Desperate Blues roll over for desperate Cherries

What was noticeable was the absence of Calvert-Lewin in the game practice. Carrying a wee knock maybe?

But glad to see Moise Kean get a start.

Everton v Bournemouth

As per usual with these streams, just need to click a few times and close various windows that open up to get to the full screen option.

As for the game. I expected a tough match. They need to win much more than we do. They were always going to have more desire and we just needed to weather the early storm and work hard. We didn't do that.

We've been poor. Sigurdsson has been anonymous. Except for a gorgeous pass in the move for the goal, Gomes's passing has been very poor. Davies has run around a lot but not done much. Branthwaite was too easily beaten for the second goal. I can't blame Richarlison for the first as he's a forward and shouldn't be defending his own box.

Why is Carragher commentating on our game? He's enjoying winding up the Everton fans and saying how terrible we are. Yes, we are bad, but not as bad as he makes out.

Just a modicum of control would get us a result here, but too many players not matching Bournemouth's (expected) intensity.

We need to get a grip down their left. Other than his part in our goal, Seamus is having a mare.

If Richarlison could match Moise Kean's performance up front we would also be in a better place. The Brazilian is very poor today. Kean doing very well in his hold up play, his distribution, running and positioning. Nice he got the goal.

Having brought the game level so close to half time, very poor to then concede again.

I don't believe Bournemouth can maintain this level of intensity all game and they can easily be opened up, but we certainly need more intensity and control than we have displayed in that first half.

Five subs won't be enough today and when you you look at the bench it just fills you with more despair, what a fuckin' absolute shambles of a mess Ancelotti has got to try and sort out. Rubbish and plenty of it on that field today.

Goodbye, and thank you for all the memories Djibril Sidibe.

Not that the defeat is only down to him.

Where is our nark? The man who just does not accept performances like this who takes command of a game and drives on his team mates?

Plenty of 2nd half possession, but no pace, no guile, no invention to open them up.

Big changes needed in our midfield, as everyone knows.

Watching us is a true embarrassment. You keep hoping but, my God, we're bad. If we don't get something together quickly then we will indeed be with the strugglers next season.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

Absolutely no soul left at the club. No identity, no plan.

Same shit next season obviously..

Some on the forum were laughing at Bournemouth 's expense because Villa had scored! That is just the lowest of the low. There is no-one at the club exempt from blame for this season.

Ancelotti was not the right appointment... Wilder or Dyche is the type of stepping stone we needed and you can guarantee we would not have been getting the shambolic, spineless performances we've just had to endure.

Tom did okay, Moise showed signs of genuine ability but yet again we have a manager who plays Gomes and Sigurdsson together making the most ponderous midfield pairing in the division.

As for Pickford...!!

I can only imagine there is absolutely no hope of Baningime and Adeniran ever making it at this club. If they aren't trusted in meaningless games with no fans, they won't be trusted next season when we have fans and when there's something to play for.

The ironic thing is, if Carlo has or started with Baningime, Adeniran, Gordon, Branthwaite, Davies and Kean in the team then no one would have been bothered with a 3-1 defeat. They would have accepted it as a chance to see what some young fringe players could do. Instead, we've trundled the same passionless shower onto the pitch to prove exactly what we already know – that they are overpaid and have no desire.

The places are more reliant on other teams so I can handle that. But I knew, and I hate knowing it, that we are just lacking in so much that we weren't ever gonna do much better than I predicted.

It's soul-destroying to watch a team, who'll be playing in the Championship next season, out-play, out-think and out-fight us. Lost their last five away games. We've not lost at home under Ancelotti. What the fuck else did we expect today?

The manner of the defeat was demoralising and embarrassing though. Nobody could get this squad performing at a decent level, NOBODY!

Happy for Villa. Really am. Rest of it is shit. We will be battling Villa against relegation if we don't improve.

At least Watford went down, which briefly put a smile on my face.

He's bought none of them and I'd be willing to wager, he'll be encouraging his DOF to get rid of most of that shite.

We seem to plumb new lows on a very regular basis don't we?

I didn't see all of today, but that makes me one of the lucky ones. What a way to finish a season where the RS ended their drought.

See you all in eight weeks because I'm stupid, the club take me for granted and I don't know any better. My only hope is a significant number of the gobshites that we play for us are gone. Take care ToffeeWebbers.

12th place and we didn't even hit 50 points. Disgusting.

That's SO UNACCEPTABLE for a Club like Everton.

Leighton Baines has been one of the best Everton players since the 80s. I still rate him above Cole as the best of the Premier League era. Always classy too. Good luck with whatever you do next, Leighton.

Digne deserves better and I imagine he'll get it.

As for the rest, they should be thankful that we can't replace every one of them in one summer.

Brands and Carlo have to earn their pennies now. No more shit, uninterested castoffs from other teams. We need a major overhaul or we are fucked next season.

Somebody please tell Pickford to focus on saving shots and clear the ball when you have to. The defence played okay but they are not Barcelona, thy need to realise their limitations and clear the ball.

We have at least five players who can go; if we cannot buy then use youth, they have more passion and desire than this lot today... embarrassing!

That said, I hope (?) that Carlo wants and gets the players to allow him to play a different style.

What we have witnessed since lockdown is a disorganized mess and changing formations and tactics, also an inability to play any decent football during this period, and that must be a worry.

And they're a rather large group.

If West Ham had won Villa would have, surely, have had a legitimate reason to have our team tested; just to check... unlikely as it is, if one of the second rate cunts had a backbone. Sadly, every fucking one of them does not get the concept of shame.

Pickford, at least made my day. This utterly laughable man is the England goalkeeper. God almighty.

For me, that means two changes:

Sigurdsson preferably sent out and transferred with a replacement CM.

Davies kept and utilized in a back up / substitute role with a replacement CDM.

Other "squad" changes:

If we don't get in a CDM, I'd bring in a second CM and play Holgate at CDM. That may or may not happen.

Gordon starts.

Either Theo or Iwobe are transferred.

Richarlison stays wide left

Calvert-Lewin and Kean "platoon" ('Mericanism) to keep one another hungry. The player who plays better retains his position.

Kenny comes back to fight for a RB starting role

Pickford, if needed, could be transferred to free up funds to get the necessary two CMs into the squad.

All the deadweight is written off a loss / bought out / transferred out of the club

What have we achieved in the last 30-odd years (okay an FA Cup win in 1995) that makes 12th place unacceptable?

The only decent thing about the club is the fanbase. Oh, and our history.

Ancelotti has always had leaders on the pitch. This pile of shit couldn't even lead a conga dance.

The difference being one team attack swiftly with pace, movement, direct running and options. We don't.

Happy to play keep ball of are leading comfortably but we don't have the players to hurt teams when we fall behind because they all continue to dimly hit us on the counter.

Happy Branthwaite played again, he had a good game and continues to look more comfortable on the ball than Keane. But both got done for pace and movement, we need a new centre back with genuine pace.

Gomes a poor game. To slow in thought and foot. Sloppy passing.

Gordon did well when he came on but then stopped receiving the ball and came to narrow.

First time this season Moise Kean looked like he had a football brain. Good pace but needs to release the ball sooner when he did well to hold it up.

The rest hit and miss. Not good enough.

Also, soooooo sad if Leighton departs. Exemplifies what we need now.

What if we'd given him more game time before now, starting games?

What does today's performance mean for him in the immediate future?

Calvert-Lewin is still the preferred choice up front?

Minus Richarlison, we are down.

Massive job on his hands after Koeman's reckless splurge on shite mediocre players.

12th place for fuck's sake and all because we have bought shite. Where would we be without Richarlison?

Credit to Marcel Brands for bringing in Branthwaite at relatively low cost but not good enough overall.

Everton need to be very careful how they tread next couple of seasons. 6 years of steady regression. We are no longer a solid 6-7th place club and have moved down into the next tier of solid as a solid mid table club that offer nothing.

Get the recruitment wrong and we could well be firmly seeing finishes in the bottom 6 and worse.

We've investede 𧺬M into players I believe since Moshiri took over? There or thereabouts.

Just a basic ROI dictates a better finishing position. Ignore history, look at the money, mate!!!

Branthwaite, Gordon and Kean are good prospects for the future but, other than Richarlison, the whole team needs to be replaced. But do we have the money any more, and which players would want to sign for us at the moment?

Personally, that's the business I'd expect us to be doing. Although I'd go for a 2nd CM if we don't get Gabriel. That sounds positive in light of today's result, but I reserve judgement on next season until Ancelotti brings in his own players.

Now we have to rebuld it, starting with two proper and quality central midfielders. Then Gomes needs to get fit, he is only 80% at the moment, he needs to be much sharper.

A good few of them need to be told to move on if they want to play football. As some of them will not find a place in the new team.

Of course they're not Carlo's players but he has not done any better and that's the worry, as I thought we would be better organised, show more spirit and effort, but I can't see it.

Of course Carlo needs a window, after that we will see what he can do. Here's hoping...

Now watch the money men and Vandervalk fuck Ancelloti over in the transfer market and he will leave too.

Relegation written all over Everton. I try not to let it get to me, but Everton are a joke, folks. Is there a point to this club anymore?

Going fishing and on holidays to forget this shit. bAnd yes, come September I will, like everyone else will be back for more.

I'm more worried that we have no future. Tom Davies is bang average, let's be honest. He's an honest grafter, he never hides. But he's not good enough for the club. But - he cares.

Other than him, and maybe Seamus and Leighton (thanks for your years of service), I don't see a single player who gives a crap about the club, the fans, or has any professional pride (Anthony Gordon may, in time, but thankfully, he's too young to be tainted by association).

There's not a player on that pitch today who I'm absolutely certain will be at the club next season. Marcel and Carlo have no allegiance, so they'll see no issue in selling our best three players (Richarlison, Digne, Holgate) if it raises money to 'revitalise' the team. But I'm terrified of more cast-offs like Delph, Walcott, Iwobi.

If Carlo's such a great tactician, I'd just have him sell who he can, keep the gems (please try to) and replace the losses with loans and the youths.

In the past, when we were bad, we had Kevin Campbell, Big Dunc, Wayne Rooney but this present shower are all wet lettuces.

We do not need a CB!

Keane, Holgate, Mina, Branthwaite. That's 4 players who will be okay while we rebuild our midfield.

It's midfield we need massive, massive help in. We have to correct that first and foremost. The back line will do.

That sounds like settling. It's simply prioritizing.

As Silva didn't possess the pedigree of Ancelotti, he was an easy victim, a scapegoat for the players' failure. I still feel that although he had his faults, bad luck, bad buys and average players let him down.

Ancelotti in contrast has a CV that is second to none. Surely he will turn it around we thought. He can't and hasn't because he is lumbered with a squad which just can not perform on any kind of consistent basis. It's only consistency lies in the production of the same rancid football which we have been forced to endure over the last few weeks.

Ancelotti may well turn this around but does he have the stomach for it? Who can say?

The roots of inadequacy are sinking deeper and deeper into the soil and soul of this great club. It's tragic.

Good luck to everyone trying to pick the bones out of this season, but considering the mess of a squad we currently have, and the position Silva left us in, I'm going to accept 12th and hope that a rebuild is already underway.

We were soft, lacked tempo, ball pace was slow and and most of the team couldn't trap a bag of cement.

You can frame the game in more prosaic terms if you like, etc. However, for me that was pathetic.

There was a 10-minute spell were we passed the ball in a big oval through the defenders and midfielders. Each pass was weary with no pace, the players often needed more than one touch to readjust and we went nowhere.

In the ultimate free hit, no pressure game not on player decided to take a chance, gamble or risk a high reward play. Too many players can ‘only' play in one system to accommodate them. Messers Keane, Coleman, Sigurdsson & Gomes are one-trick ponies.

Whilst it won't happen, I'd love a new broom, a full sweep of the decks.

I'll move on to Ancelotti whilst I'm still on board: I have to say, whilst his tactical changes often are welcome, his ability to get more out of this lot is looking off the pace.

A monumental six weeks.

You've got 6 weeks to find a different sport to follow which would mean you not having to endure this unremitting bucket of monkey spunk ever again!

A decent goalie would be worth 10+ points more to us so could be a quick fix but who would take Pickford? None of the clubs playing Champions League footy. Arsenal – they have spent big on a goalie. Spurs? West Ham? Would he move to them?

I honestly would take any reasonable offer to shift this terrible liability.

Under Ferguson we had a higher tempo to win the ball and battle for the cause. Yes, the football wasn't great but we made it difficult.

Now we are strolling round with no purpose. We are Everton not Manchester United or Real Madrid. You need to earn the right to stroll around with arrogance.

I want Carlo to succeed but 3-5 players must come in quickly. A season of normality for Everton. Achieved nothing again. Not relegated so some credit but thank goodness it's all over.

He must sit there wondering how to tell Moshiri 95% of the crew need replacing and then ponder on the likelihood of it happening (he must know it won't).

The only saving grace is big payoffs are the norm here.

This bunch of players are not good enough, and will never be whatever manager you put in there. Trying to outplay other teams with slow backwards- and sideways passing is never going to work. To be honest, with this bunch of players, I prefer Duncan Ferguson being a manager scaring the shit out of them when not fighting enough. Nothing else but fighting is going to do it. Occasionally Richarlison show a glimse of genious and thats it.

Ancellotti, can you let all players go a boxing match with Duncan Ferguson so they wake up or something? This was horrible.

Another depressing day at the end of a very depressing season. Thanks for nothing, Everton.

Otherwise I agree and I said the same thing on this thread and earlier this week, especially when you also consider we have Lewis Gibson and Gbamin who can also play CB.

For my money it's Keane, £20m and that goes towards a new quick left sided CB.

Also he has to stop kicking long quick balls for counter-attacks. That has never ever worked. Why is he still doing that? And why can't anyone tell him to stop?

