Skipper and manager offer no excuses for Molineux surrender

Win the next three games comfortably then qualify for the Champions League next season.

Until we get a decent centre-midfielder the better, you have to feel sorry for the strikers – absolutely no service but at least they still try. Marcel Brands has a lot to answer for.

1. “Shocking”. My very words.

2. “We can all play bad[ly], we can all mis-place passes, we can all mis-place crosses but when the attitude's not there, when the desire's not there and we we've come away here today and got beat by the better team.“ Our own captain acknowledges it's an attitude and desire issue.

3. “Around the place, we need to have more commitment on a daily basis and really come together.“ Wow – “on a daily basis” speaks volumes.

But again we are too slow in moving the ball, our centre-midfielders too ponderous and our inability to play through the press is becoming so predictable. Sad to say that with over 200 Million Quid's worth of talent out there we were awful.

Big job for Carlo in the summer I hope he is up for the fight more than some of our players today.

They have a better midfield than Everton because every team in the Premier League has a better midfield than us, and that is when they are all fit.

Nothing ever changes, same spiel every year after lurching from one embarrassing season to another.

All fart, no shit – that's Everton. No bottle to actually try and achieve anything... Bloody hell, we haven't even got the bottle to try and win football matches now.

Disgrace to the shirt, the lot of them – and they should be donating their wages to a good cause after this.

Brands getting well sussed unless he has a brilliant master plan in the window. He's shown nothing so I doubt it.

Kenwright Out.

Our performances since the restart have been terrible but we had looked better as a defensive unit. Until the last two matches.

What the manager was doing with the starting line-up today was a gamble that backfired. He has to take some responsibility.

However our general play has been poor for weeks. Sadly, Carlo's and or the players' first thought is play the ball back. This is simply wrong, it's negative and defines our general play and attitude.

Get Duncan back in charge (okay, I don't mean that) but stop messing around at the back and get the ball forward quickly down the channels. Play simple football for our simple players.

Most fans know we lack top-class players. Only Richarlison plays and puts the effort in as a top-class player. Digne and Coleman are just below that level, and then there's some youngsters with potential: Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Davies and Gordon.

We need more pace and general fitness all over. Players should not stop moving, closing down as a team or moving forward into space.

We all know what we need. Central defender, central midfielder, winger and a striker. 4 top class, hungry players minimum. Happy to get unknown or lower level players as long as they have the athleticism, energy, skill and desire to give their all.

Then, the young players and Gomes, even Bernard, can step up and show their quality, which they have; they just need coaching and better players to do the basics around them.

The basics being able to run forwards into space, pass and put a cross in. Not hard.

Oh for Joe Royle's Dogs of War, three scavengers to get a grip of that midfield and then play to an artisan or two.

Over to Carlo and Marcel.

Coleman as captain has to say something; he really gets the club and understands the fans' frustrations but actions speak louder than words and we Evertonians have heard it all, so I expect to see a very different side next season – even if we are skint!

One player who needs a serious rocket up his arse is Pickford; he needs to be dropped, that would send a clear message to everyone that this fucking shite is just not acceptable any more!

Those of you who think we will win our last three games are in cuckoo land.

Well, that should make a whole lot of difference.

So next season will be, at best, the same as this, although hopefully without the relegation form at the start.

I have this niggling fear that Everton might expose Ancelotti's true colours, just like we did for Walter Smith: great on paper, but actually "not that good".

Like many others, I just can't wait for this shit-show of a season to end. Although it seems as if many of the players have given up for the season already.

How did Pickford and Calvert-Lewin play? Outside of midfield, these two are my biggest concerns.

The guys won league titles all round Europe, and 3 Champions Leagues. If that's not good, I'm okay with it.

I'm oblivious how you can really class Tom Davies as potential.

The fella has played 100 games and at 22 we should be seeing something from him other than standing static fixing his Alice band every five minutes.

I'm sorry but he's got no good attributes to make it at this level, can't pass, absolutely slow as fuck, can't shoot, doesn't score enough goals, can someone please explain to me what he actually does?

Holgate is an okay player, better on the ball than actually heart on sleeve defending, maybe he looks better in defensive midfield?

Calvert-Lewin has improved but, to me, if we had Lukaku type striker or a Jamie Vardy, then Calvert-Lewin will be benched and used as a late sub as he's not good enough to be what we want to be.

I find zero positives in this squad — and don't even get me started on Pickford and his mental institute antics.

I never want to see Sigurdsson, Davies, Walcott, Bernard, Pickford, Delph, Mina, Iwobi, in our shirt again as they are all stealing a living. Keane and Coleman should be squad players now. Let Baines go as he obviously wants to play and who can blame him.

Play Kenny at right-back for at least one season and see how he goes. Buy McNeil 㿅M, Gabriel 㿅M, Allan 㿀M, Forster 㾽M, Holjberg 㾻M, Rabiot 㿊M = 𧴼M. Lozano on loan: ١M. Left back on loan: £?M Striker on loan: £?M Net spend: approx 𧵄M-ish.

Raise the cash from sales and loans if we have to. Sigurdsson 㾶M, Davies ٣M, Walcott 㾸M, Pickford 㿅M, Mina 㾾M, Iwobi 㾻M, Bernard 㾻M, Delph 㾶M, Bolasie ٠M, Dowell ١M. Total: 𧴫M. Loan Kean back to Italy for a season, ٣M gives us 𧴰M. Besic... free transfer.

Net spend: 㿔m.

Bill Kenwright: I am available at ٠,000 a week, saving you god knows how much.

Goalkeepers: Forster, Lössl, Virginia.
Defenders: Kenny, Holgate, Gabriel, Digne, Coleman, Keane, Branthwaite, Loanee (left-back).
Midfielders: Gordon, Gomes, Allan, Raboit, McNeill, Lozano, U23 prospect.
Strikers: Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison, Loanee, U23 prospect.

All the losers and those with a lack of commitment, talent or poor attitude –out the door.

If only...

And as for what they have said. It's is right but talk is cheap. Really cheap.

I only saw effort and desire from Digne today. Could see his frustration with his team mates. People keep telling me Richarlison is the only player we have that could play for a top 4 side. I'd have him over all the rest of the league's left backs bar Robertson. Richarlison was woeful today, didn't even try but he got no service from midfield again. Nothing.

Appalled by today and rapidly losing patience with these players. If Ancelotti can't get a tune out of them then they aren't good enough. We can't blame the manager anymore. Walter Smith. FFS. Scotland league titles compared with domestic league and Champions League titles around Europe. I shake my head.

Pickford is not good enough so we need a goalkeeper if we really want to challenge at the top end of the league. I fear he's turning into Joe Hart!

