incredible period in our sporting history. The memories he has given me for the rest of my life as a teenager during Euro 88 and Italia 90 are something I will cherish until the day I die.

His playing style wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but each and every player he managed took the field wanting to give him 100% and knew exactly what their job was. 

He was loved by the Irish nation and will always hold a special place in all our hearts. Rest in peace big Jack.

On the subject of centre-mids, Rabiot scored a magnificent goal for Juve against Milan yesterday. Pace, power and drive from the right-back position until he reached the edge of the D and unleashed a thunderbolt. Sadly they will not now be letting him go.

Those 3 positions are priority, but what about right back? Seamus's heart and desire is all there still, but he is not the player he once was. Whether that's the injury or his age, I don't know. If Kenny is staying in Germany, then this is a position too that needs strengthening sooner rather than later.

I fully recognise the deficiencies in our squad but wonder if the current displays indicate that the players have the same mindset as John and I, ie, that the season finished in March?

However, top class talent in any position will take us forward. Coleman no longer crosses the halfway line which makes life difficult for whoever plays RW. Maybe a quality right back would bring a bit more out of, say, Iwobi?

We've got a young lad out on loan (Kenny) who, the consensus is, doesn't fit the bill. At the other end of the scale, we brought in an experienced French international right-back. But he plays without positional discipline and with erratic distribution – again, not good enough.

Coleman may more mistakes than when at his peak and he certainly doesn't get forward as much. But he will remain our top option for some time yet -- unless we're prepared to fork out 㿞M for better.

Aarons, Emerson and Oina have all been linked. The former is very neat and tidy, good movement, good engine. He's the obvious choice. Better than Kenny.

Emerson plays very much like Sidibé which is both a compliment and a note of caution. Not sure Oina is an upgrade on Kenny. Transfermarkt actually rates Kenny as the better of the two.

Like watching El Clasico compared to our efforts v Southampton.

Allan (who I would also love to sign) is a maybe, we'd have to pay through the nose but would be buying a 29-year-old with superb qualities. I can't see it myself, I suspect we will be shopping in the Sangare (steady Sam, down boy!) and Koopmeiners market. Still hoping for a double raid on Norwich for Buendia and Arons. 🙏

For a "full-back", an old-fashioned term, I know, my first priority is that he can defend and Aarons has not shown me that he can do that. Positionally he looks very weak. There are plenty of players who can look ok going forward but defending should be the #1 consideration.