Any player or manager, whatever, tell Pickford to fuckin' stop with his quick long-ball attacking stuff.

Keane was poor today. He's poor every game unless the midfield sits on top of him and he sits on the edge of the box. He's simply not good enough. He couldn't do a job for any top side as he can't play in a high line.

Yerry Mina's injury record is very concerning. Also concerning is the quality of his performances. He's disappointed me.

Mason Holgate did very well. But as well as he did, he's still young and he still has to improve. I believe he will do, for sure.

Gibson is another exciting prospect. But he's not first team ready. He can't be expected to just step up and immediately become Premier League level.

We need a first team player to compliment Holgate. I'd also get rid of one of Keane or Mina, and allow Branthwaite to be fourth choice. Gibson is probably best getting one more season on loan to improve in the Championship.

Don't get me wrong: this squad is the worst, but even so. You can say, "Oh well... they had nothing to play for" — neither did Arsenal or West Ham, but they didn't get played off the park by a load of shite.

Home defeats against two of the relegated clubs and doubled by Bournemouth. This must be some sort of record!

Beaten away by Villa and very lucky to salvage a point in the home game.

What a car crash of a season!

Best move of the day.

Racehorse (trained to race and compete): Digne.

Yearling (comparable in development to a very early adolescent and not yet fully mature physically): we have a few... Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Gordon, Holgate, Branthwaite – all have potential.

Mule (the offspring of a donkey and a horse, typically sterile and a beast of burden): we got loads of them, Walcott, Keane, Sidibé, Iwobi, Bernard, Gomes, Sigurdsson, Davies.

Ass (another name for a donkey but with generally considered more stupid than a donkey): we certainly have one between the sticks who has a tongue as long as an ass): Stand up, Jordan Pickford. The other one is called Bill.

Good luck and best wishes for a stellar professional in the next phase of your career in whatever you choose to do. An honour to watch you, Leighton. A true blue with more heart than all the mules mentioned herein.

Seamus has given great service and wish him well also but your best days are over.

Pep, Klopp and Ancelotti, all put together, would struggle with this lot.

If anyone disagrees please try sending mail responses to the following: blue freeloader players at tuffshit.com.

Look, water is wet. Fire is hot. And we'll never win anything with Pickford. The third that he dived over, that would be poor at any level of football right down to a park game.

"He's Englands #1".

Yeah, well so was that clown David James. We've got the modern game's version. Brands, Get Rid!

It will be interesting to see if and when the clear out takes place and which players we recruit. This will show the owner's and manager's intentions for next season and ambition for European qualification. Another season like this and we will in big trouble.

I enjoyed the first half. The second half subs did nothing and everyone else threw the towel in. Coleman was up for it to his credit but had some mishaps. Kean played well. That was about it for positives.

Can you buy a soul? I don't think so.

I'm not sure about Ancelotti and have lost faith in Brands.

Too many of the players just not good enough and we are stuck with them. I really hope we can sign decent competition for Pickford and I also hope he loses his England spot – something needs to happen to wake this fool up.

The Italian, like every manager that takes the Everton job, has his work cut out for sure. We definitely need new players but it's the mentality of the team that needs to change if we are to compete.

Add to that the enforced break in the season due to Covid-19 and that our newly signed replacement centre-midfielder has had two major injuries one on top of the other, whilst our "creative" centre-midfielder had his foot pointing backwards not so very long ago and one way and another the season hasn't really been disappointing, its been disastrous.

Hopefully though, out of this disaster, we have acquired a world-class manager who, with a little luck and a fair following wind, will, with a few additions to the squad, be able to meld together a team that from next season will restore some pride to the name of Everton Football Club and start to sow the seeds of success that we have waited for, with agonising patience, since the mid-1980s.

If it doesn't start to happen thus in September 2020, I despair that it will ever happen at all.

Spot on. Those claiming we don't need a center half because a youngster has shown promise are asking too much of the boy. I thought he had both his limitations and experience exposed today. One for the future. Not one to be exposed to the predators lurking around the Premier League, not before school's out at least.

I was happier with young Kean today. Played with his head up. Looks a different proposition when he does this. Looks like somebody, somewhwere has been working with him.

Abject season from players who don't give a fuck. Lamentable season from the management. New lows have been plumbed this season. That in itself is some statement.

Anybody who thinks Brands and Ancelotti will solve our problems in the coming window is living in cuckoo land. Our current targets are testimony to that. The stench of hamster shit is becoming overpowering

We don't need a fancy manager, we need a team of scalers to scrub and scour the place from top to bottom. It would help if we had a manager who knew where to find the scouring pads.

Anyway, on to next season. If we can get the summer recruitment right (always a big "if"), I do think we have a legitimate core to build around. Branthwaite continues to impress. Gordon has been a bright spot since the restart. We all know Holgate's quality. Calvert-Lewin faded badly and some will never be convinced by him, but he's improved every year. And this was exactly the sort of performance Moise Kean needed to end the season on. Obviously the goal was nice, but I was impressed by how involved he was in general, including two truly outstanding passes that could have been assists.

Throw in Richarlison and Digne, who are elite players, Keane and Mina, who are capable enough defenders, and Gomes, who I suspect will be a lot more consistent and effective with the right midfield partner, and you have the makings of a pretty decent squad.

(As for Pickford, I've defended him up to this point, mostly on the basis of us having seemingly greater needs, but at this point... I dunno.)

I believe we should give Ancelotti and Brands a chance but at the same time Ancelotti with his reputation should have got more from the players he had. It seems we are now depending word on the new stadium as a plus to sign new players, but that may not come until October.

We may have a billionaire owner but under the Financial Fair Play rulings this may not be the advantage we hoped for. There is also the losses that clubs have got through the pandemic that may affect the prices of the players we will want to sell, on the other hand, it may lower the prices of who we want to buy.

As sad as it may sound, I think 7 or 8 of the players who played today may still be here at the start of the season. Who they will be is open to discussion, and may be decided on who we sign.

This is a bit risky of me to take issue with two knowledgable football Blues, but I fell safe knowing my crowd (you two) won't shoot the American.

I hear what both of you are saying, and my counter-argument is you're both arguing from an idyllic position that isn't grounded in reality.

Could we use a centre-back? Yes. Of course.

But we are in a position of prioritization with limited funds. The and funds should be limited, we've over-spent like drunken sailors!

centre-backis not a priority for me, two centre-midfielders is. Do we eventually need a more pacy centre-back? You're both more knowledgable and say we do, so I bow to you on that point.

But I would bet the house, wife, and kids that we would perform much better as a unit in the short term (and long term) if we prioritize two midfielders now, before we look at the centre-backs.

I was actually ashamed today that we hardly troubled a Championship goalie and defence that ship goals like a sieve.

Tom Davies worked his ass off but with 2 passengers alongside him in Gomes and Sigurdsson he couldn't do much.

Michael Keane and Pickford showed that they have no bottle and cracked under very little pressure.

Theo made the goal but was otherwise totally anonymous.

My only positive today came from seeing Moise Kean showing us a little bit of why he was so highly rated. Strong, skillful, rapid and hardworking. Just needs to work on his heading ability and he will be useful.

As for the rest, the only players I would keep are:

Coleman (in decline but you can't deny his determination);
Branthwaite (looks very cool under pressure just needs more experience);
Digne (arguably our best player);
Richarlison (the other side of the argument);
Davies (good squad player);
Anthony Gordon (good squad player);
Calvert-Lewin (good squad player);
Jordan Pickford (good deputy goalkeeper).

The rest of them need replacing and then clearing out of the club.

If he wants a challenge, he won't get a more difficult one. Was he that ill-informed about the dearth of talent in the squad? And the lack of finance to do much about it.

Did he do his homework? Or just look at his contract?

I know you can't change a team overnight but at least six of these first team squad players need to be offloaded or frozen out between now and September without question.

Need a midfield that blends ball winning with finesse. Need a proper right winger. Need a real centre forward. The attitude of most of these players was shocking. Not happy with this squad at all. 🤬

His record of 12 goals in 8 years helps explain why the Neville got sacked at Valenica.

Worried though that we'll only get shot of a few of them and have more of the same next season. Feels like every season for the last 2 or 3 years we've wanted to sell half the team but can't because of high wages or fees that we paid.

Brands needs a massive summer; heard that somewhere before...

Maybe this club we support is no longer one of challenging for trophies, but maybe we should be grateful that we are safe from relegation.

I put all my faith in Ancelotti because if he can't change the mindset of this club, then I think our supporters will feel nobody will be capable of getting us to challenge for trophies.

My slight concern is that when Carlo first came it was great to see how close and how animated he and Duncan were on the touchline. But of late there seems to be very little interaction between the two of them, today I don't think Duncan could have sat any further away from Carlo. I hope there hasn't been a rift between them as, in our current predicament, we need both working in tandem.

Thankfully this awful season has ended, but it will take some drastic changes to hope to see any changes given we have just 6 weeks to buy some decent players and get them bedded in before the new season begins. Also, how they arrange who to play in pre-season games will be interesting.

If we don't bring in Gabriel, I would try and pursue Rabiot to play alongside Allan. There's only so much we can realistically do in one summer and if we don't get our 1st choice centre-back target I'd make do with Holgate, Keane, Mina, and Branthwaite until next summer. I think we'd cope given Gbamin could also play there if necessary.

As a born and bred scouser and a regular at Goodison Park for over 50 years I totally agree with you.

Branthwaite was outstanding again today and just needs to get more experience at this level. Although he was beaten for the goal, he was up against 2 Bournemouth players so someone else was not doing their job and besides that, he rescued us a few times with assured and calm defending.

I believe we can park a new centre-back for a season and let Branthwaite, Gibson and Holgate grow into those positions.

I say that because there is a limit to what we can spend and we need 2 or 3 top class midfield players as a matter of urgency to score goals, create more assists, win the ball, keep the ball and pass accurately.

Sick to death of these morons thinking they're doing us a favour by turning up.

I agree, centre-back could do with an upgrade but it's like replacing an old carpet if your house has no roof. If we get a centre-back with better ball skills he can get it to the midfielder, then what? They pass it back to him. So we kill ten seconds on the clock then they repeat it over and over till they get caught in possession.

I almost fell out of my chair once today when Sigurdsson dropped deep and asked for the ball. That was it though, he and the rest soon went back into hiding

And If Carlo Ancelotti thinks we want to watch the dreadful, slow, sideways & backwards football of the last 6 games then he needs to be shipped out too. What a horrible, soul-destroying time to be a Blue.

We go out and buy more often than not surplus to requirements players from well, anywhere, it's a long list. Problem is what top player near his peak would want to come here? The club is a train wreck that seemingly can't change course.

Moshiri has put loads of money in and has been let down badly by so-called knowledgeable football people such as Walsh and Brands, you can also add the managers who have not exactly covered themselves in glory either. If I was in his shoes, I would be tearing my hair out, he deserves better.

I can see two or three of our best players wanting out also, I wouldn't blame them.

If we can only have one priority area – midfield is it.

Under Moyes, and in recent seasons, we have been used to finishing between 6th and 8th. However, we are now officially a mid-table side and if our Board are serious about aiming for top 6 then most (all?) other areas of the pitch need remedial action too.

But, being optimistic, this will take 2 seasons (4 x transfer windows) at best.

"Although he was beaten for the goal, he was up against 2 Bournemouth players so someone else was not doing their job."

Yes. And was the guy who scored actually not the man Branthwaite was marking? The man he was marking ended up between Branthwaite and the scorer? If so, then Branthwaite was not culpable in that goal.

I'd point to Moshiri "Do you want me to do this job? Do you want this club to succeed?"

Points to Brands, "Right. You. Get me as much money as you can for Pickford, Mina, Gomes, Bernard, Iwobi. Do everything you can to get rid of Sigurdsson & Walcott. Don't even think about buying any players unless they're 'promising kids'. Sort out that academy and join it up with the rest of the club."

Points to Moshiri, "I need at least two central midfielders, a solid keeper, centre-back and a wide player. I'll get them if you tell me the budget. Don't even think about you or him (Brands) getting involved."

I hope he's had that conversation already.

I'm going to say that two tough, pacey mid-fielders will change us for the good.

Back-line and front-line are good enough for now.

And some strong talk of getting in a 'keeper will do fine for me.

First, the midfield.

Years of steady regression and money wasted on players with no character. This comes from the top. Moshiri needs to back Ancelotti (not Brands) and give him full, complete, absolute say, on who comes in.

A bad start next season and it is going to get incredibly toxic.

Sorry, mate, but what on earth are you watching?

I agree, we are even worse off in midfield but we are not good enough in any area, not just midfield.

Hope someone at the club knows how to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Sadly I don't see us getting a better keeper, so I think we are stuck with Jordan.

Our centre-halves sadly lack the pace we need at times. We could do with another one in, but it's not top priority for me.

But it's in the midfield where we are truly lacking. Gomes can be quality, but we are not seeing any of it at this moment in time. But he could do with some real quality beside him, someone who can run with the ball, make a tackle, find that killer pass or even have a shot (on target). Here's hoping we find someone.

We also need a proven goal scorer, someone who can consistently get you 15 to 20 plus goals a year. Gold dust, I know.

We don't hold with that sort of honest, accurate assessment around here.

But the most important thing is that Everton Football Club need to go back to school regarding the game of football. The fitness of the players is sub-standard, the training of the players is sub-standard, the mentality of everyone is sub-standard (no more "Well, we lost, it is only a friendly" or "Well, there is no crowd or nothing to play for, so it's not surprising we lost" and "Well, we expect to lose to the top six teams").

Improvements are required all over, not just by buying a couple of players. Everton think the hard work is done buying expensive players; it certainly is not. Players always need to be taught how to play football.

I can't see us achieving much over the next 6 weeks, we are on a knife-edge – it may be onwards and upwards but just as likely to be down and out next season. The pressure is on.