Then we need a commanding centre-back as our defending is shambolic; a new right-back to replace Coleman. A whole new midfield (right-midfielder, 2 central-midfielders, and a left-midfielder), and a quality striker. Oh and at least a couple of them to be some leaders on the pitch!!!

Let's be realistic: it will take us years to recruit this lot. So expect continued dross for another year or two!

I am amazed he has continued picking Sigurdsson. This guy is the biggest culprit. Ancelloti needs to make clear to certain players that they have no future - get their agents looking for another club if they want to play football.

Dropping Pickford would be another way to show the players who is boss. Pickford is on easy street. He's making mistakes every game. He needs to feel he is under pressure for his place.

I would rather we play some kids and players with a chance of improving – like Kean – than continuing to pick the players who have now let down 4/5 managers and who are back to their old tricks now...

Remember when we signed Aaron Lennon on loan and Baines said he shamed the other players into hard work by running his bollocks off?

I think Everton Football Club is just too cushy a place now: high wages for players that want an easy life with no pressure on ever winning anything and too many perks at that Finch Farm facility. I think they all worked far harder when it was Bellefield without all the trimmings.

It does make you wonder what they do in training now because they look bladdered from the very first minute.

I didn't expect Ancelotti to turn it round overnight but I did not think I'd still be seeing performance levels like today, Southampton, Spurs last Monday, or the Chelsea twatting before lockdown... the embarrassment of a derby loss to the Kopite Kindergarten in January was pretty appalling too.

I thought the players would be busting a gut for this manager, I really did. Gone are the days when Moyes had them fit and we always had a late cavalry charge, throwing the kitchen sink at teams.

So, where do we go from here? We might get a point or two before the season ends and then it's a big 6 weeks for Carlo to make his mark. I don't know if he is the man for the task but one thing is for sure: unless he resigns, Moshiri will stick with him.

Do we follow Sheffield Utd's hard-working but bread-and-butter way? Isn't it quite patronising even to say that? They are miles better than us at the moment.

Do we follow the Wolves approach? They have done in 2 or 3 years what we have been trying since 2005 when Moyes (almost) took us to the Champions League.

I mentioned in a post earlier in the week that we don't have bad players. They are as good as anyone who wears the Sheffield Utd jersey. It is all a matter of attitude as opposed to ability. What all our managers have lacked in the last 10 years is the ability to get these lads 'up for it'. That has to change.

We are the snails of the Premier League. Have you seen a team in the Premier League with a slower build-up? There's no slick passing, there are no shots from distance, there are no 'wow' moments. It's all painting by numbers, safety first, insipid rubbish.

So, I am prepared to overlook this shambles... but a positive and energetic start is a must in September. It can't get worse than today though.

Digne and Richarlison will be getting itchy feet. We need quality like Coutinho in the team. We need killers in the centre of the park that take it personally when we lose possession. All midfield positions. Three signings needed desperately. Forget stage 2 until this is done.

Then sell Mina and get a better left-sided centre-back.

Get Kenny back for right-back, give him a good run to establish himself, keep Seamus as backup.

Then sell or loan Kean back to Italy and get an experienced quality centre-forward to challenge Calvert-Lewin as a starter. We are too one-dimensional up front, we need more attacking options and more competition.

Who we could get, I don't know... but this lack of striking options is hurting us too. Kean in that role has backfired spectacularly; he is too young, too raw and not ready. We need to address it.

It is way more transfer wheeling and dealing than I would like. But, after these recent games, we can't just sit on our hands and hope for the best.

Action is needed to purge this team of the cancerous complacency and mediocrity that has half-eaten its way through too many of our players.

Marcel Brands has to now step up to the plate and get Carlo's players in. This close season is crunch time for Marcel and for the immediate future of our beloved club.

I'm genuinely bemused at anyone blaming our current predicament on Ancelotti. The bloke is several classes above the players he is trying to coach and manage currently. We need some rabbits out of cheap hats in the summer.

All the managers including and from Koeman, and the many changes of player, not forgetting implementing a DOF; there hasn't been an improvement under any of the managers that amounts to even a fraction of their various personalities and tactical input, against the drab, default starting point of the squad.

We don't have a Man City squad; yes, we've brought in some donkeys... but we have enough reasonably good players and promising youngsters to perform much better than this. At least in commitment, organization and endeavour, if not results.

Notwithstanding his desire to be a PR genius above football manager toward the end of Bobby BS' rein, I wonder if it all started then in the background. An inordinate decline on the back of our most watchable and developing team for years. We seem to have cultivated a failure gene. Several short periods of improvement lasting a handful of games is all we've had. The rest of it, well, variations of today's fayre.

There is no foundation, no basis, no repeatable "Save ass" team structure to fall back on when things are not going well, a professional and understood framework, where each knows and can deliver what is required, however prosaic.

Is it the water at Finch Farm? Is there a glaring dietary problem waiting to be found? Being realistic about the quality of our squad in the scheme of the Premier League, we should not be this bad with the manager we have. It seems the trouble lies mysteriously beyond.

Of course, many Everton Captains and senior players over the last half-decade and before, have sugar-coated poor performances or have given a clarion call to the team and fans that they would do better next time out.

Today's statement by Coleman is none of those things, it is a calling out of fellow professionals, an accusation that they aren't taking their profession seriously, it's a shout out that they are not working hard enough in training or during a game, that in effect they are stealing a living.

It is a call for them to get their collective fingers out and start earning their livings or face plying their trade elsewhere. The manager has also said that the performance was lacking professionalism and was unacceptable.

Now comes the difficult part: changing those poor attitudes and therefore automatically increasing Everton's chances of winning football matches whilst also trying to ship out those who refuse to change their attitudes.

Ability and talent are limited to some extent but working hard isn't, it's dependent on how badly you want to impress your boss, how much pride you have in your work, or whatever it is that inspires you to give your all.

Some of those players on show in recent weeks, won't be with us for much longer, but the majority will; how they react to Coleman's and Ancelotti's words will determine the club's near term future.

There won't be wholesale changes in the window, the players know that, so the baton passes to the Italian manager and his staff to attempt to find out what it is that makes this current squad believe that they as individuals can turn up and play, as and when they feel like it. An answer to that question may get to the root of the issue and perhaps the staff can then find a solution and a way forward.

To carry on as we have for the past few years, exemplified by this week's feeble efforts, cannot and should not be tolerated by anybody connected with Everton FC.

The horrible lack of motivation in this team, this squad, is the biggest problem here.

Ancellotti never publicly criticises his teams so this is another indication, imo, that there's a lot of bad apples causing problems behind the scenes.

The continuous listless, lifeless, spineless displays by the likes of Iwobi, Walcott, Davies, Sigurdsson, Bernard etc... cannot continue without severe consequences. They are shite and now, Carlo knows it.

We need a shot of something to start our heart, quite urgently.

Act as if they are hard done by and deserve a rest — not up their game, not put a little more effort in, mess up then smile at the camera and just basically rub our noses in it some more.

The signs are there for all to see, the RS improving season upon season until the inevitable whereas we, season upon season, are imploding. Charlatans the lot of them.

There is only one way out and it's not just graft, as some surmise; it's a personnel transfusion that's required, new blood in the squad. Because, when you look at when this shower of plodders have actually bothered to play the shirts off their backs, they have still looked unconvincing.

So I despair when I see us linked to more mediocre, career professionals, destined to go through the motions en route to lifelong financial security. I didn't see Man City or Chelsea targeting anything less than the best their new money could buy when they started out on their restoration of good fortune missions, so why are we being linked with average players like the kid today who plays in a woeful Schalke midfield? Nothing will change on the field while ambitions are so muted and bland behind the scenes.

Maybe there isn't a way out of it; maybe the fact we have had all of these managers in such a short period of time is because they arrive with aspirations to do well and quickly realise the club is unfortunately stale, draining and weak-minded.

I just don't know what to think. We matched Liverpool, got lucky against Norwich, got lucky against Leicester, and then finally our luck ran out against Tottenham, Saints and now Wolves. What's worrying is that the performances since the Liverpool game have actually been terrible.

Too many poor players on big money with big egos and bad attitudes. I don't know how we are ever going to compete with teams who are eclipsing us: Leicester, Wolves, Sheffield Utd are all miles above us and seem to be buying the right players to get the job done.

Poor all around. Poor... poor, and we are all fed up.

We also have had bog all upfront apart from Richarlison (who will be off – possibly at the end of the season). Lukaku's goals papered over many cracks, and it's been showing since he left, just like it did before he arrived.

What a pitiful awful club Everton FC truely are. Decades of miss-management and a huge downward spiral. How Leicester and Wolves are run as football clubs is something to really admire, the recruitment of both clubs is bang on. Our club (Everton) has just let us down too many times.

How shit are Leicester!!

It's acceptable to the manager.

It's acceptable to the board.

It's acceptable to the fans.

Come to Everton where anything's acceptable.

Will Mabon, this is commonly known as Kenwright-itis, a nasty and insidious disease that affects the patient with sporadic bouts of anecdotal yarning, teary boorish storytelling, and most of all, an over-inflated sense of self-worth – all the while condemning those infected to utter mediocrity. It has been affecting the club for, as you say, a long time.

People (supporters?) that can't see this need only look to the continued role of Ferguson on the coaching staff and previously the recruitment of Rooney, amongst other transfer deals he helped to broker (including the much protracted Sigurdsson deal) which helped set the club back years.

After all, Bill asked for an investor – NOT a takeover – and people wonder why he still lingers on.

For starters, Pickford. Okay, we all make mistakes but, when he does, I want to see him angry with himself and not laughing as if he couldn't give a stuff. Imagine Neville Southall laughing if he cocked up like Pickford does every game?

Then we have Coleman – brave words after the game but why does he not, as skipper, get stuck into his underperforming colleagues on the pitch, when it is still possible to get some effort out of them?

Walcott is never going to provide grit and should never have been bought.

Sigurdsson is finished at this level and is out of his comfort zone.

Davies needs decent players around him to allow him to show his best form.

Gordon has ability and puts in effort.

Digne is a good player and it looks like it is important to him.

Richarlison likewise but he did nothing today apart from scowl; lack of effort or more likely pissed off with his teammates.

Calvert-Lewin usually grafts but has been out of sorts lately, most likely due to lack of service.

Iwobi doesn't seem too bothered.

Bernard rarely has an impact on the game.

Carlo really has got to get to the root of all this and move out the players responsible for the collective lack of effort and desire. We water the pitch at Goodison before a game and again at half-time but why? Our passing is so slow and so rarely forward, we don't need a wet pitch to help us to zip the ball around.

Our movement off the ball is non-existent, we never support our strikers, and the midfield won't tackle, won't pass forward, and won't run beyond the strikers to threaten the goal.

If this malaise has been going on at Finch Farm for years, then absolutely all concerned – players and staff – should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

I really hope Carlo picks a few kids against Aston Villa so we at least get some effort – those who are the subject of the criticism of Carlo and Seamus should be dropped from the squad. Utterly shameful!!

Football is not about fear, as we at Everton would have you believe.

So I can't be fucking bothered – much like the tossers that play for Everton.

Stay safe all.

Who among those earning a living at our club will be really, really hurting tonight? I would suggest... not a fucking one of them.

We will – all of us who are proud to be Evertonians – we will be upset. Not the hired hands who have no concept of shame, no notion of pride, no idea of what it really means to have the honour of wearing that shirt.

I would really love to know what the cunts are up to at this very minute. I would guess chilling out, having a nice time enjoying a lifestyle we cannot envisage. They have no right to it today. They will certainly not be fretting about it the way we are.

Every passionless insipid effort makes me care less and less. They don't.

I'll tell you what though: Jags would have walked into our defence at times this season given the amount of wanky goals we piss up.

There are many things attributable to Bill Kenwright, and his influence on the composition of the team and staff of today. Many things are not ideal at different levels. I don't agree with everything Kenwright has done; I know what you're saying.

Whilst a lot of the direction is broadly steered from above, whatever gets changed in the coming years, we should expect to see something from the team on the field, this being the whole point of it all.

They're professional footballers. When those players take to the pitch, whoever runs or owns the operation, is of no consequence. However shit any of them may be, they're playing beneath their own selves in my opinion.

My worry is we are finishing on a low this season. Turning form around and style to win games is going to take a long time. The team needs five additions. Carlo needs to consider if he can take us forward or leave for someone who has managed mid table teams to improve gradually. Next season is a recovery season. Sorry but Europe is a holiday destination not for Everton yet. We are miles off top six.

We are not hungry enough as a team to win matches. Desire comes from the top. Let's hope 3 or 4 signings are already lined up or we really are in trouble. On a lighter note, does anyone know how we have a waiting list for season tickets watching that lot??

We have accepted it for years and allowed it to thrive. This club is a retirement home for failures. What the hell Carlo is doing here is beyond me. Money? Maybe.

You don't need professIonalism to have pride. It's basic. Lads and lassies playing Sunday league football up and down our countries play with pride. They don't want to let themselves or their teammates down. Their peers will call them out if they just turn up and don't put a shift in. They do it for fuck all.