We have no chance and it may be that to kick start the team we need to pay for a couple of older players of proven quality. In 1984, it was Reid and Gray.

I don't even want to comment on our problems and what a disastrous waste of an opportunity Koeman, Walsh, Silva and Brands have overseen. I'm tired of it now. To make it worse, our neighbours are now the best team in the land by a mile.

Let's have more false dawns next season!

Stay safe TWers!

Every goalkeeper makes mistakes. De Gea in the semi-final last week made two horrendous mistakes to gift Chelsea a couple of goals. Allison for Liverpool against Arsenal made one to gift Arsenal their winner. Fortunately, for Man Utd and Liverpool, their goalkeepers' mistakes seem to be few and far between.

We have now seen a catalogue of errors by Pickford costing us not only goals, but points. FFS, he can make absolute world-class saves then go and make an absolute howler. That third goal today I'd have been embarrassed to concede when I was playing.

Pickford must now clearly be worried about losing his England place, and Carlo certainly needs to sign a top-quality goalkeeper for next season.

We are overloaded with players who are slow have piss poor technique, unable to pass or control a football, and have very little skill.

There are maybe 4 or 5 who I would keep and it wouldn't take a big bid to persuade me to sell any of them either.

Pickford is a joke and he finds his own ineptitude funny. Get rid before his price plummets even more. Lössl is better; if you can't get a new goalie, start the season with Lössl.

Coleman is finished. He can no longer get up or down the pitch. Can't beat a man anymore and was never the greatest defender anyway. His strength was attacking. That's gone and so must he. No room for sentiment. Get rid. Him in a defence with Keane and Pickford behind him, is a recipe for disaster.

Keane is no more than a squad player and a back-up at centre-back but, given his age and the fact he's English, he'd still command a reasonable fee. 㾻M upwards I'd think. List him and take the money before what value he has, plummets. He's not good enough for where we apparently want to go. He's a bean pole. His lack of pace would not be tolerated by any top 6 team and must not by us either.

Walcott is neither a winger nor a striker. It could be argued he's not a footballer either. Offers fuck all with or without the ball. A hefty wage to boot. List him and take what you can. Just clearing his wage is worth a Bosman. Plus, he's got Plaits, the fuckin divvy.

Davies is a nothing. He does nothing. He offers nothing. Doesn't score. Doesn't assist. Doesn't carry the ball. Can't tackle. Can't shoot. Get rid. I don't care if he's a blue or one of our own. So am I but you wouldn't want me blowing out my arse in our centre-midfield so we shouldn't tolerate him either. He's a Championship player.

Bernard the Hobbit. Weak as piss. Touch of an angel but then the kiss of death for his end product. Another one who doesn't assist or score. A passenger in most games. He was a free so you'd get 㾻M upwards for him and he's still held in high regard from his time in Ukraine, send him back there because he's turning our flanks into fucking Chernobyl.

Sigurdsson is all too often, too happy to accept no responsibility and hide. I want my centre-midfilders to demand the ball and dictate our play. You only have to look at Grealish to see everything Sigurdsson isn't. Another who needs listing and take what we can get. His wage is another hefty one that could be far better spent on a sand bag.

Gomes is still playing with a fracture and I won't be told otherwise. I've seen land mine victims with prosthetics who are better than him at the minute. He's had a bad injury and we've sold his ideal partner so I'll give him next season to fully recover, get fit and hopefully we'll see the old Gomes when he is no longer surrounded by turbo cunts in every direction. If there's no immediate improvement, leg him as well.

Add to them, Delph, Bolasie, Sandro, and Iwobi and list them and get what you can. They can not start the season with Everton.

Welcome back Gbamin, Kenny and Lössl and sign a pacey centre-back like Zouma or Gabriel, get Allan or Højbjerg. Offer Watford whatever the fuck they want for Sarr and try and swap Kean for Lozano and we might start to resemble a team again.

I can't take any of this shite anymore. I've had enough. I'm bored of mangers getting hired and fired and signing absolute fucking shite. Our squad is a mismatch of shite. It's like taking the dog for a walk and picking up all the turds you find in the park and emptying them all out in the back garden when you get in. That's our team.

Enough is enough. You've got the manager, you're paying through the nose for him so get him the players he wants and needs or just jib it. If you's can't be arsed, then I can't. If we were any other business other than a togger team, the owner would torch it and claim on the insurance.

Roll on the new season because this Covid-19 has fuck all on our midfield.

Let's say we keep what we have at centre-back and buy two top notch midfielders. Their better technique will allow us to keep possession and we in theory can build play up because we keep the ball.

That is, for me, neutered when your back line isn't high enough. All that great work from those new midfielders is nullified because they are doing it in their own half. As a result, they take less risk because the rub is losing possession in your own half on transition. Even your top players will recognize the low reward from it.

Whatever ails our midfielders would be significantly remedied with a higher line. Even Gomes and Sigurdsson would be better playing in the opposition's half. They can take risk knowing the defenders are quick enough to recover. It's especially pertinent when you play low blocks.

Mix in a keeper who gives everyone kittens it's a must to upgrade there too.
For me, replace that spine with quality and look for a free transfer or two. That tactical shift will get more out of this lot, I think it's key to what we have.

One thing I'd get rid of is these goal kicks in the 6-yard box. Seriously, what is the point of them?

To me, that particular position is our very lowest priority... behind all four midfield positions. Without some steel at defensive midfield, talent in the middle and pace on the outside, this club is going nowhere.

Replace the engine first... then the tires.

My prediction is a battle for survival until March. 40 points achieved then another coast to the end of the season.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, a new broom sweeps clean and all of that – even if the old guard isn't guilty of anything other than incompetence, the need for a fresh start at Everton is apparent and has been for a number of years.

The gap between the Mersey clubs has probably never been as wide in terms of points gained in a single season. We can't just accept a 50 point deficit between the clubs as just one of those things, last season it was 43, the season before it was 26. To think we were ahead of them for a couple of seasons not so many years ago, but it seems the more money we've spent the gap keeps getting bigger.

We have to realise that this squad for whatever reason is just incapable of competing with the top ten, in fact, it finds it difficult to compete with most of the league most of the time.

As fans we really do have to adjust our expectations that we currently have - this isn't being defeatist – it's being realistic. it's time to bring in players who can battle and scrap because the current crop has few if any of that type available.

As a club, it's time to assess what its priorities are going forward and for those in power to recognise that failure is being accepted all too readily and too easily.

We may get lucky and sign the right calibre of player(s) and that will tease out the abilities and confidence of the younger players but in all likelihood, we will have a similar group to start all over again in September – it is not beyond the realms of nightmares that we could in 12 months be suffering even more than we are today if there is another year of inaction at board level.

One hope is, that if Manchester United can end the season in 3rd place, we too could galvanise ourselves and challenge next season, but that is more of a hope than an expectation. The hope is running out, it's time for the owner to do something other than throw money at the problem.

I'd start by loaning Davies out to a Championship club immediately. He is utter garbage and lacks all the skills of a quality midfielder.

Next, tell Sigurdsson, Walcott and Iwobi that they can leave immediately as they will get no game time next season. Tell Yerry "Sicknote" Mina to sort himself out with injuries as he is a joke.

Finally, sell Pickford to any of the promoted clubs and get a Neville Southall Mk II from somewhere.

"Welcome back Gbamin, Kenny and Lössl"?? What the hell for? How do any of them make us better? Have you even seen Lössl play? Ever?

"...sign a pacey center-back like Zouma" Did you actually watch that guy play this season? Sign a guy who anchored one of the most erratic defenses in the Premier League? Just because he played for us before? Thought you wanted quality.

"...hopefully we'll see the old Gomes..." When have you ever seen anything in the "old" Gomes that was any better than the current one? Last fall? Last year? At Barca? No. He is what he is. Fully healthy or not, this is as good as he gets.

He'll learn a lot more from his experience than he would reading daft-arsed posts like #124 and #147, blaming the smallest player on the pitch, for "losing his man" when he has clearly been told the edge of the box is his zone.

Take away the whipping boy and this footy lark clearly becomes a bit of a challenge for some.

BTW, Benn, spot-on. Too many people think they can solve our problems with a single bullet. Your machine-gun approach would be far more effective.

There will be no overhaul this summer, though. A few in a few out. Part of a longer term rebuild. Shame for Baines that he has no medals to show for his considerable talents. A magnificent footballer.

When Kean went off, Everton never looked like scoring, Calvert-Lewin was always two yards away from where Kean would have been and challenging.

I will mention Pickford though, who is clearly not dependable and I have doubts he ever will be. I also thought Baines was really good and Good Luck to him.

Mostly, teams are built round some sort of maverick who can spin magic out of thin air. Not us. We defend deep because we have to. Because we have a centre-back who would have made me worship him in the Northern Ireland teams that did so well.

He looks great in a shit team and is rightly loved for it. God almighty Carlo, surely this is not the Italian defensive master plan?

We are basing our tactics on defending deep. It affects everything we do. Sign a centre-back. Before a striker, before a midfielder. Sign a centre-half to play alongside Holgate and see how we go from there.

Thanks for that subtle and nuanced critique. Crying with laughter here.

As well as Leighton, a mention has to go to David Silva, what a magician with the ball he is! Several Premier League titles, and Euros and a World Cup winner of course.

I hope (as always) to see such a player in an Everton shirt.

I didn't like him since the away defeat at Newcastle a few seasons back where he was more concerned with mind games with the Newcastle fans. We threw away a 2 goal lead with his histrionics. I still have nightmares about the Origi blunder.

I genuinely can't think of many Everton midfielders down the years who regularly start games who are worse than Tom Davies. He's even worse than Simon Davies. A dreadful footballer. Yet again, under no pressure he passes a ball dead. Schneiderlin was better. What does he offer? People defending him saying he tries. It's like something you'd say to an under 8s player.

Walcott, Iwobi, Bernard, Sigurdsson, Mina, Delph, Sidibé aren't at the level we need. There are players at Bournemouth and Watford who are better.

It isn't going to be easy next season either. Leeds have a great manager and a hostile away ground. Chelsea have money to spend. Man Utd have improved. Wolves and Burnley will be hard to beat. Some might be distracted by Europe but talk of top 6 seems fanciful unless there is significant player turnover.

I only see hope if Usmanov gets on board and we start recruiting much better than we've seen. The jury is out on Brands. It takes more than making Kean's mum feel welcome. I don't see a lot of improvement over Walsh.

I've seen some bad Everton teams down the years but even the bad teams had a Big Dunc, Barry Horne or a Hutchinson that had some spirit or a hatred of losing. This lot have their huge salaries and not a lot else.

Thank God this season is over.

He is not a chaser and a battler. Paired with the right defensive midfielder/enforcer, he may have much to offer, assuming the injury has not permanently compromised him. Some of the passes he made in his periods of form have been largely unseen in this team for some years now.

Lately, however, he does appear to be infected with the strange malaise pervading just about the whole team. This is what needs addressing above all else, I believe.

Make him mistake, I don't particularly rate Kenny but he's more mobile than Coleman. He's just getting started and Coleman is finished. My preference is a new right-back all together but there is other more pressing areas at centre-back, both wings, defenive-midfield, centre-midfield and a forward.

Re Zouma, I judge him based on how he performed for us and he was superb and made Keane better as his pace got us out of trouble a lot. Again, I'd prefer Gabriel but Zouma is a huge improvement on every defender we have and the season we had him, he was top class, especially in the second half of that season.

And Gomes, his first loan season, he was a class centre mid with a superb range of passing and seemed to get us up the pitch a lot more than he does now. Would we have signed him if he did fuck all? Would Barcelona have signed him if he was as bad as you say?

He was outstanding for Valencia hence his move to Barcelona. He's been dreadful this season, as has everyone. Selling Gueye has left him with Davies and Sigurdsson either side of him, that's like choosing between malaria and Ebola.

I'll reserve judgment for next season when he has quality around him, hopefully. If there is no improvement, then get rid.

There are some good things happening, or with the potential to happen. Not many, but some.

Despite Moshiri's money, we are a club in decline on the pitch. Since the 1st season of Bobby Brown Shoes, the decline is speeding up, season on season.

The football served up has been turgid, spineless, pointless crap. No recognisable style, no identity. We can't compete with the so-called big 6 when we play them. Away to them, we are truly awful. Our recent record against the RS is truly shameful.

In the last 10 years, we have not had a captain on the pitch. Jagielka and Coleman are far too nice to be a captain.

The recruitment is truly astonishingly bad. Injury-prone players bought, who then don't play because they are injured – no shit, sherlock. Top 6 rejects – bar one definite exception Gareth Barry - have been useless. Walcott and Iwobi from Arsenal - what was the point?

Two goalkeepers recruited, who the season before were relegated from the Prmier League. A good goalkeeper organises a defence with the leading centre-half. Pickford can't organise his own concentration levels.

Prices paid have been way over the top for the majority of them too. 㿙M for Sigurdsson, 㿈M for Bolasie, 㿅M for Klaassen, who the week before we bought him, was totally anonymous in the UEFA Cup Final. 㿅M for Tosun... I could go on and on.

At one point, I swear we had 3 people making decisions on their own as to who Everton should buy. Walsh bought Gueye, Koeman bought Klaassen and I suspect Kenwright bought Wayne Rooney. How can a club be run in such a way?

Maybe this is what Scneiderlin – another waste of money – was getting at when he said of Nice, that it was good to come and play for an organised and well-structured club.

I despair of Everton, I really do, and to think we have 6 weeks in which to build a spine, get some leadership, pace, stamina, intelligence and – most importantly of all – FIGHT into the team.

You will truly be Carlo Fantastico if you can sort this club out, Mr Ancelotti. I pray that you will because the alternative does not bear thinking about.

Lössl - yeah mate, I have. I've seen him play. He's no Oblak but I've seen Pickford play as well. Go and get yourself a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier aftershave, or just google a picture of the bottle. that's Pickford. I'd rather anyone in goal than that little chav. He's a clown.

Lössl is a decent back-up and ideally, I'd sell Pickford and get a new number one but, believe me when I say, I'd rather anyone in goal than that fuckin liability, Pickford.

As far as I am concerned I have seen nothing (and it kills me to say this) to suggest that we are better off than if we had got Moyes back. Shocking.

They have not responded to the changes in routine, to the lack of incentive. They never believed they could make the Europa League places. A mishmash of last-chance salooners and last pay-chequers with a few youngsters thrown in to the mix to cut their spurs.

It seems that Calvert-Lewin read the good reviews and a possible England call-up and decided to get a fancy hair-do and forget everything he seemed to have learned pre-lockdown. Perhaps he shared a barber with Theo. Theo has made a living out of having pace but no end product. Of being able to get himself in on goal only to hit the keeper or bottle out of a tackle.

Today, Kean showed some nice touches, bringing others into play, something that Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have forgotten about.

Contrary to many above, I thought Gomes and Davies and even Sigurdsson were trying hard to make it work. There were missed passes as usual but we were always likely to be undone by the speed of the Cherries' forwards. None of our midfield are quick and only Digne and Branthwaite have any pace at the back.

Keane and Coleman were always going to struggle. It's simple really: we need a quick centre-half, a right-back, and a quick midfielder. The rest will take care of itself.

Oh, and after today, I will join the chorus for a different goalie. Pickford has climbed our list of liabilities.

I've been a lifelong Blue. First game was 1981. We lost 4-1 to Middlesbrough; I knew then this wasn't going to be one long walk in the sunshine. Two brothers - both red; didn't matter.

It was and always will be Everton.

But, put simply, I can't find any joy in it any more. It's not just the results, it's not the continuous raised expectations and dashed hopes, it's not even the poor performances. It's because we seem to have an ingrained culture of players not caring that I cannot bear to watch.

I have got 5 kids - 2 teenagers and 3 little ones. All Evertonians. But why would I want or expect them to sit through season after season of this third-rate, lacklustre, don't care shite? Why would I invest our time and my money?

We've got better things to do. Like just about anything other than this.

So I'm not going to renew the season ticket.

To be a football fan is to be in love with an idea. An idea that an alchemy of endeavour, skill, luck will lead to success with all the highs and lows along the way.

I love Everton and I won't stop being a Blue because you can't. But I have better things for me and the family to spend our time and money on.

when, and only when, all our other transfer business has been completed.

Yes.

All these people shouting for a CB to change our fortunes, please answer one question.

How did Leicester win the entire League with two CBs about as mobile as cement, yet have one of the most fun, dynamic, counter-attacking teams I've seen?

Huth and Morgan did one thing - defend. They did not play a high line, they did not do anything flashy. They partnered, they played in position, and they were rock, rock solid.

All the while they had a great midfield.

We need midfielders. You can win, in fact an entire league campaign, with CBs that aren't pacy and don't play a high line. It's been proven in the very recent past.

We have to bring in midfielders. Bringing in a CB, for me, is like trying to out-think the room. When something is this glaringly obvious, don't try to out-think the room.

If you could choose ANY 3 players from the current Premier League to try and integrate into our existing squad, who would you choose? Any 3, no cost constraints, no FFP considerations, no wage constraints.

What on earth is Don Carlo looking at? Richarlison? Digne? What else?

We need character, we need pace, we need fight.

Gomes needs a Gana to function. When he functions, he needs pace out wide to find. The defence needs a fighter, but they're all easily bullied. Again, no pace. Up front, Richarlison needs support and I'm afraid both Kean and Calvert-Lewin are squad, at best, players.

This is going to be a slow, painful progression, if we have the resources to back the manager. God help us if we are so poor in the midfield that Tom Davies starts another match.

I only didn't choose a goalkeeper because I don't particularly favor any of the keepers in the Premier League except for Alisson. And I don't want him.

For the older contributors.

We will soon have to re-instate that competition – only this time we will be in the Championship.

Just look at today. Bournemouth, one of the worst teams in the Premier League, stopped us from playing out. Only teams with exceptional ball retention, like Man City, could in theory play with slow centre-backs.

It's the whole team that has to attack and defend as one, in my opinion, dividing it up into neat batteries of defenders, midfield and attack is dated.

The whole team must play higher.

The list is: Pickford, Sidibé, Coleman, Sigurdsson, Davies, Bernard, Walcott, Delph, Iwobi.

We need better than this crop of crap. Get rid and sign quality mentally tough winners. Moshiri may be able to afford to waste money but I can not!

Carlo, Brands and the rest and whoever they are, and whatever it takes, will need to have their finest hours in the next month.

We've done the highway to hell as a club and how we try and get out is going to be some feat.

Getting the same tune and note out of this squad for back to back games is proving impossible. Getting new blood will be tough and of the right quality, even tougher.

I'd cut the end of season holidays, this squad needs to get real. New Captain and Vice Captain, and new goalkeeper, are must, then to build a new spine.

The club at board level must know that this saga of underachievement can't carry on.

But what's the solution... back to basics, and to install some genuine belief and passion, from a squad of players who will fight for the EFC cause and want to win.

Losing after giving your best isn't an issue in any football match; to go through a whole season, and scratch out 13 wins, and not many notable wins, the inconsistency, and lack of effort, has set an all-time low for me.

The positives this season not much but a great signing, in we've got a world class, proven manager whose a winner across Europe. Let's hope coming to EFC, won't be Carlo's, Waterloo. The board must back him, get the big Uzbek in and back him to the hilt.

Tomorrow, the tightest transfer window starts, let's hope the deal makers for EFC have done their homework, and won't be pulling in last-minute wonders. Evertonians know a last-minute wonder signing, and we don't get many.

Time will prove.

We have just finished this season with more teams above us than below. We are 50 points behind the league leaders, and to put that in its meaning, they have, take a breath, won 16 games mathematically more than Everton.

So what can we offer that other teams cant offer to bring in quality players? We have a first-class training facility, but an old stadium past its sell by date. We have designs for a new stadium waiting for approval that will take 3or 4 yrs to build. The only trump card we have is a first class manager in Carlo Ancelotti, but will that be enough.

Please don't say we have a great history as history is what you read about in books, we need to look to the future not the past.

It seams after every season ends, we say we are in a new building phase, isn't it about time someone got a grip, and started building with new concrete instead of old straw.

I watch a lot of football but to say who Everton need, I will leave that to the supposed experts. The one thing I would like to see is the bringing in of ambitious players in the 21 to 24 years old, and not waste a huge payment on an older player near the end of his career.

Over the season it has shown that good coaching can win games, and as that is the only asset in Carlo Ancelotti we have, let's make sure we bring in the best ambitious young players that will come.

The midfield needs to be completely overhauled. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but Gomes is the only one I would keep. We need width, we need speed, we need courage, we need creativity, we need leaders, we need everything this current midfield doesn't possess.

I'll give the defenders, and forwards, some slack as they are given no cover or service. Ancelotti has a massive task ahead of him and I don't envy him as I feel a growing section of the TW posters are beginning to turn.

1. We definitely need a new goalkeeper. He is the man that should calm and structure the defence and take good decision. Pickford will never be that man. Let's sell him before the market realize he is not England's No 1.

2. We definitely need 2 central midfielders. And these guys need to have to be quick all-around players with hardcore winning mentality. Guys that hate to lose any game, like the game today for example.

The man to keep in midfield is Gomes. I think he can get better again next season. He will improve with a new players in midfield.

I think these are the most urgent positions to strengthen.

If we go on, we need to replace Coleman/Sidibé and we definitely need a better winger. A winger that produces either passes or goals.

I don't think the problem is centre-backs. We have several decent and good centre-backs. With a better midfield, they will be better off, no matter who plays.

Think both Kean and Calvert-Lewin can improve and become pretty good. Their job will become easier with a better midfield. Anthony Gordon will also improve and become a class player I think.

Richarlison, we definitely need to keep. He probably has the highest capability of all players we have. Will also get more space with a better midfield.

He will struggle to offload half of that shite, but if he can get those midfielders in, it is a start.

Look on the bright side, least we have Bolasie and Sandro waiting in the wings... only joking before someone bursts a blood vessel.

Whoever sanctioned giving Calvert-Lewin a massive new contract after a short spell of decent games, when he still had a couple of years on his old contract should be fired. That's the sort of decision that has plagued this club for years... substandard, characterless losers on inflated contracts and now we couldn't give him away.

Moshiri is an absentee owner and our performance is a reflection of the mismanagement of the club, Ellis Short style.

Only two things will change the situation.

Remove DOF and give manager full power hire and fire.

Remove Kenwright and Moshiri cronies. Bring in a CEO who has full control to hire and fire. Make them accountable for the stadium delivery and doubling revenues by 2024.

Same games as you and everyone else.

Unless something's on that the Club is keeping secret, we'll only have 2-3 important signings. Minimum 2 of them have to be specifically for the engine room. We cannot continue with every opponent getting at our back-line with ease.

We shore up the midfield for next season, then yes the defenders we have are good enough for now. Pickford is a disaster waiting to happen, but my guess is that Carlo will make-do one more season, he gets the mid-fielders he wants.

Do we wish for better than Calvert-Lewin and Kean? Sure, why not. But they're the 2 we have. Someone Gana-like is what we're missing. Gomes and Sigurdsson are both skilled ballplayers who need a teammate doing the dirty work.

They in turn moving the ball forward to Kean and Calvert-Lewin. None are the best, but they're good enough for now as Carlo transforms the squad. Besides, none of them are going anywhere before next season.

We get 2 pacy, mid-field fighters this window, I'm good. They'll make the players behind and in front of them good enough for now.

And next time you have an opinion on anything I said, come at me adult-like. Aim the boohoo, poor me, little boy hysterics elsewhere.

It's going to be extremely hard to find buyers for most of our high earners. Who out there is going to pay Bernard 𧴰k per week? Or Sigurdsson 𧴜k per week? Or Walcott 𧴜k per week? Or Mina 𧴰k per week? Or Gomes 𧴫k per week? Or Pickford 𧴜k per week?

We are stuck with a lot of these players and it will fall to Ancelotti to get a better tune out of them. But considering how terrible we've been after he had a mini pre-season before the restart it does not bode well.

This ship has leaks all over but at least if we can get some control in the middle of the pitch then that may breed more confidence. I'd love a new keeper too; for a while I've been saying that Pickford (contrary to mythology on here) is actually one of the worst shot-stoppers in the Premier League; but it won't happen. Centre-midfield, right-wing and centre-back will be addressed. I'd love a right-back too (Matty Cash from Forest would probably not cost more than 㾻M and immediately adds more dynamism on that side).

We look like relegation candidates for next season and remember we are only a few weeks away from next season. Will 3 or 4 new signings make much difference? I am not so sure. I hate to say this but will Ancelotti be gone by Christmas?

An older manager along with players reaching the end of their careers on a massive contract is a recipe for disaster. Everton are just like that once beautiful Atlantic Ocean liner that has now become a rusting hulk beached on some distant shore lost and forgotten.

Something is wrong, very wrong with our club.

Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte £120,000
Yerry Mina £120,000
Andre Gomes £112,212
Jordan Pickford £100,000
Gylfi Sigurdsson £100,000
Theo Walcott £100,000
Richarlison de Andrade £90,000
Lucas Digne £90,000
Fabian Delph £80,000
Seamus Coleman £70,000
Leighton Baines £65,000
Michael Keane £60,000
Cenk Tosun £60,000
Oumar Niasse £55,000
Moise Kean £53,173
Alex Iwobi £50,000
Cuco Martina £35,000
Tom Davies £25,000
Mason Holgate £25,000
Beni Baningime £8,000
Dominic Calvert-Lewin N/A
Jean-Philippe Gbamin N/A
Djibril Sidibe
Loanees
Guaranteed annual salaries.
Yannick Bolasie £3,900,000
Sandro Ramírez £3,380,000
Muhamed Besic £1,560,000
Luke Garbutt £1,456,000
Jonas Lossl £1,456,000
Kieran Dowell £780,000
Jonjoe Kenny £780,000
Shani Tarashaj £780,000

Payroll Spotrac

Kenwright must be deeply ashamed of how he delivered the precious cargo of Everton into the hands of a world class nincompoop. But at least he paid Bill his top dollar and allowed him to stick around, so it's not all bad news.

We will need strength in depth for the midfielder too as Delph and Gbamin cannot be relied upon to be fit. Two quality central midfielders are needed. Mentally strong fighters.

The reality is now that other positions need renewing too, starting with a new younger and dynamic right-back.

It is very easy to be disappointed and angry after such a display. I still want Ancelotti to be given a fair crack at doing something positive for Everton. New signings are essential. We don't have any speed in midfield.

Moise Kean has to be given more time to play as I did see some positives about his play. We need more youngsters like him, Branthwaite and Gordon.

It is difficult to be too optimistic but after watching for many eons I don't really have ANY choice. Therefore, my final message for this dreadful season: CYOB. The future is ahead and we will surprise everybody by being GREAT in 2020-21. I really would like such a surprise.

Look at the top goalkeepers we have had. Then, look at the not so good, then, think, fucking Pickford. He is utterly lamentable. With many goalie, it is a confidence issue. Not here, this clown oozes confidence. Unfortunately it is without any basis in reality.

Who could replace him? My late mother-in-law's next-door neighbour for a start.

I hope this boring pointless passing back to the keeper is not part of Ancelotti's game plan.

Everton before Ancelotti were known for a weak defense, a midfield that could be overrun and ineffective final third play. The tactic to beat Everton is let them have possession in ineffective areas and put them under pressure in effective areas by playing a defensive high line.