The shite we support should be diverted towards those locals that give everything for no reward. I'm done with this club and its treatment of its supporters. They don't deserve us. Far too many at this club don't give a shit except pick up an inflated wage every week to match their inflated fucking egos. I could care less how many new players they get in or who they get in. It will be just more of the same shit with the same excuses. Fucking tosspots, the lot of them.

For over 60 years, I have supported this club. I have enjoyed the high and got frustrated at the lows. Never in that time have I become so pissed off with the playing staff, management and those at Finch Farm as I am now.

There is a disease at this club and it needs to be gutted. I hope Carlo is a good surgeon.

At least there's nothing wrong with the fans.

You can criticise Seamus, but he always gives his all, and has pride in the jersey. Isn't it shocking that he more or less said, some of his team mates, were lacking professionalism, didn't put in a shift. Other words I'd use are "cheats" and "cowards", and "shouldn't wear the Everton jersey again", NSNO.

In the last two games, Neville singled out Sigurdsson against Spurs, and Carragher singled him out today, enough said.

Grealish and McGinn must be licking their lips.

I was thinking the same about Carlo just yesterday while watching the coverage of Jack Charlton. I recall Jack once made the point that many elite players struggled as managers as they didn't quite know how to help players who didn't possess their level of playing ability.

I wonder if Carlo finds himself in a not dissimilar position – trying to get performances out of a group of players who are not up to the standard of those he has been managing for the last 20 years – and seemingly lacking in desire / professional pride too.

Or maybe he sussed most of them out in the first few weeks or matches and accepted he cannot start the surgery until the next transfer window opens.

He is outstanding as a person, as a sportsman and as an Evertonian and I suspect he is hurting as much as we are.

Otherwise it was an utter disgrace.

Pickford is the next Joe Hart waiting to happen. Iwobi... what even are you????

Now we have a top manager finally worthy of giving a warchest... let's be clear on Ancelloti, he's one of the best in the world so we can stop blaming managers.

Nobody is going to get the best out of these lazy clowns that call themselves Everton players. This has gone on tooooo long!!!!

Was anyone else shocked at this sentence from Seamus? It shouldn't shock me, but it absolutely did.

No I wasn't because he said the exact same thing when Silva was under the Kosh. Then afterwards he said he felt guilty as the players were to blame but it's always the manager who gets the chop. So it's not new. The problem is no one seems to care. Look at Tom Davies. He's played under four permanent managers and Unsworth. People say “he's a kid he hasn't had time.” He's played twice as many games for Everton as Andy Gray or Paul Power. He's played more than Limpar, more than Rodwell who we sold for profit at a similar age. But he's no good. We have some weird kind of charity case situation here where half the fans think he's above reproach but if he's half our midfield, and crap, that's a big problem.

We are too much of an old fools sentimental club.

Some fans are the same as the club itself, judgements clouded by sentimental views.

What did we do when Coleman first broke his leg?

We offered him a new 5 years, yes FIVE YEAR contract.

Not actually registering on board that he was getting older and whether or not the injury would have taken something out of his game like?

It's what we always do, bleat on about the players like we need to give them a home because they have been here a certain number of years or because they came through the ranks.

This club needs a ruthless streak that it's never actually had.

FFS people even get misty eyed over the Z Cars tune, this is supposed to be a professinal football club. Those wanting some kind of tribute to Archibald Leitch in any new stadium we may or may not ever have, why? We play in the same league as 2 of the 3 biggest global giants in world football (sadly one of them is a few hundred yards away), and we are still fed stories of how great the 60's and 80's teams were.

Rick, as error prone as Joe Hart was, he was still a better keeper than Pickford will ever be. Pickford is a disaster, and cocky with it.

Only a few days ago on this site someone stated Bil Kenwright is a Blue and cares. Well Peter Swales was also a blue that cared, and I don't think City fans want to go back to those days.

“Hello, we've got a bunch of lazy, arrogant millionaire players who cba putting in a performance because they are already thinking about some more time off and don't care about their own pride and certainly not the fans pride.”

it all starts with a little bit of honesty, and it is often a simple explanation. It's refreshing to see some honesty after seeing our past managers talk about “moments” as some kind of excuses.

Jim@65 nails it above - “this club NEEDS a ruthless streak that it has never had”.

Moshiri, Brands and Carlo have a mountain to climb over next few months. We need at least 6 players who are going to improve this team. Winners, warriors, and most of all full of hunger. Anyone who doesn't show pride over next 3 games should have no more future here.

Next season needs:

GK - *New* first choice challenger.
RB - Kenny and Coleman
LB - Digne and a *new* young challenger.
RCB - Holgate and Keane
LCB - *new* first choice plus Gibson/Jarrad
LM - Gordon / Bernard
CM - *new* box to box and *new* cdm.
RM - *new* crosser and goal threat.
CF - ok here unless opportunity.

Out: Whoever we can find takers for out of Sigurdsson, Delph, Mina, Walcott, Tosun, Iwobi, Bolasie, Sandro, etc.

Big summer ahead crossroads once again.

It's ridiculous to think he's past it, or can't manage a team as well as any of the above options. Even in their latter years, Ferguson and Wenger had teams with their identity and winning mentality. Carlo will do the best with whatever he has.

What we need now is stability. I think the plan is for Carlo to stay at least 2 more seasons then it's the big fellas time for real. Let's be patient, and hope that we can replace some of the deadwood that Koeman/Allardyce/Marco have left in the squad.

Our team captain has, not for the first time, placed blame solely on the shoulders of the players and more worryingly criticised their commitment/attitude. Why then the debate about the manager? Despite what many say, he cannot simply move those players out and has not yet had the opportunity to bring in players of the calibre (mental and physical) that he needs. Whether of not the parlous position the current bunch of shysters has put us in will fatally hamper his efforts to do so is another matter.

I was delighted when Ancelotti signed and thought at last a world class manager, with a proven track record, and I still believe given the time and the funds he will get it right here. But he is just as culpable with that performance as were the players, and must also take some of the blame. I know he hasnt been able to sign anyone and he has certainly inherited a poor group of players, but with his wealth of experience I think instead of changing formations and personal every game, he might have been better sticking with the 1 formation. I am sure he must look at the money that has been spent on this group, and wonder how any club could spend so much on such dross. When you look at the money spent by Walsh and Brands you wonder if we could sue them under the trade descriptions act, as they are both totally inept at their job description. I think of all the players these clowns have bought only Digne looks like a player, they cant claim any credit for signing Richarlison as his signing was totally down to Silva.

I really don't know where Ancelotti starts to put things right, as there is so much wrong with this group. Pickford is the luckiest guy ever to have won so many England caps, way below international class for me. Mina is never fit for very long and him and Keane are so slow with this pairing its impossible to push our back line to push up as they will leave themselves exposed as Wolves final goal showed.

Everybody knows our midfield 4 whoever they select is just not Premiership class. Sigurdsson hasnt done a tap all season and looks like a man who doesnt want to be at the club, problem is he still has a couple of years of his contract to run so not easy to move on. Gomes wasnt quick before his horrific injury and looks a shadow of the player from last season. Tom Davies would have loved Tom being alocal lad to have made the grade, but after playing 100 games he is going backwards. Our wide players are a joke Bernard,Iwobi, Walcott don't ever look like creating never mind scoring a goal, also lets not forget Bolasie who nobody wants. I have been impressed with Anthony Gordon who could save us some money. Of our strikers only Richarlison is of the right quality, Kean and DCL are still young men and will hopefully improve but neither is at the moment good enough to play for a team wanting to be competing for a top 6 place.

Nauseating player plus cash deals will be hitting the rumour click bait sites near you soon.

Compatriots and friends will be tapping up Digne and Richarlison to unsettle them with the veiled encouragement of their director of football.

These CL teams will be trying to offload their aging or sub-par deadwood on to us and take our best players for a pitiful fee. They will see us a easy meat to plunder and an opportunity to get unwanted players wage bills off their books.

It is time for the club to take a stand and hold players to their contracts no matter what. Carlo deserves his shot at improving us with his own team without having to sell either of those two.

We've signed lots of similar players - ones that have some skill but no passion. With the exception of Richarlison, we've signed wage-takers who give zero fucks. Even Digne, our second best player after RIchie, looked like he'd had enough yesterday, standing and watching while Wolves made Pickford look like an arse (not difficult to be fair).

If I was Richarlison (or Digne) I'd be off this summer. Both are class players who should be competing in the European competitions and for trophies. That's not happening here any time soon.

They play through the middle, none have significant pace, non are ball winners.

The lack of a ball winner I think is the absolute killer in this team, it makes us far too easy to play through. Then the fact that nearly all the players are just woeful at passing, apart from Dignes assist vs Southampton, I can't remember a single through ball that didn't just gift possession.

The players drift, pass sideways, and either give the ball away or send it back to Pickford. It is dreadful.

The players don't really suit any system.

4-3-3, due to the limited midfield, always actually results in a 4-5-1.

4-4-2 leaves us dreadfully exposed in midfield, 2 central midfielders of low quality (whether it be Gomes, Siggy, Davies, Delph) is just too easy to play against. And none of our 'wingers' actually play wide enough, or have the pace to make the system work.

3-4-3 is a terribly difficult formation and requires full backs/wingers of extreme quality and high class midfield ball winner (Kante for Chelsea under Conte).

A complete redo is needed, and clearly the midfield is where it starts. I wouldn't care if not a single of the current set up didn't play again for this club, they'd never be missed nor remembered.

2 central midfielders at a bare minimum. 1 winger, at least, and one attacking/creative midfielder.

I'd be willing to keep the back 4 as it is, and the forwards too, and even Pickford, if it meant a total redesign of the midfield.

I get it Tom Davies deserves to wear the shirt cause he was born there – but Geeez… he should be nowhere near our midfield. The boy can't pass the ball to a blue shirt.... unless we are away and playing a team in blue!! And I won't even start on Sigurdsson.

3 games remaining – would it kill us to give Beni Baningime a go??

I appreciate his reasons behind wanting to do it but we have eyes, we see what's going on and we can see who it's aimed at. I wish he would name them and properly call them out.

Pickford - has ability as a shit stopper but his attitude is all wrong. He's a chav who happened to be half decent at footy and has somehow found himself the national teams number one. I can't wait for Henderson to replace him and maybe that will be the kick up the arse he needs. Let's see if he finds his numerous mistakes funny then.

Davies - Complete and utter shite. I wanted him to do well so badly. Let's face the facts. He's useless. He's playing centre mid in the premier league and he can't tackle, he doesn't lead, he doesn't score, he never assists, he's slow as fuck, weak in the tackle and in the air. The championship is his level. He needs to be sent there.

Sigurdsson - The fee wasn't his fault but 㿀m would've been too much. The frustration with Gylfi is that he can do all those things I have just stated that Tom Davies cannot. He just chooses not too and is happy to hide and pass sideways or backwards as to not lose possession and get criticised. Have a fucking go. Have some pride. Shithouse.

Gomes - I know his injury was horrific and he's maybe playing sooner than he's really ready to but that doesn't excuse his performances since the restart. Utterly spineless v Southampton and he quit. A complete and utter shithouse. He has the ability to run games for us like he did before his injury. His goal return and assist stats are a shambles for a centre mid but he can make us tick when he can be arsed. I'll reserve judgement until he's no longer surrounded by complete dross but he needs to shape up or fuck off. I hope we get him a proper Gueye replacement and soon.

Iwobi - If he's a footballer, so am I. 㿊m for a crab who runs in to dead ends and then has to go back. Couldn't cross the road never mind a ball and offers fuck all. A total passenger.

Bernard - The premier league is no place for Hobbits. Unless you're Zola, you're goosed and he's like a fish out of water. Flog him back to a wealthy Ukrainian/Russian team. The prem isn't for him. He's weak as piss.

Walcott - A speed boat with no driver. He makes Iwobi look worthy of a shirt. Get shut!

They're the names I wish Coleman would've said. They're the ones with the wrong attitude. Not the only ones, mind. They just happen to be playing. The squad is littered with shite and needs major surgery. Special mentions go to Bolasie, that little useless injury prone blagger, Delph. We're rid of Schneiderlin thank god and now Sandro, Bolasie, Delph, Walcott, Pickford, Iwobi, Sugurdsson and Davies can follow him.

As much as he's been a hero, Seamus is now also part of the problem and needs to be honest with himself. He's finished as a premier league player. This needs to be his last season as does it Baines.

Three games left for, I'd say, 70% of this squad to save their Everton careers but I'm not sure most of them are arsed enough to bother. The spineless, gutless, useless fuckers can do one and don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.

We've managed to secure a superb manager and I don't for one minute think that he wasn't promised the owners backing. He wouldn't be here otherwise. Now that City have rendered FFP laughable, let's see how much Moshiri wants his team to be successful. Let's face it, this team needs another 𧶀m spending on it and that's not taking in to account any fee's you may get to reinvest by moving on most of the shite. Let's see if he's up to the job. No point building Bramley Moore for them clowns to play in it. It'll be empty.