This is done by being confident that Everton's attack is blunt, that Sigurdsson can be made anonymous, that Gomes can be pressurized out of possession and that Davis will lose possession. This also has the effect of pinning the right- and left-backs back. Richarlison is only effective if he can attack the ball or have an effective ball to run on to.

The outcome was an assured two or three goals for Bournemouth. The latter likely given the known Pickford stats of at least one clanger per game. Another factor is a lack of fitness for some players.

So effective was Bournemouth at this game plan that, if it hadn't been for the threat posed by Kean, the result could have been even worse.

The defense has improved, though unsupported by midfield in this game and Branthwaite is a discovery. The midfield is hopeless in its present form, with questions over the ability and character of all the players in it, with the exception of Gordon. The forward line is still starved of effective final third play.

At least with Kean leading the attack it had a recognizable shape too it, which quickly evaporated once he was subbed, which was the right thing to do since Kean had not played a full game all season.

Ancelotti even with his experience will take a further two years to sort Everton out.

Surveying my own extended family, scoucers all, only my youngest great grandkid deigns to wear the blue and white scarf I bought him at birth. He's only five now so by no means a convinced Evertonian!

We are an old-fashioned, unsuccessful club, lucky to have avoided the relegation most similar teams have suffered. My son says we should thank Uncle Bill for that. Just shows what he knows about it!

Enjoy what's left of summer and thanks for the companionship over the years. I doubt I shall be back,

Ancelotti came to Everton because he was offered the kind of money he simply couldn't turn down – he has nothing to prove. Can he turn it around? Who the fuck knows, but one thing I do know is that if he can't, we will be in real trouble and he will disappear and not look back once.

We need to stop presuming his past success will automatically work for us. As always, let's be patient, let's give him time and funding, but let's also fold away the Carlo Fantastico banner for now until he is responsible for something worth admiring with Everton – not past glories.

In defence of the club, Calvert-Lewin was doing better earlier on in the season and I think his pay increase and a new contract were designed to keep him at the club and ward off the attention of other (potentially) interested parties which makes sense even though I am not particularly a fan of the player or his qualities and attributes.

My big worry going forward is Richarlison and our ability to keep him at the club and his current importance to the team, even if we can keep him in the coming weeks, where would we be if he picked up a bad injury next season?

I would have liked to have seen even more of Moise Keen over the last few weeks but sadly we have had to endure Calvert-Lewin looking jaded, disinterested and basically not up for it. Let's face it though, he has not been alone.

For me it is obvious and has been since I first laid eyes on Jordan Pickford. Another howler today. He is a total liability. I have said several times on TW, sell him now, as soon we will be unable to give him away.

If Ancelotti cannot see his flaws, or is compelled to retain him for contractual reasons, then at least make contingency plans in time for next season and recruit an experienced solid dependable keeper. Every successful team builds from the back starting with the most important position, goalkeeper.

Surely there are plenty to choose from for a nominal fee. In the short term, the likes of Ben Foster at 37 years old could probably be secured from relegated Watford on a 12-month deal for next to nothing. Even at this late stage of his career he's a damn sight better keeper than Pickford.

Personally I don't believe Pickford to be capable of improvement, but who knows, signing a proven keeper could be the kick up the arse he needs. The fact that he continues to be an automatic choice, regardless of abysmal performances, is getting beyond a joke. With his idiotic manic grin, becoming a trademark of his mistakes, he's laughing all the way to the bank!

All teams know if they mark or kick Richarlison out of the game we have nobody else who can score.

No-one in midfield or on the wing can score goals. That, together with toothless defending in midfield, is the hub of our problem.

Your comments about Pickford are spot on. I have seen every keeper we have had from Gordon West to the current incumbent. Pickford is one of the worst I have seen, arguably worse than the likes of David Lawson and Dai Davies.

With Pickford, we are not talking about a temporary spell of bad form. He has been very poor since he returned from the World Cup two years ago. A priority in the next 6 weeks must be to find a reliable replacement.

“Extraordinary really to have somehow spent so much money making us worse.“

I was hoping Bournemouth would hang on and stay up. I couldn't even be arsed to watch this pile of shite. Ancelotti has got a mountain to shift.

Wolves have two earning 𧴜k, one 㿨k and the rest 㿞k or below. 㿞k at Everton is like minimum wage, and we have a whole squad of deadbeats like Danny Drinkwater.

Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte £120,000
Yerry Mina £120,000
Andre Gomes £112,212
Jordan Pickford £100,000
Gylfi Sigurdsson £100,000
Theo Walcott £100,000

There's your issue!! The rest of the squad aren't killing us financially, they're paid a reasonable wage by Premier League standards.

I didn't even realize we pay that much in wages for Bernard. Insanity.

I think Theo and Gylfi have only a year left on their contract? I'd definitely buy their contracts out. I really would. I'd sell Jordan as well. Not enough value for that kind of money. Someone will take Jordan.

For those on this site who were salivating after the Sheffield United fluke win (this can happen in life), where do you stand now? You repeatedly insist Ancelotti needs more time, you're only fooling yourselves. He will change nothing.

Bournemouth at home????!!!! Nothing will change. We are a disaster, and an embarrassment to fans, an embarrassment to the city, and an embarrassment to football itself. You're dead, Everton.

You are right to be worried about Richarlison. If the likes of Mbappe, Neymar etc make a move , the 𧴜M + merry go round will start. Richarlison will be targeted.

He is under contract and Carlo hasn't signed a player yet, so he will be told to trust Carlo to turn us around next season and things will be very different. I don't think he will agitate for a move if he can see big changes and the necessary signings happening.

This transfer window has massive implications for the club, one way or another.

Richarlison, imo is our only top class player but he's looked peeved the last few games. Is he, in his own head, off somewhere else or just shattered?

I don't know what Carlo is expecting or demands players to do and to know their roles but the last lot of subs destroyed us. We had no game plan that I could tell after that.

Maybe he was just going easy on them so they could have a bit if fun, must have forgot that winning is always better mentally.

Before transfers, I expect a top coach to get more out of the players and demand more running and fight. We have looked better defensively despite the farting around at the back.

The hardest truth is we are still slow and clueless in possession going forward.

So my concern is Carlo. Is he just experimenting or have we seen all he can do? For an experienced Premier League winning manager, he hasn't had the impact I had hoped for.

Although I can understand the benefits from playing out from the back I'm surprised we do it so often as we are poor at it.

We don't have a Hazard, Lampard or Drogba to turn too. It should be a very interesting transfer window which may tell us who's really in charge and what demands are being met.

An average C- school report from me so far.

We then build on that with the likes of Bolasie, Walcott, Sandro, Pennington, Dowell and Connolly being out of contract next summer and again bringing in 2-3 quality players.

Besides from waiting for pIayer contracts to run down, Brands is also going to have to move on at least 2-3 of the deadwood players on this window. There's plenty of choice between Sigurdsson, Delph, Davies, Walcott, Bernard, Tosun and Pickford, and those are just the names of the players I particularly dislike. I know there's a few more players other posters would add to that list.

Out of the aforementioned, I really hope we mange to offload Sigurdsson this window. He is the poster boy for everything that's gone wrong in the transfer market under Moshiri. His large wages, and him offering nothing in a 4-4-2 mean he has no future at the club. We know that, the club knows that, and he will know that. Let's hope he does the right thing and goes to another club for less money rather than endure another season of purgatory with us.

I'm sure his agent will be looking at there will be some offers, but it will be at a significant loss to him and us practically giving him away. Is he going to move to another club for less money though?

I don't know what else to add other than it's grim and going to be a very big window to just build the foundations for success, so in other words, it's ground zero, lads.

Nothing on display yesterday changed anything else for me. Gomes could be a key player, as long as he gets a couple of supporting players around him. We need a right back.

Bernard should be cashed in on. Signed for free. Big wages. Looks great one game in 5, and even that is being generous.

I think you are right in what you say, I do not think Richarlison will agitate for a move. That said, if one of the really big boys comes in for him before we show a bit of ambition and strengthen ourselves (as we need to do) then we have a big problem.

If I was Richarlison, I would not be overly impressed or pleased with the players I currently have around me and would want things to be addressed swiftly in the coming weeks to keep me happy.

No decent player worth his salt wants to be in a team with players of lesser ability and just as importantly, with players lacking desire and a will to win and succeed. Apathy is not acceptable for Everton or when wearing the blue shirt.

1) Baines, you'll be missed. A quiet, loyal and consistent professional that the team can count on. Best full-backs for a very long time. One of the best buy by Moyes.

2) Kean had a good game. Higher work-rate and showed how good he can became. It seems to be an easy tap-in goal but I wouldn't be surprised our other forwards might have been 2 steps away, make a desperate lounge and just missed the cross. It shows he knows where to position. Have high hopes on him to get better next season.

3) Pickford got a lot of criticism. The 3rd goal could have done better. The first two can't really do much for any goalkeeper. But he pulled off a 1 v 1 save at 8' 52", and another save at 47' 21" both attempted by Wilson. So overall I feel it's a reasonable performance. I wouldn't mind if we can raise some funds by selling him and replace with an older, stable head. It would be great if we can find another Nigel Martyn.

4) I know people get frustrated and want to sack most of the first-teamers that we know it won't happen. I agree with Jamie (#47) if we can find 2 good replacements for midfield this transfer window, it would be a very good outcome. We can't afford to have another mistake in this coming appointment. So I can see why names like Højbjerg start linking with us.

5) Our neighbour took a few seasons to buy off players from Southampton to slowly transform the team. The final touch is the big buck moves for goalkeeper and centre-back. I will give Carlo time to get it fixed.

The problem is there is never a guarantee someone will make it. But somehow the RS struck gold and got it 100 percent right with Van Dijk and Allison. If either of them had been a Kepa or David Luis they wouldn't have won the league. But miraculously they took their one shot, blew their money and got it absolutely right. That very rarely happens.

We are probably going to be limited going forward (unless Richarlison is sold) as to how much we can spend on one individual player. Brands basically said as much, telling us all that we cannot compete for players in the 㿨M bracket.

Stupid in my opinion because even if it were true I would never advocate telling the world that you cannot compete at the top table, it simply puts players off and marks you down as a club lacking ambition.

What sticks in my throat, are the stupid signings we have made. Sigurdsson, for example, was never a wise or well thought out purchase. Not all signings need to be top dollar. On the day we have lost Leighton Baines it just reminds me why the hell did we not go in for Robertson when he was at Hull? I despair.

It was bloody obvious what qualities he had and what he would bring to his next club and for what, ٦M. When I think of all those responsible for bringing in 'talent' over the last few years at Everton it makes me livid.

The RS got their recruitment right in recent times, I don't think we could have got ours more badly wrong if we tried.

Good point. As I recall, Robertson was one linked with us before the RS move. Ideally you get a few Van Dijks for big money, some Cahills, and a couple of Colemans on the cheap.

But, based on our recent record, I could see us going in for Chris Woods and Jesse Lingard at 㿞 million each. Prove me wrong, Marcel.

The only bright spot in the game was to see Kean show some of the qualities we hoped for when we signed him. He was alert to the movement around him, showed good link-up play and was pacey and physical. Apart from that? Baines was excellent when he came on. What a player he has been. It is so sad to see him retire as he could do a good job for most Premier League clubs right now.

The midfield was abysmal to a man yesterday - 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 it doesn't matter as this group are poor in every tactical set up. Our priority is a central midfielder and central defensive midfielder as we cannot rely on Gomes or Gbamin properly returning from their serious injuries. Ideally, we need a centre back with pace to play a higher line. That would mean selling Keane or Mina to finance it but it is essential if our high press is to work. Branthwaite looks a great prospect but he needs time to develop, probably on loan as we did with Mason.

And we have one saleable asset that we should cash in on this summer to generate funds for the rebuild ahead - Pickford. He is a great shot-stopper on his day but his attitude is atrocious and his positional play poor. He swallowed the adulation after the last world cup whole and his game has not improved an inch since. If Chelsea or Man Utd come calling, then sell!

Then it is the next phase of the clear out, provided we can do it. Sigurdsson, Walcott, Bolasie, Besic and Sandro all need to be cleared off the wage bill. But who would take any of them?

Big job ahead for Carlo!

Midfield is a total shambles and don't get me started on flappy in net. Defence has been the only positive since Carlo took over.

How on earth did Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison get 13 goals each in the Premier League with that mess behind as support. Did any midfielder score more than 2???

On TW ???.. Only on TW ???

Come on. We all know how this film goes, We've seen it often enough

Just a recap: Moshiri goes out and gets HIS man. He thinks he has done a great job. Why ? Because the overwhelming majority of the fan base tell him so. The new manager thinks he's died and gone to heaven. He earns beyond his wildest and is forgiven for everything. There is no accountability. He's on easy street as long as he can get us a place higher than the useless fecker before him.

After a window (the one which was going to cure all our ills), we are still stinking the place out. Still we forgive. Still we accept. Still we send the owner a very clear message that we are very happy with his choice. "We just need another window... or four"

After while, somebody notices the Emperor is not wearing any clobber. He calls him out. Others begin to notice this too. Before you know it the entire fan base is singing "The King is in the all together!" We then follow that up with a few hearty verses of "Moshiri is a Cheshire cat".

Remember, it must be somebody better than Pickford, who makes fewer mistakes, whom we can afford, who would actually want to come to Everton. (And no, that doesn't include Dean Henderson, so forget it.)

And to all those insisting that our views here on TW make a difference to the club, I ask the same question I always ask... are you kidding? This is a chat board, folks. A chat board. The only people who read our comments are us. There is nobody at the club monitoring our opinions. Nobody. Okay?

Next!

Failing that, Rob Hal is kicking his heels since they wouldn't let him go the match. We might be able to afford him?

I don't dislike Pickford and believe he has lots of improvement in him and there are areas that need improving far more.

Let's hope Carlo still has friends at Chelsea, they have about a dozen midfielders all better than we have.