If we don't perform major surgery this summer, I don't think Richarlison and Digne will be here for the new seasons kick off. You could just see the despair in their eyes v's Wolves. They know they're sounded by shite and that has to change. The entire recruitment Department needs a stringent looking at because it's been a shambles and has set fire to Over 𧶲m of moshiri's money AFTER Stones, Lukaku and Gueye's fee's Have been taken in to account.

The clubs is a total joke and I'm bored shitless of being buzzed off. Back Ancelotti and let him sort it out.

Before the break I thought we were on the right track. Since the break its been pretty awful.

The players are capable of much more. The mood in the camp is wrong and has been for a while now. Recruitment will help but Carlo needs to get a grip of a squad with a bad attitude.

Just look at what Dyche keeps achieving at Burnley with a bunch of players who might otherwise be at Sheff Wed, Stoke or Middlesbrough struggling to stand out in the Championship. Dyche has improved them as individual players and made the collective greater than the sum of its parts.

Ps. Welcome also Mwila

@Brent 88 - best we can hope for is my personal investment via shirt purchases now that we don't have a gambling company on it!

Meanwhile at Goodison, very few of our players will improve their financial lot elsewhere, so there is very little need for most of them to bust a gut.

I don't know where you got that. Not so Mate. Tom Davies most definitely does not deserve to wear the shirt because he was born here. If that was the case we would have a squad half a million strong.

Another myth you will oft see peddled on here is that he is above criticsm. That myth is generally only peddled by those who havent quite figured out the difference between criticism and abuse.

After just looking at yesterdays live forum - The posts are still up there - I'd like to ask those who took great pleasure in trading criticism for outright abuse (aft'noon Brent ) a question.... When this "serial winner" who we are "lucky to have" was making wholesale changes yesterday. How come he never once looked in Toms direction ? Could it be he saw something you didnt. That the whole team were stinking the place out ?

I'm taking great joy in the fact that many of those who home in on Davies after every Defeat are also often the ones who apologise the loudest for Ancelotti.
How it must wreck their heads to see the greatest manager whoever lived, keep on picking the worst player whoever lived.

What a fucking huge gaping hole the world class, serial winning, wily old fox keeps blowing through their flawed judgement and reasoning.

The only bit of fun on offer at the moment

We are down to the barest of bones in central midfield currently.

I'm not having a go at Tom, he's certainly been no worse than Gomes or Sigurdsson, but I don't think getting picked in this current midfield is any feather in his cap. If he starts 25+ games for us next season (and presuming we are not ravaged by injury) that will be another matter.

Davies at least is trying. He tries to show for the ball and he tries to pass it forwards more than some of his more senior colleagues. He's one of the youngest players in the team and these disastrous last 3 games do not fall on his head. I still think he may be best benefitted by a season hopefully dominating the championship next year where he can make 30 starts and really hone his game but time will tell.

But whatever and whomsoever, our man presents for our delectation, it matters not. If the Italian family enterprise stays around for next season their focus will be on the activities--both ins and outs- of their colleague, Mr Brands, who surely won't repeat the horrors of the last few windows. Should he do so, defenistration may well be on our agenda !

On the subject of Davies I think he will be a good squad player, but his big test will come when we get everyone fit and who we buy in the next widow. Then he'll have to really fight for his place, he and DCL should not be automatic choices yet, they haven't done enough.

My argument holds more water than the arl Wessie road swimming pool and here's why

Rhino recently spoke about Beni. He told us that after all his injuries and difficulties he was getting back to his best. If he told us, you can bet your house that he has told Ancelotti. Right there is an option.

On the bench. Ancelotti had, The club captain. Two thirty million pound signings (one of whom we are told is better playing central) a Brazilian international and a world cup winner. Are you honestly trying to tell me that this master tactician didnt have any choice but to play the worst player in the league ? You or I could come up with several alternative systems which didnt involve Davies...You are surely not suggesting Carlo had no choice ?

He could easily have played Big Yerry at CH and moved Holgate into midfield the other night. That would have ousted young Tom..but he chose to bench big Yerry instead. He could have played the 40m Icelandic international too, but he left him on the bench as well.

I know it doesnt square with your argument Sam, but Ancelotti has options. He has ALWAYS had several options.
Like every other manager he elects to go for what he believes is his best one.

Yes, I suppose Carlo could have put himself in the middle as one option (might have done alright) but i'm not sure it was a palatable one. Similar to Banigime who, whatever Rhino has said, has failed to get a game in the last 3 years bar the solitary appearance for lowly Wigan.

Holgate has been needed at the back and if the clearly unfancied Banigime is not included then Carlo's only had 3 central midfielders to choose from with 5 games in the space of 2 weeks. Clearly Davies with 100 or so appearances for Everton was going to get alot of game time.

You may well be right. Perhaps Carlo rates Davies highly. He certainly spoke well of him recently. But I think we'll have a much clearer idea of that next season when he has (hopefully!) some more palatable midfield options to choose between.

I don't understand how you can say Holgate was essential at the back. not with a 27m center half sitting on the bench.

Given the quality of midfield players Carlo has had at his disposal I would be staggered if he rated Davies highly, but he clearly appreciates the job he does and continues to ignore other far more expensive options. Thats what amuses me.

BTW. You never went to Wessie baths ?

Unless you have been persuaded to leave the pool by two really pissed off "life guards" welding big fuck off bamboo sticks from either side with total disregard for where they smashed them down. I can only assume you were posh and went swimming in the same place as people like Ferry and Tran

Corwally.

Since we brought one in, how many players can you name that have improved this squad.

You could say Richarlison, but I would say that was more down to Silvas knowledge on the player and would have brought the player in anyway.

The only other player would be Digne and possibly Gomes.

The rest of our big signings have been sub standard.

I was against a d.o.f when we first appointed one and still am now.

It is obvious Moshi knows nothing at the moment and is being badly advised and taken for a ride, but he did not make his fortune through knowing nothing, in time he will and hopefully be more ruthless.

For now though we have to strip that midfield above all other areas, and bring in a couple of top class midfielders in, we cannot afford to gamble in the market this Summer on prospects, we have to bring in players at the top of their game.

I want to see some attacking football for a change. Imagine us taking the game to the opposition! and us having them on the back foot. I know, lalalala land.

Mina and Holgate are rumoured to be back in the frame so how about

Pickford
Coleman Keane Miami Digne
Davies Holgate Gordon
Richie Kean DCL

Forget our travails and attack, let them worry about us.