I cannot point to a regular first teamer of ours and say any aspect of his game has improved under Ancelotti.

There comes a time when you have to say enough is enough with certain players. That may be a goalkeeper or defender consistently being at fault for goals, a midfielder not creating enough or tackling enough, or a striker not scoring enough.

Pickford is definitely in the category of players who are underperforming and basically not doing their job well enough.

I've just checked his Premier League stats – in 145 games, he has conceded 216 goals. It's simply way too much. He's had 37 clean sheets in that time, so he does have his good days. But it's just too easy to score past him.

Of course, he played in a dreadful Sunderland team. But as bad as our team has been at times over the last few seasons, this season is our lowest finish. Let's say we have been a mid-table team - he is still conceding on average way more than a goal a game. Yesterday was a case in point. For every great save, you are wondering when the next mistake is going to be made.

He's got ability, but the manager will have to either back him or sack him this summer. We can't afford to have a keeper who is best and frequently described as ‘erratic'.

But no. We see the same poor decision making, the lack of basic technical ability and above all a complete lack of motivation and heart. They get away with it game after game.

Take a look at any of the behind the scenes Everton official video of this team arriving at the ground before any matches. One common theme from each which jumps out at me is the lack of communication, togetherness and, god forbid, even humour or joking amongst the squad. They seem to be a gang of nervous, dour individuals with no cohesion or team spirit.

This has not changed under Ancelotti, in fact it has probably got worse. They look like frightened boys playing in the men's league. Take away the myth that it is the crowd getting on their back which leads to this – that has been completely blown out of the water now.

I am not saying Ancelotti is not a great manager but, history tells us that timing in football cannot be underestimated. There is the right man at the right time which the RS have stumbled on currently and, I have to say it and risk being slaughtered, we had in the Moyes era given the club's position. But equally there is the wrong man at the right time which we have witnessed in abundance for too many seasons now.

There is also the wrong man at the wrong time and as next season is already knocking at the door, the malaise we are in at the moment means one or two signings are not going to change things around as most believe will happen. My biggest fear is that Carlo Ancelotti is part of the problem at this club and not the solution.

I think we are quite similar to the RS of a few years ago were they require two players I think we need three. Two strong, fast box-to-box central midfielders and a right-winger that is a threat with goals in him then we will be there or thereabouts.

However, I have been thinking this for ten years plus now and we just don't get the right players. There are things we have to sort out without spending a fortune and that is reducing injuries to virtually nothing, improving the fitness of the team, improving their mental strength and the biggy, getting them playing as a compact in defence, incisive in attack football team.

There is an awful lot there that will make us stronger without spending fortunes. Now is the time to nurture and grow that belief before what stars we have will move on.

Holgate in particular stepped up his performance level dramatically in January/February, and Keane has been playing the best football of his life since the restart in June.

We are a significantly better club defensively under Carlo.

May I state to you that actually there are spies in the camp looking at what is said on this site and things put on here DO go back to the club.

I won't go further on that but you'll have to trust me.

It's definitely the manager's fault, because the recruitment over the last few years has been brilliant. It's definitely the manager's fault, because the players are that good they could play in slippers. It's definitely the manager's fault, because anyone with half a brain could transform us.

Duncan did it, thank fuck, the players could just about run by the end of his short spell in charge, but it showed us the way forward, and is definitely another reason why it's all the manager's fault.

Totally agree. You could put the kettle on for what the opposition tactics will be with, against this squad of players.

Ancelotti could only build the defence and hope for the best, especially with Pickford in goal. Kean offered an alternative to Richarlison, but even he needs a reasonable supply. The opposition could still mark Richarlison with the same attention knowing this.

I also blame the actual fitness of the squad which is unduly influenced by recovery regimes set out by Medical Services, which suits certain players.

It also was obvious to me especially in the case of Walcott and Gomes that they were avoiding injury.

You forgot to say it is definitely the manager's fault for playing the ugliest football in the league.

What you cant blame the manager for is, fans who haven't worked out the difference between defending better and defending in greater numbers.

I`m just glad the wily old fox wasn't here earlier. The speed with which other managers have sussed his one-dimensional outlook has been alarming. I`m sick to death of being played off the park by players who would never get near this club.

How many managers have we had that can't mold this shower of mercenaries into a unit.

I've supported this club for 60 years and have never gone into a match thinking we'd lose, now I never expect to win let alone score.Shame on you Everton, you are such a disappointment to your very loyal fans.

Best wishes to all of you.

It's not often I've agreed with you on these pages, but reading your posts over the years, I often think that you are definitely someone I'd have genuinely liked to meet at an Everton game one day. Life is full of contradictions, so I hope Everton can improve and rein you back in, Martin!

We've therefore finished a poor season with a whimper. Albeit, the emergence of Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Branthwaite and Gordon as proper first-team players and a bit of promise about Kean.

Yes, the squad is a mess and there's something wrong with moral. But the noises being made are encouraging. There will be no overhaul. There will be 2 or 3 strategic signings plus some for the U-23s. That will improve us.

Next season we will be in transition still. The objective will be top 6 2 and we will get there by grinding it out. Carlo has shown he can do that even with this shower. With a better first 11, he will be quietly confident.

The following season we lose a fair bit of deadwood in free transfers. We go again with the same strategy. Carlo himself has said 'evolution, not revolution'.

We set our sights higher and try to nick 4th or try to win the Europa League (Martinez 's strategy).

The football will not be glamorous until we have a first 11 with suitability talented players.

If we try to jump straight to Champions league we will fall short and waste money. Stick with Carlo while he builds something.

You'll be back.

If you want a glimpse at your future, I suggest you You-tube the Al Pacino scene from The God father.

"Just when I thought I was out... They pulled me back in"

That applies to you too, Martin. I`ve lost count of the number of people who`ve told me they are turning their backs forever on this club. None of them have managed to do it.

I agree re Pickford: 3rd goal was poor. However, I would describe his one-on-one save as pretty incredible.

I'm not expecting an upgrade this season.

I think the danger is that we have assumed with all Ancelotti's experience and class that he would be the answer to our prayers. Someone used a restaurant analogy yesterday which I find summarises the situation:

Ancelotti is our Michelin chef, used to working with the finest ingredients, quality Argentinian steak and Italy's finest wines. Suddenly he finds himself trying to serve up gourmet food with frozen beefburgers and oven chips!

My point is that we are expecting miracles from the poor man but what can he do with this squad? His frustration is there for all to see.

What kills us as fans is the notion of having to have patience yet again, the eternal wait, the eternal hope for better days. It seems as far away as ever.

We are rotten from the back to the front. We have zero spine to the team and are gutless. You couldn't give some of those players away.

I don't know where we go from here but we're in real danger of finishing a lot lower than 12th next season if we continue with this lot. The vast majority of that starting line up are Championship at best and that's where they belong.

Massive 7 weeks ahead for Brands.

Shop door is open, SALE NOW ON.

(Plus we can throw in a Delph or Sandro for you too if you're the first buyer)

We are being served dogshit sandwiches.

Whoever came up with that, Julian, knows his onions. Lovely analogy. And just think of what the buyer previously paid for some of those beefburgers and chips at Paddy's Market. Anyway, the kitchen will hopefully be restocked and we'll see what happens after that.

Give Carlo a chance to offload some players and get 4 or 5 of his own choices in. (There will be 2 or 3 major signings but there will be a couple more than that through loans or player trades)

It's very hard to imagine, I know, but it is possible we will be a much more organised outfit next season as “Carlo's team” starts to emerge from the ashes.

Keep the faith.

Next season could be very dull and infuriating. However, we should be there or thereabouts for 6th.

Liverpool were nowhere near in the desperate state we are in with characterless players who have seen off manager after manager without any personal culpability.

This club has had the lifeblood sucked out of it and that seems to pervade at all levels of the set up from boardroom down.

I don't know how we can turn Everton's fortunes around but perhaps we should try and emulate the other lot in one significant way - by ensuring that all of the focus of all the various departments is on the first team and the club adopts an attitude that every result matters. As fans, we can also treat any and every opponent with respect as beating the so-called smaller teams has the same points value as beating the big guns.

The silence from our leaders is deafening, but we'll probably hear next week, what great fans we are and how loyal we are when many of us would prefer to hear what great players we have and how dedicated they are - that might take another few years to hear though.

You and Anthony @258 are right though. There must be some initiative from the manager even with the poorest selection provided by others. Big window ahead.

Me too, Julian; one of my weaknesses! Except when the "beefburgers and oven chips" are players! And I'm not paying 㾻 for a lousy burger just because it's got a bit of relish and curled-up lettuce!

I think Joe was agreeing with my statement – that the other lot haven't been in a mess at all for nigh on 60 years.

Yesterday's result doesn't suggest that. Beaten easily by a team that have found themselves deservedly down with the dead men at a lower level. The years ahead in all departments look grim indeed,

One thing that was very obvious was how much we need our home support allowed back in the ground. We've long been a terrible away team – 38 points taken from our last 38 away league games. Without home support, Everton now look like the away at team at Goodison!

We drew 1-1 against Villa, Southampton and got deservedly hammered 3-1 right there. Two points from a possible nine at home, and frankly lucky to have that many.

I'm sure the ownership and management cannot and will not be happy with that performance. As many of the posters here through their own workplace experience would guess, there seems to be a glaring lack of accountability at all levels. I'm grateful to whomever pointed out that Moshiri is starting to look like Tony Fernandez at QPR. I had that fear when that crook Allardyce was appointed – who allowed him to buy Tosun and Walcott? – and looking at the quite frankly ridiculous wage bill I'm even further convinced. This bloke will eventually grow sick of quite literally setting fire to money.

But set fire to money he must because we're dreadful. Almost uniformly so. Been told for the three years he's been here that Pickford is young, and could still improve. To my eye, he's not any better than the day he got here, still prone to enormous lapses of concentration. Walcott is who we thought he is. Sigurdsson has made a mockery of the fee we paid for him. And on it goes.

We are so devoid of any pace in the defense or midfield and teams have sussed it. We essentially have to invite teams onto us when they're in possession to hide Keane, and with the ball we have few options to break down an opposition that works to get back. That's why set-pieces are so important for us.

You can't win games if you can't score goals. The top six all scored 60+ times this season, the big two scored 187 combined! We scored 44. To make any progress, Ancelotti will need to solve this by creating more chances or getting someone lethal to finish the limited number we fashion (or preferably both).

Kean looked so sharp – the only real positive from today – that it has me puzzled why we haven't seen more of him. He should be part of the answer.

Bainesy will be missed but I can't blame him for wanting to move on really. His departure is a sad end to an utterly forgettable season.

"What is the point of Everton? Why don't they just merge with Accrington Stanley" are two of the more printable comments.

Paul Joyce the match reporter designated to cover the blues for the MSM finishes off his match report with "It's just a shame Bournemouth couldn't play them every week."

We have been let down so often that we now accept mediocrity as the new norm, in fact we no longer expect to win a trophy. Playing away means if it's a top-6 club, we will get nothing, and on a good day might get a draw with one of the bottom half of the league.

Now you would think that would mean fewer fans going to the game, and given our away record, it would hardly be worth anyone buying a ticket. But nothing could be further from the truth: we even have a waiting list for season tickets, and our full away allocation is taken for every game. So maybe we have become so used to failure, that we expect nothing less.

It's no wonder we sing "If you know your history" because we have won nothing in the last 25 years, how long can our long-suffering fans keep selling out Goodison Park? Surely there must come a time when we as fans say enough is enough.

I have indoctrinated both my sons into this awful cult and, for the last few years, my grandson has also fallen foul to joining us. I have said before that following Everton of late is like being a heroin addict: you know it's doing you no good but you just can't stop yourself. I have had a season ticket for over 50 years... you would think I am old and wise enough to say "Do yourself a favour and give up this habit" but I just can't. At least heroin addicts have clinics they can go to for help, maybe our charitable organisation could have counselling for effected fans who can't give up the habit.

Yet if we had a game next week, fans would be on here juggling the same group of deadbeats into a different shape and, somehow, expecting different results.

Ancelotti was a mistake, its a retirement gig for him but, fairs fair, a genius couldn't get a tune out of that rabble.

A new stadium is not going to change the total lack of ambition and professionalism witnessed during the last 2 decades at Goodison, the present regime are reminiscent of one of those third world group of lunatics running banana republics into the ground for their own ends the world over.

The only way anything will drag us out of this Groundhog Day nightmare of false dawns is a total revolution, some bloodletting as the old guard are finally dragged out screaming from their ivory tower and a proper, new, professional management team transform the club and remove the dead hand of Kenwright once and for all, he's done enough damage and turned too many people's lives to misery with his bullshit for too long.

Bernard Anicio Caldeira Duarte 𧴰,000
Yerry Mina 𧴰,000
Andre Gomes 𧴨,212
Jordan Pickford 𧴜,000
Gylfi Sigurdsson 𧴜,000
Theo Walcott 𧴜,000
Richarlison de Andrade 䀆,000
Lucas Digne 䀆,000
Fabian Delph 㿼,000

This deserves its own thread. If this is true and the 'Brazilian Wizard' is our highest-paid player, then we are seriously in shitsville.

Of those 9 top paid players, it's only Richarlison and Digne who are good value. Jury's out on Gomes because of the injury, but the rest are just going to be impossible to get shot of.

My verdict on the situation – Moshiri has to make Carlo king in this transfer window. He will buy the two midfielders he needs.

Then it's all on him. If he can't make it work after that, it doesn't bear thinking about.

But the biggest issue is Kenwright. This buffoon allowed Moyes to create an over-aged squad, which Martinez inherited then filled with ex-Wigan crap, followed by Koeman who simply was like a kid in a sweet shop, bought too many of the same thing, nothing fitted, but pissing $45 million on the Icelandic Alex Nyarko and 20 Number 10s!!!