David (#4) do you really Richarlison would get a start for Top 4 side? I'm not so sure about that. He may be the best we've got but that doesn't say a lot to be fair. I agree he's one of the few I wouldn't be looking to sell. I for one wouldn't lose any sleep if any or all of the following left this summer:
Pickford
Keane
Mina
Davies
Sigurdson
Iwobi
Walcott
Sidibe
Bernard
Kean
Sandro

A new goalkeeper, right back, 2 centre halves, a midfield on top of that goal scorer we've been crying out for since Lukaku left us are all needed. It's just a question of which position(s) we need most
urgently. It's not going to be easy

Hopefully, very hopefully and in preseason the club will get at least a couple of players, whom will fight, have care, flair and passion and belief.

The last x3 games, have been the worst I've watched on the box or listened to, for decades.

The lack of effort and chemistry tells its own storey. The easiest team to play against and no team has to barely break sweat, as a walking press, contains this team.

The rhetoric post match from Seamus, is what we've heard for donkies years.

Until the club gets a minimum level of professionalism, then we won't win anything soon. What the hell goes on at FF.

Ironic as almost 12 months since the garbage away friendly at Wigan. That set the stage for another wretched crap season, to back up so many before.

If the club doesn't get serious soon, then, the worse this chronic demise will become, and no team is too good to stay in this league. You earn the right by hard work and endeavour. The bulk of this squad wouldn't know the meaning of these attributes for any football team.

Let's hope there's some new players whom want to play for Everton and Carlo Ancellotti. This transfer window will be very tough, may be we can trade some of our deadwood too.

Hopefully they will devise a moral fibre test for any new signings, I'd fine most of the team for yesterday's extra bad stink show.

Seamus cares, but on the pitch we need a nark, who fights and holds the team together. The worst bunch of cowardly players since the EPL, was set up.

The Everton supporters deserve better. Let's hope it happens soon.

Villa will steam this team if they don't change their mindset.

Let's hope Everton turn up.

I was under the impression that with each managerial change the new guy brings in his own coaching team, save for Duncan who has been a mainstay throughout these turbulent years.

I wasn't trying to be funny. I was raging. I've calmed down a little now and read it back and I've had a chuckle at myself. If we didn't laugh we'd cry eh, mate.

Who'd be a blue eh? Fuck sake. 😂

As you say it would give us some anticipation and something to look forward to at the very least. I can't see what's to lose at this stage in the season in not trying it.

My view on the sleazy Kenwright is unabated but it now worries me that the same culture of total subservience to the owner's ego is what's engulfing Moshiri, and massively stimying our way to basic professionalism as a football club.

No, I don't have statements to corroborate my opinion but a number of city-based TW correspondents have for quite a while posted their similar observations.

So, if Kenwright's grip as chairman is not as strong as it used to be, given Moshiri most recently decided to "enhance his role as chairman" by the way, have we now to endure the ineptitude of the man Kenwright programmed to run our club for as long he wants, regardless of performance, results or lack of trophies?

Which other founder member of the EPL would tolerate our situation for two years, never mind two decades and more?

But this team has brought their own social distancing limits into play, and in cases stay 5-10 m away from the opposition players.

We live in hope.

https://trainingground.guru/staff-profiles/everton-staff-profiles

I've just found the information thanks.

We are, due to the most inept transfer dealings that I have ever witnessed, in a very precarious position. A second rate, demotivated, disengaged squad, coached by a man whose admirable skills have never, ever, encountered the like of the fundamental utter ineptitude that he faces in training every day.

This sorry bunch need supporters in the ground. They need reminding that they are not entitled to look pleased with themselves (every fucking one of them, without exception, has that look).

I have a bad feeling about our club. This will end badly.

Carlo came in and has brought in even less than Silva. The current setup seems to be:

Head Coach - Carlo Ancelotti
Assistant Coach - Davide Ancelotti
Assistant Coach - Duncan Ferguson
Head Fitness Coach - Francesco Mauri
Fitness coach - Manuel Morbito
Head of Performance - Mino Fulco
Goalkeeping coach - Alan Kelly

Alan Kelly is an interesting one. He came in on a temporary basis to be goalkeeping coach under Unsworth's extended caretaker spell. Then after that ended he dropped down with Unsworth to the u23s as allardyce brought in Martyn Margetson. Then he left as Silva brought in Hugo Oliveira. When silva left and Hugo went with him, Ferguson promoted Kelly to the first team with John Ebrell and franny Jeffers. After Carlo came in, Ebbrell and Jeffers rejoined Unsworth in the u23s but Kelly has remained with the first team. Will Carlo bring in a new man in the summer? I doubt it.

The biggest surprise for me is the main coach. Carlo has always been one to use what he has inherited, but he always took his best mate Gio Mauri (father of Francesco) wherever he went. It should be noted that he usually manages massive clubs with high turnovers of managers who have an extensive playing squad and so extensive coaching teams that remain in place when the main man is sacked. That is a new man brings in a few coaches but inherits another 5-10. So Carlo is used to working this way.

After Gio took a lot of stick when Carlo was accused of not having Bayern fit enough, Gio retired. Francesco was already on the coaching staff at Bayern as his dad's assistant and Carlo made him the head fitness coach ever since.

Carlo usually has a guy like Paul Clement alongside him. Someone who is a renowned coach and knows him well and can get his ideas across. It's very interesting that Everton haven't appointed Clement (who appears to be available after being sacked by Swansea) or someone like that. I can only think he believes his son is ready for a bigger role this time and that he himself should take on a bigger role. Indeed Carlo is right in the middle of things on all the training videos when in the past he's been more like Koeman was. Ronald used to stand on the side watching as his brother Erwin did all the coaching. So now we see the two fitness coaches warming the players up and doing fitness work, but Carlo, Davide and Duncan doing the technical drills.

It's a very nepotistic setup. I'm not implying there is no merits to Davide as a coach, as he has some impressive credentials rather than just being Carlo's son (such as graduating top of his class). But when you throw in Mino Fulco being married to his daughter Katia, and then Francesco Mauri being the son of his close friend, you have to raise an eyebrow.

One for Robert Tressell: you might want to get Katia Ancelotti on Cheshire Footballer's Wives as she's not a bad looker!

Don Alexander,

Sadly there are founding Premier Leagueteams that have tolerated worse. Coventry, QPR, Wimbledon to name a few.

Regarding Clement, I seem to recall the club saying that, with Marcel on board, he'd oversee staff and they wouldn't continue to have wholesale turnover after the expensive payoffs with Sam's crew. That's how Dunc was foisted on Silva and presumably Carlo.

When Silva lost his number two, who was able to go bargain basement shopping for Boa Morte. Maybe Carlo's family come on the cheap versus an established name like Clement.

If Carlo can't sort EFC out then, no-one can. Kenwright will no doubt bring Moyes back if this fails. I fear relegation because this terminal decline can only result in it happening sometime soon.