Then Fat Sam who bought Tosun and Walcott. Then Silva... I mean, come on – 㿏 million for Iwobi, Arsenal fans are pissing their pants they took 㿣 million from Everton for two of their worst players!

Get rid of those who play the pedestrian way, Keane, Coleman, Sigurdsson, Walcott, sick-note Delph, Pickford, Bolasie blah blah blah... I can't wait until 12 September – when we unveil more shite purchases and still retain the deadwood.

I'm basing my post on the overall form of Richarlison. When he scores, some of them are outstanding and he justifies being played; but lots of games he is not in the game, got his sulking, indifferent head on. There have been plenty before the lockdown and some stinkers since the game resumed.

He is definitely far from being the world class player some on here think he is. 13 Premier League goals all season, in an admittedly very poor team, is not a great deal from someone who is supposed to be the real deal.

Now, it looks as though we are going to buy Allan – a fantastic player in his prime – who is now in the twilight years of his career, not wanted by Napoli, who have finished 7th in Serie A, a league that is no longer of the high standard that it used to be, won for the 9th year in succession by Juve.

No doubt we are going to sign others nearing the end of their careers or who can't cut the mustard with their current clubs on ridiculous wages to join the players we have on ridiculous wages. It's not looking good for the future.

How long will Moshiri continue to fund all of this without any success? We have been dreadful since the restart with the exception of about 30 minutes against Sheffield Utd. The whole club is a total embarrassment.

Only Brazilian who has outscored him over the last 2 seasons in the top 5 European leagues is Neymar (28 versus 26 goals).

Neymar plays in a one team league and Richarlison plays for a side with no backbone.

Klopp did nothing in his first half-season after taking over from Rodgers. Results marginally improved and I think they finished 8th? 2 places worse than the previous season.

He has completely reshaped the squad and spent a fortune doing it. It all clicked in the past two seasons in particular with the addition of two high-quality, very expensive players. He has bought well, and coached well. But it didn't happen instantly.

Carlo has to be given a crack. He can be criticised, of course, he has not got through the half-season unblemished himself. But to write a guy of his quality off by comparing him to a manager who has had 4½ seasons (at a club that finished 2nd the season before he took over?) and who has spent at least 𧹈 million during that period is probably a tad premature.

Bernard's on a package as he signed as a free agent. Chelsea were in for him but his demands were too high. Like silly, 𧶀 grand plus shit, if I remember right.

Not to say that he is earning it, just why he is on so much.

If we don't recruit well, it doesn't even bear thinking about, because a team without any real character is only going to get even worse.

Off the pitch, I'd like to know specific roles & success measures for Brands & Barrett-Baxendale, with the consequences for success or failure.

On the pitch, I'd like a stated aim of European qualification, with the club & team management's communication all geared towards this.

From up here, we look like a club happy to bumble along, not at all desperate for success. What I see on the pitch reflects that perfectly.

That attitude has to change from the top and throughout the club before we start debating about players & managers.

The game has moved on since the finest waiters in the world were making his steak and chips appear a culinary delight. We may as well dug up Fanny Cradock.

Talking about food. The manager is having to serve up a gumbo dish of flavours from the last 4 managers. The flavours clash and he needs time to find his own ingredients to serve his own Michelin dish.

Until the man brings in some of his own players, starts the season afresh and isn't picking up a relegation bound team. Which we were under Silva. How can people call for him to be sacked?! Besides which, they'll be no transfer budget for Dunc because it would take a whole window budget to pay Ancelotti off.

Let's get some perspective and at least see where we are by Xmas when he's had enough time for us to clearly see whether it's failing or working.

The depressing thing about this whole charade is that the dog's dinner we have been served and will continue to be served is all so utterly predictable.

Maybe Darren Hind is right and Ancelotti is past his sell-by date; I don't subscribe to that and seeing as we have let lesser managers spend fortunes, let's at least give Ancelotti till next season before we torch him.

There will be no overhaul of this squad.

And frankly there shouldn't be.

Over the last 4 years we've had what, 5 managers? How many new players did we sign and bring in?

People, what we need more than anything else is consistency.

1-2 Additions in midfield, and allow these kids to grow. That's all we're getting, and frankly, it's probably the best thing for us presently.

Also, just because the sous-chef had a good week or two does not necessarily mean he knows how to run a prominent kitchen long term! He needs to go run a smaller kitchen elsewhere first.

On another note, the recent tweet from the club re Sidibé makes it pretty clear that he won't be coming back. Coleman and Kenny at right-back next season or will Carlo want to bring someone else in?

It's one less thing to sort out and will help with resources for elsewhere.

We are doing something very wrong at senior management level.

I want us to defend better, but a counter-attacking style would genuinely suit me down to the ground, because Everton have been a dog's dinner for years.

Not wanting to give Ancellotti any time surprises me, but it shouldn't really, not by the way you can already see into the future, mate. I just hope you're wrong, even if it sounds like you've seen enough already.

They have the name and the clout.

We have dishwater that needs throwing out.

They always get top dollar.

Jamie C can tell you all about this crew. He was predicting this shit years ago.

Fair enough. I checked Richarlison's record since he started football:

As a goalscorer he scored 18 goals in 66 appearances in South American football; he scored 5 goals for Watford in 38 games and 26 goals for Everton in 71 games; he's listed as having 8 assists with Watford and Everton.

To be honest, that doesn't look too good to me, and having watched him quite a lot for Everton, as a complete all round footballer, it doesn't make me despondent to think about him leaving. There is nothing really special about his general play. I doubt we will get the high price some Everton fans think we will get for him and I can't think any fans of opposition clubs will go crazy with delight if he goes to them.

I am surprised at you. Your eyes should tell you far more than statistics.

Richarlson is the only hope we have right now. Other teams put 2 or 3 players on him or try to kick him out of a game. It is an indictment of the rest of the squad that they can't take advantage of the space this frees up.

He is the only consistently reliable goalscorer we have and he has scored the majority of his goals playing on the left-wing until recently.

IMO, if we lose him, we might as well give up.

Carlo's only worth the money if Moshiri changes the mentality of the club as a whole. My suspicion is that he wanted to do this with Koeman, who gave up when he didn't get the striker & centre mid he wanted that summer. My hope is that, a few years into owning the club, he realises that he has to bulldoze through internal resistance to change the club.

My worry is that he thinks lashing out money on Ancelotti will sort everything out. It won't. The club has to change. He has to lead that change. If he isn't up for that fight, he'll be wasting a lot of his own money.

Is Moshiri a leader or figurehead with money?

I see little evidence of the former.

I think the main reason opposition get stuck into him is to upset and provoke him, Dominic gets plenty of the same, he picks himself up, gets on with it and gives plenty back.

Richarlison goes out of the game, he should get more fouls but his previous play-acting goes against him, he's not as bad as he was, play-acting but he still does too much of it. He did next to nothing yesterday, not for the first time, and by the way, he gives lots of stupid fouls away himself.

I wouldn't worry too much if he is sold, Jay, as long as the transfer fee is used to buy a replacement; not many players are irreplaceable.

If he can't be the leader, he needs to find someone who can. Someone who isn't worried about throwing people out if they don't want to do the work needed to change this club. Someone with the balls to say that 'The Everton Way' is a fig leaf for lack of real effort and accountability. An insult to those of us fortunate enough to have seen Everton teams with a winning attitude.

His board and club appointments to date have been weak and show little evidence of change, his in field appointments feel like moments of panic and vanity.

He seems to be the biggest stumbling block to change

As for the kids, we have got possibly 1 or 2 average Premier league players in the making. If any of them ever play for a Club in the top 6, I will be amazed and shocked.

Reality is hitting us and none of them know what to do, because they're all too comfortable to want to change things.

Moshiri needs to act, or bring in someone who can. And if Kenwright & DBB tell him 'that's not The Everton Way', he should tell them to do one.

Chris #243, I'm the trusting type, so if you say so, I will. I have always had suspicions... like when I came on here and promoted a Costa Rican fullback who had just ripped the US apart in a World Cup qualifier. Moyes signed the guy, Bryan Oviedo, a few months later. We'd never signed a Costa Rican before. Hmmm....?

Joe #249, no, that wasn't classic Pickford. He gives up very few goals through his hands, certainly fewer than De Gea or Kepa or other more-celebrated keepers. Most of his bad goals are from poor positioning, not leaky hands. And he sure did make a hell of a save on that breakaway. But, as I said, I'm open to suggestions about who would make us better.

Sam #295, your point about Carlo is perfectly prepared and plated. And regarding right-back, I'm pretty certain the position will be near the top of his shopping list, although as always I will scream that we need 3-4 midfielders before addressing anything else.

Dave #302, I'd agree with you that Richarlison is not world-class -- yet -- but everybody here seems to be continually agitating for us to add players with pace, passion and "edge", and Richarlison is that guy more than anybody else on the club.

Steve #280, concise common sense like that is not welcome here.

If we're at the profit & loss limit, it makes sense to get a fee for Pickford and bring in an experienced, solid replacement, even if it's for 2 or 3 years.

He's a much better bet than praying that Pickford develops a brain, presence, positional sense and an attention span beyond a goldfish.

As for pace, passion and edge, well I think Holgate matches him at least for pace, and uses his passion and edge better and in a more controlled way. He also plays for the team.

Richarlison is more of an individual and plays for himself more than the team, he can become a captain.

This, the Everton way, is dated!!!!. Split the EitC and Everton Football Club and drive a professional results-driven football club.

Those arguing against calls to sack him need to ask themselves who they are arguing with. My point is and always has been, that he should never have been given the gig in the first place. He is an appalling fit.

We wanted somebody who could build a team from scratch. He has never done that. We wanted somebody who could work with players who were nowhere near top class. He's never done that either.

We needed somebody who has proved he could drag a team from the bottom half of the league into one challenging for honours. We needed a hungry young manager looking to prove himself.

After years of zombie football, we needed a free spirit to lift the club out of the never-ending darkness. There is no way on this earth this fella will ever do that. His idea of a free spirit is going into a doubles bar and paying for a single. He is a fish out of water. You only have to look at him to see he is totally lost.

We are asking a leopard to change its spots. We are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. We are cutting the jigsaw piece with scissors desperately trying to make it fit. We are making complete fools of ourselves.

He isn't just a bad fit. He is a bad fit we are stuck with. The size of his contract means his removal is highly unlikely. Sorry. I don't think he will ever succeed and if I'm honest. I have to admit that that belief is so strong, it feels more like a certain knowledge.

Those saying give him a few windows are deluding themselves if they think top talent will sign for this club because Carlo Ancelotti is the manager. They won't. They will only come here if the big boys don't want them. Young lads will never be impressed by somebody who used to win things.

For this old dog to succeed he is going to have to learn a bunch of new tricks. Think he can? Do you see the required desire?

Lucky to have him? What is this, TalkSport

I would respectfully have to disagree with you and say that the team and the squad does need an overhaul and as far as I am concerned, the more changes the better.

There is a horrible toxic apathy amongst the current squad which needs to be removed and changed because right now we are relegation fodder if you take Richarlison out the equation, he could quite easily be sold in the coming weeks or injured next season, either of which would leave us fucked.

I believe we need to lose players of (possibly) superior ability who are currently going through the motions at Everton and being paid very well for their (highly dubious) efforts in the process and bring in more hungry players, players with a will to win and succeed, players who give everything and despise losing, it is players with a very strong, deep-seated will to win that will give us back our identity and the consistency we both crave.

Was Henderson ever a quality, top drawer player? Not in my opinion. But hunger and will to win? Always.

The way forward for me is to get some of the very high earners out the door, pay up their contracts if necessary but certainly subsidise their wages elsewhere, losing Schneiderlin was a step in the right direction, the process must continue.

We need players who understand the club, what is required when you play for Everton and what is required when you pull on a blue shirt. Getting shut of Sigurdsson and Delph would be a start and two more steps forward.

I'll say this, you've made the first sensible suggestion I've seen here. I've had too many pitches for Henderson (ain't happening) and trainwrecks like Fumbles Fabianski.

If we're gonna sell Picks (which I doubt), I'd still rather go across the Channel for a top young keeper who can establish himself as a mainstay... Sam Hoare and I have both posted several names we like. Forster would be a stopgap.

There's been a number of occasions where he's got us points either by changing the formation or with substitutions in games we'd have lost under the previous managers.

Everyone posting here has their own opinions about who should be discarded and who should be brought in and it will as usual be fascinating reading in the coming weeks.

I for one would take Zaha and Grealish at the right prices as both now seem available. Grealish has real quality which we need in midfield but alas he will go to a ''bigger'' club.

Zaha is a real live wire and Carlo could be the one to bring out the best in him on a more consistent basis and we could let Palace have Walcott.

On the other hand, Carlo probably has lots of contacts abroad so that may be a better option than what's available in the Premier League.

Moshiri seems just as clueless as Boys Pen Bill when it comes to running a modern football club and the appointment of a world class manager, like Ancellotti, reflects his desperation after hiring a string of expensive duds.

Carlo can walk away from Goodison with his reputation intact, no matter what happens, similar to Van Gaal after leaving Man Utd. It's us, the fans, who will have to face the consequences of decades of bad management.

None of us know if Ancellotti can turn this club around but we'd better pray he can as the alternative is worrying in the extreme.

My thinking around Forster is that he could well be a 2/3 year stop-gap while we rebuild the rest of the team.

We don't need a superstar keeper – I'd like one that's experienced, consistent, reliable. I have no issue with older keepers if they're good enough.

We'll get a decent fee for Pickford; there are always managers who'll think they can iron out players' faults. My only worry is the data boys will recommend we spend 㿅M on David Von Schotstopper because of his one good year of stats in the Bundesliga and ignore a good Premier League experienced keeper that'll cost next to nothing.

But for too many of them we have paid top 6+ prices and continue to pay top 6+ wages.