I keep thinking about what Schneiderlin said when he joined Nice. He was glad to join a club with structure and organisation – hmmm.

Down to the Sandhills.

We debate endlessly on these boards but, honest to God, until that lot are swept away and a proper football/sports management team is brought in, it won't change. Until then, we're just fiddling about around the edges. It's absolutely and utterly rotten to the core. Rotten!

Not one person from within the club has dared to be outspoken against this cronyism culture and hence it will never change. I still think Kenwright sticks his oar in, and it is absolutely defining Moshiri's decisions. Sub-standard, soft players, and not one outspoken. Nice little cliques, on huge wages, who do just enough and no more. I have no respect for men who hide and meekly accept under-achievement. The squad is full of them.

The problem is, it seems this culture has passed over to Moshiri and his team through persuasion and it is deemed acceptable.

Then and only then, will Ancelotti have free reign to forge his own team and bring success and hopefully attractive football with quality players who want to play for Everton.

It cannot continue into next season with this sour, sorry collection of players, or else forget any progress.

Moyes ran the ship how he wanted with Kenwright's hearty blessing. Koeman got his brother to help with coaching. Martinez needed no coaches because he doesn't grasp the game.

Then add Jeffers and big Dunc to the mix and it's just a continuous perfect storm of inept under-qualified well-paid staff. That's before we get into our totally out-of-her-depth CEO.

Let the good times roll, Carlo, and good luck, mate!

Training to Win

Could result in a few transfer requests.

Look at Ferguson Are you mad, we are looking at the guy saved our season and gave us our belief back!!

Nick, you call yourself an Evertonian, how can you not support him for what he did back in December, where you present at those games he took charge for, how on earth can you criticise him, for what, he showed Silva how it should be done. He proved he could coach, he proved he could motivate, he proved he had tactical knowledge and he got results....

I was at those games with family and friends who have been travelling home and away with Everton for 20 years, the passion at Goodison and on the terraces we had not experienced that for years...

We should be applauding Ferguson for what he has done for us as a coach, walks on water. He saved our club this year and continues to stand by his manager..

Nick your an embarrassment, you call yourself an Evertonian!! Tut tut

As for the owner being fooled by him, well, they say a fool and his money are easily parted.

Where's the Blue Union when you need them??

It just does not add up.

At this moment in time nothing
has changed under Ancelotti.?????

For the manager to come out publicly and say that the level of effort and motivation of the players is unacceptable, is, to my mind, a terrible thing for him to have to do.

In other words, he has said that the players, in the main, don't give a jot about their performance and are just going through the motions.

Clearly, time to ring the changes.

Ferguson was incredible in those games he dragged our club out of a relegation fight.

I sit in the family enclosure and believe me he was inspiring. He made Siva look like a little boy.
And the game against Man U I was in the away end when he stood there in the pouring rain, leading our team. The real fans stood right along side him and sang their hearts out for him and the club.

That certainly is not rotten!!

#163 - I don't think slandering the man is fair, those words you use are harsh..

He's still at Everton because he's proved himself as a caretaker manager and a coach. He secured us 5 points when we were facing a relegation battle, we were all terrified of those games in December that he took charge of, it was a miracle, we would never have secured those points under Silva that's for sure.

I am sure Ancelotti, Moshiri and the Everton board see him as an asset to the club and that's why he's still here. He's not the Everton manager because the club brought in a three times champion league winner, we couldn't ask for anything more but for sure one day he will be.

Just a couple of hours ago he features on BBC1 with a blind fan, that kind of fan engagement cannot be faked, it's fantastic. I've met Duncan a couple of times, he's wonderful person and is so very supportive to all our fans and our great city. Sorry you see it differently

Times change and people change and, as I have been happy to admit, I called that one badly wrong. In my view, without Duncan Ferguson we would have been relegated this season. There is much more to the man than ever met my jaundiced eye.
I am, without any right whatsoever, quick to judge but often wrong. I am happy that he is at our club. Not as a charity case but as a man with something to offer. I am glad we have Ancelotti as coach and I hope he has a cunning plan for next season. I am am happy we have Duncan Ferguson ready and able to step in if all goes badly wrong.

If you can't ask these questions, or aren't prepared to, I'm not quite sure who or what you are supporting. It's certainly not the Everton I watched win the league in 1985. And therefore I doubt you are really Evertonians at all given that you accept this despicable, wretched and cancerous malaise. NOBODY is bigger than the club and nobody is beyond reproach.

In this case, I cannot excuse my club for offering up such disgraceful fare.

Kenwright is a different matter, I thought he was supposed to be stepping down due to health problems? Whilst I would never wish him ill health, I do wish he was completely out of the picture and would agree that he still seems to have far too much influence. It's about time Mr Moshiri flexed some muscle and appointed a new chairman, I think until that happens we will continue to stutter and stumble.

From 1992 until he became chairman in 2004, we had escaped relegation twice on the last day of the season and, apart from a year of Joe Royle as manager, had finished an average 15th in the Premier League with a highest of 13th.

I think we had pretty well declined before he oversaw anything.

That we have not risen to the dizzy heights we would all like is a different criticism.

It may run deeper than that but it would, in my opinion, go a long way to sorting through actual running of the club out and help us adopt a healthier and more business-like approach.

I'm more concerned about Everton...

You know what – it's been so long, you forget what it's like to support an achieving and winning team.

Moshiri said Ferguson gave him his best Everton experience to date, plus he spoke with Ferguson regarding the caretaker role, when Ferguson spelled out how he would organise the team 4-4-2 etc – it was all over the news, didn't you see that!!

Wake up son!!

This is Everton Football Club. He's pumped hundreds of millions of his own money in apparently for that! Hahaha... wake up, “son”.

No wonder performances like this are the norm, they've become accepted without even comment from the club.

If they don't care, why should we? And more and more people don't care anymore.

The club is in a coma, closer to death than it realises, and it needs to act big now, while the odd person still gives a damn.

I have to disagree with your low opinion of Duncan Ferguson, his effect on the team and the Goodison crowd wasn't an illusion. His influence was real and tangible and seriously needed at the time; for this you are very disparaging.

On his playing career I would have to agree with you about the "legendary" career Duncan achieved, yet just imagine having 2 or 3 such players in our team now? I amongst many more will love him for that; he was momentarily a hero in a swamp of fuckin mediocrity.

Thank you, Nick, for that link to that damning article on the King of mediocrity – Kenwright. It is a superb post, one of the best and I applaud you for promoting it, don't stop. The article is so powerful and sadly accurate about Everton's intransigence and Liverpool's ability to rise again... like fuckin' Michael Myers.