This is not only why we're not delivering the results required. It's also why the mentality and attitude isn't there. These players know it's never going to get better than this and there are no consequences for underperformance.

Ancelotti, even with another Moshiri splurge, isn't going to be able to change this quickly.

So I think it's a case of what incremental change is going to make the biggest difference and might also focus what talent we do have to raise their game.

I think a new spine has to be the catalyst for change. 1 rock solid leader in the back 4. 1 creative midfielder who can control games. And 1 forward who can give Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin a run for their money.

I think we can live with Pickford for another season. The rest of the make weights either have to step up or do one.

A keeper who sticks his tongue out and laughs when he makes a mistake – yes, we can all remember Big Nev doing that, can't we?

Midfield players who either have no bottle whatsoever and don't even break into a trot, or run around and then fall over. Puts you in mind of the likes of Peter Reid, Bally, Bobby Collins and Howard.

And though it pains me to say it, a centre-forward who, although he's got better, doesn't seem to want to put himself about and get amongst the defenders. Shades of Andy Gray and Big Dunc.

I'm not comparing the old and modern as players but I'm certainly questioning their attitude. And neither am I saying that effort is everything, but some of this shower we have now put more effort into their hair than their game, their performances are completely unacceptable. I think we're in danger of becoming the side nobody outside the club cares about, if we're not there already.

So we can talk about signing Grealish and the rest of them... but be honest, Carlo apart, what is the attraction in coming to us? No good just offering big wages, we have enough mercenaries who won't break sweat as it is.

It's heartbreaking to see what Everton have become, but we have one of the world's greatest managers in Carlo and, although it will be a long haul, my belief is that he will turn it round. But he has to change the mindset from not being arsed about losing to going out there with a burning desire not to accept second best.

We need players who won't accept defeat, competitive players who can play, but mix it when they have to like those older players I mentioned did. I just can't be doing with this ‘easy going, bottle it when it matters, surrender monkey' attitude which we've seen too much over the years – and from the top down.

I'll always be proud to be a Blue but they test your bloody patience, don't they!

The time to have gone for Grealish was when he was a second-tier player, Villa would have sold then for a huge fee (he would have still been a punt for us) but now he will rightly want to move to a better club than Everton currently are.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we really should have also been in for Zaha when he left Man Utd, he left Old Trafford for peanuts but clearly there was a player in there somewhere and he was worth a punt then given his (then) tender years. He is a very decent player but now I feel we have to prioritise and look at bringing in a pacy centre-back and a quality defensive midfielder.

If we are looking at the wide positions then I feel McNeill (left) and Sarr (right) would be better options given their respective ages. We got our hands badly burned with the purchase of an ageing Sigurdsson and as Steve Ferns has rightly pointed out, players in their late twenties are one serious injury away from being finished at the very top level and for whatever reason are simply much more prone to injury in the first place.

We are currently left with too many ageing 'stars' on massive wages as it is, Brands has shown in the past that he has had great difficulty moving these players on and off the payroll. Lessons to be learned.

Twist the pack, Carlo, it has to be done and you have a matter of weeks to do it.

Me, I want a potential superstar if we're gonna shift Pickford. Two that Sam and I both like are Onana at Ajax and DrÄ…gowski at Fiorentina.

Apart from the youngsters, Seamus and Keane have been our best two players since the restart, helped by a deeper defensive line. Seamus's biggest failing has always been his final ball. He can't cross and his passing is 50:50. Kenny can, but do we have anyone that would score with frequency from such deliveries.

FFP can be torn up, nothing to fear, it's another failed attempt at cost control to keep the rich clubs rich. They need all FAs to agree to something much simpler like a salary cap but that isn't going to happen.

So spend spend spend, or don't. Football isn't about money and it's certainly not about my own but what Everton have failed at is to align players, recruitment and playing style to what the manager needs.

Another positive: Moise Kean, seems to have genuine lightning pace. Something that has gone from Richarlison's game (or was that only because he played against our slow team).

Now imagine Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Kean all scoring 15+ goals in the same season. That would improve results and get us challenging.

However, I acknowledge the style of play and service into the forwards would have to be far better and more frequent. That is why a genuine top-class midfielder is needed.

If we only get one top-class player, for me it would have to be a creative but hard-working attacking midfielder. I had hoped Bernard, Sigurdsson or Gomes could be that player, but they are not good enough.

We need goals to win games, that is the priority. Oh, where is the next Hutchison or Cahill for us?

But he isn't building a team from scratch is he? And neither would any other coach because that just isn't realistic. No coach employed by Everton at this stage would be tasked with that.

And your prediction that it will all end in tears or that you will be proved right in the end? Probably will. How long it will take to come true? In general most clubs end up binning their managers after a while. Even the successful ones. See Wenger, Pochettino, Mancini, Carlo himself, Jose.

Side note: Anyone else thought we could have done with Morgan Schneiderlin seeing the season out with us before leaving?

Martinez, had a great season then went downhill with the general feeling that he wasn't playing to some very good young players strengths.

Koeman, did he even ever have any kind of strategy?

Allardyce, not wanted in the first place, so was never going to be given time.

Silva, poor start, but ended the season brilliantly and could have carried on moving forward if Brands had recruited better last summer. Had to go in the end because he looked out of his depth, especially because he had no pace at the back to play the way he really wanted?

Ancellotti, his team got totally embarrassed at Chelsea just before the lockdown, he's gone more defensive since the restart, but for the first time in a long time, it's finally on the players.

Ferguson done great, I don't think he could have kept it up because the players were already on their knees after 4 games, and we have got way to many on easy street, and looking at the wages they earn, very little personal pride.

It's finally on the players, look at Sheffield Utd, they showed us when they can be bothered, they are nowhere near as bad as they have been. And finally after four years of unadulterated shite, we have found a manager, who knows how to manage (my opinion) and has used this free hit to show everyone, that it's all about the players.

Personally, I think he proved that he could do it given our form after he joined. The blame for our predicament lies squarely at Kenwright's and Moshiri's feet. Buying shite and paying over the odds for it in the last 4 years.

Hopefully that will stop now if Ancelotti has some sway.

For me, if he leaves, it will still be Everton with the shite reputation, not Carlo.

If he is so good, why were Southampton so happy to loan him out and why were Celtic his only option?

I agree Everton need a more reliable keeper, but I am also sure it isn't Forster.

We're short of money due to profit/loss limits. We can create some by selling Pickford and bringing in a cheaper, more mature reliable option.

The stats boys don't seem to have a view on how a stable, mature, reliable keeper makes a difference to a back four, to the expectations and assurance he can give the rest of the team. Maybe they 'can't' measure it. I can see it. We don't have it.

Forster fits that bill for me. I haven't seen any Pickfordesque rushes of blood, poor positioning and shows of 'strength'. Just a reliable keeper.

We have to be canny this window, buying and selling with value in mind. Not our usual thing, but it may catch on one day.

And how he is going to take us foreward to be a great team?

🤔🤔🤪

a) Build a team from scratch;
b) Work with players who were nowhere near top class;
c) Has proved he could drag a team from the bottom half of the league into one challenging for honours;
d) Is a 'free spirit to lift the club out of the never-ending darkness.'

I am more likely to walk round the corner and see a unicorn crossing the road than we are to find someone with that profile!

But good to hear a name if you have one.

Always with "who's right" or who gets to say "I told you so".

It's clear to me that having nailed your colours to too many rotten masts, you have far more fear of being wrong than I do.

Let me tell you something: Nobody has to wait to deliver I-told-you-sos. Ancelotti has already let us down. Not many Evertonians would have believed that, after the zombie football served up by Koeman and the anti-football served up by Allardyce, we would find a man to come and give us even uglier brand of football... What we are watching now is as bad as anything I have seen in 60 years.

If the "wily old fox" gets us playing the dazzling football Spurs and Arsenal fans witnessed under Wenger and Pocettino, or the ruthless power Chelsea fans saw under Jose then you can compare him with those "failures". If, like them, he gets us to a Champions League final, or wins us loads of trophies, then comparisons will be fair.

Until then, if we are going to compare Ancelotti to anybody, it should be with people who have done this job. So far, he simply doesn't deserve to be compared with Davey Moyes. Comparisons with Big Sam or Koeman are fairer. He is working with a lot of the same players... Unfortunatey he has adopted the same approach.

This "being right" lark you always come back to... Let me tell you this: If Ancelloti gets us playing football we can be proud of, I will be the first to put my hands up and say I was wrong. My team is far more important to me than "being right". Only those who actually give a fuck about "being right" bang on about it... Know what I mean?

Fuck trophies. My bar isn't that high. Right now, I would settle for an end to this miserable shite which has been served up in the name of football for years and which so shames the good name of our club.

I'm coming to the end of my rope with this club, or should I say the self-proclaimed positives who seem to have attached themselves to it. They suck the aspirations from the soul of this club. Too many believe that, by accepting, supporting, and excusing this shit, they are being positive. Too many seem to think a new manager shouldn't be accountable for our play, or anything else, until he has had time to at least father a couple of kids. Too many think that, by railing against shit, you are not supporting your club and you are the one being negative.

The football world is ridiculing us. The are mocking us. They despise us, hold us in contempt for the soulless prideless passionless shite they have to endure every time we are on the box. And what do we do? We tell ourselves we should be grateful. consider ourselves lucky, We engineer convenient little snapshots demonstrating that we are marginally better (for now) than we were under the last guy.

You clearly resent and despise my criticism of these fraudsters, Brian. As do many others on this website. You in particular tell me so every time another one is wheeled in... but trust me, that cuts both ways. In fact, your displeasure doesn't even come close to the resentment and loathing I feel for the never-ending excuses which so readily tumble from the keyboards and mouths of so many.

Yeah I know. "Give him more time..."

The fee told us everything; I just hope the writing is on the wall for a few others.

They were saying Delph was nearly fit about a month ago but I read Ancelotti saying he's told him to concentrate on being fit for next season instead of constantly having problems with different niggling injuries.

You started this post replying to Jim Harrison but towards the end of your post you mention a Brian... is that me you are referring to or another Brian?

I will give Ancelotti till the beginning of next year (1 January 2021) to come up with better performances provided he gets two new midfielders of his own choice in this window. (And just to be specific, you can nominate what constitutes better performances.)

If, under those circumstances, he doesn't come up with said better performances, I will post “Darren Hind knew all along – Ancelloti was the wrong appointment”.

Would he genuinely be interested given he must know Moshiri?

Pretty epic that. Not sure how you get so riled up about the 'being right' stuff; not sure I am with you there.

He's only had about 20 games. It takes time to build a team from scratch if you're starting with players nowhere near top class.

We have been just as bad to watch under Carlo than the last few managers. Actually feels worse to me because of expectations. We're not paying big bucks for promise here.

I have put up with us being average most of my life, but the current lack of excitement is shocking. The enjoyment I get from engaging with Blues on here and Twitter is more fun than what I see on the pitch. That must change.

Ultimately, we're currently a badly run club, seemingly unwilling to improve, with a big-name manager. I think its reasonable to call out Carlo for the shocking stuff were watching. It's reasonable to call out Moshiri for throwing money at a business without significantly correcting its flaws.

It's also reasonable to give them a summer to start putting it right. And reasonable to expect pace, purpose and entertainment from the off next season.

The only exception I can think of is the Leicester story, and Ranieri was still sacked the following season. Wolves seems the only model for us to follow, shrood managerial appointment with very well planned and thought out recruitment.

The recruitment at Everton has left us with a very expensive low-quality squad. I don't think any manager could turn this crackpot club around, we will struggle to get shut of so much deadwood, gonna take at least 4 years. Thanks, Moshiri!

After all, he had spent considerable time with Mr Moshiri and knew the nature of the man. I think he had a duty to look after “his friend” considerably better than he did. He's let him down badly in my opinion.

The club will turn around when Moshiri wakes up to the fact that he must instil good habits, commitment and accountability throughout the club. Or find someone who will.

I'm coming round to the view that either Moshiri is thick as mince, or there are people in the club blocking significant change.

He has had his indoctrination so now he knows what needs to be done to get anywhere with this club. They have some quality to work on along with some good young players but really need more class in midfield, that is evident for all to see.

The midfield ''four'', no matter who started, has been all over the place. Tackling has been weak and closing down very slow and lethargic. Davies and Sigurdsson are not the answer and Iwobi has been very disappointing. Gomes coming back from a bad injury is still getting to full match fitness and so is Gbamin who we have yet to really see.

I think, by Christmas, we can be in a better position to judge Carlo.

My view is the Kenwright genuinely believed only a lack of money was holding us back and that he's convinced Moshiri of that. And as a result, Moshiri took his eye off making significant changes to how the club is run.

That's why we're where we are now.

Carlo, for some reason that I can't fathom, is allowing the same inane tactics that previous managers have employed namely this passing it around at the back malarky. Even when we are trailing this suicide football is almost inviting the opponents to nick another goal.

Carlo wasn't in charge last summer, yet today we are again linked with Zaha, a player who we are led to believe was contacted personally last season by Mr Moshiri.

Everton FC has been dysfunctional for a very long time, but it appears that the club has reached new levels since the arrival of Mr Moshiri's millions. Is he responsible for our demise or is he, just like us, completely dumbfounded as to how bad we have become?

If he is as dumbfounded as we are, then he has the power to effect change, we don't.

These players must have been privately laughing their heads off... incredible if true, but something is wrong, because there is very little hunger amongst this team.

I am more than willing, as Paul T outlines, to take the 'reasonable' view on the manager but that surely includes it being reasonable to expect progressive football from the word go.

We have regressed so far as a club, it is pitiful... so good football at least would be a starting point for a complete rebuild. I don't feel hopeful on the early signs from Carlo

We need men, not boys. Strong players who can punish teams. Not tricky dickys with their fancy flicks.

If Idrissa Guye was interested in a return, I'd have him back in a flash. We need to give our team a solid backbone.