Capitulation

With the experience of Lampard, Clement, Cole and Ferguson, I don't understand why they set up like that. We have to play the rest of the away games with a 0-0 mentality, don't concede and keep it tight and defend like dogs. We have the worst away record in the Premier League.

Holgate is good with the ball at his feet, but the main duty of a defender, especially a central defender, is to be aware, to try to anticipate where the ball might be played, or which player will make a run or drop off. Of those essential skills, he has no idea. He isn't alone.

The left side of Everton's defence does not exist. The midfield can either sit back and defend or move up and play in a gung-ho fashion, it just cannot do both as most good midfields can.

Gordon tried, though, at times in despair, he tried to do too much on his own. When Dele Alli came on, he was neat and looked for the ball. However, Van der Beek showed why he rarely got a chance in the dysfunctional but talented Man Utd midfield. Calvert-Lewin is, as ever, returning from injury, but he looked like the player of 3 years ago, rather than last year's England striker model.

Coleman is a shadow of a once excellent full-back. Kenny tries but is not and never will be a left-sided defender. Keane, at the moment, is in reverse Midas mould, and everything he touches goes wrong.

Pickford is Pickford, brilliant saves and Sunday League howlers. He never has that quiet authority which the best keepers (Southall) command.

We desperately need some luck early in a game, someone needs to score an own goal for us, a keeper playing against us needs to spill a shot or let it slip past him. We have a tough end of season, but three or four home games, starting with Wolves that ought to be winnable. If we don't win them, then I may well see my second ever game with Everton in the second tier of English football.

COYB

There is no evidence of improvement, and results remain truly awful. Reality is that after a very short, good start to the season, Everton are the worst team in the Premier League.

I and thousands more could've given Frank food for thought before his first game and told him about the mentality of most of these players.

If him and his coaches hand on heart didn't know, then we have Ferguson even Unsworth to point this out, plus a football man on the board in Sharpy who is still verbally paralysed. Okay, if that's unfair and I'm sorry to rock their cushy little world, then I don't know if anyone is accountable except the 'good times' Buffoon.

Keane was diabolical, Coleman might have been just as bad.

More worrying was Lampard's naive game plan that exposed the pair of them. Surely you play to your strengths and try to hide as best you can your weaknesses. This is a Tottenham team that played it's way through the City forward press a few weeks ago. It's not rocket science.

The January recruitment looks inadequate and a few posters have noted the wisdom or lack thereof of allowing hot seat Benitez to use much of it.

The on field response to this latest debacle will be illustrative. It's sink or swim time.

Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison were too far apart in play up front, playing as individuals and not together. Creativity from midfield was non-existent, hence no shots on target.

Midfield was a blustering mess and if Allan and Doucouré think that they did their bit, they should think again. Effort is one thing; creativity is another. Gordon knew what was required of him, but it just didn't come off. He was the only one trying to be creative.

Keane can be a good defender, but not playing with Holgate. Holgate, for me is the problem. As others say, with the ball at his feet he looks ok, but his positional sense and passing is abysmal. He should be dropped and Branthwaite replace him.

We can play well at home with the Goodison roar, and Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison can score goals. This week in training should be concentrated on the playing together and not a pitch apart. Midfielders should be told to pass through channels and cross the ball better.

We cannot capitulate in the next two home games. We need true grit and determination with an organised team effort. We can get the results we need through home form at Goodison.

20 minute walk to Seven Sisters to then get stuck amongst the jubilant Tottenham fans in the queuing system to get into the station. Found a bar near Kings Cross that was open to console with my mate, only we didn't really talk about Everton. Nothing to discuss.

I haven't watched back and won't. I saw enough of it in the flesh last night, and yes, I stayed to the bitter end. Arms folded.

But I unintentionally caught one of the goals on the BBC this morning. The one where Harry Kane makes Michael Kane look like he is jogging on the spot. It's not like Kane is Usain Bolt, but that was way too easy. It was like taking a cavery knife to margarine. Apologies, this is going to take a few days to digest, so you'll have to excuse me.

Once again, Anthony Gordon looked shell shocked at the end. He finally gets his chance but must be wondering WTF? Most of them didn't venture too close to the Everton fans in the corner at the end apart from Mykolenko and Pickford. Even our Captain was noted in his absence.

On a lighter note, I was both impressed and intrigued with the beer glasses being filled up from the bottom by placing it on a widget of some sort. I still can't work it out, but trying not to overthink.

I'm going to text him back this morning and offer him a job at FInch Farm.

I think we have to go back to when Moyes was the manager when we last had a defence who were well drilled and knew how to defend. As I said apart from Ancelotti all those who followed Moyes tried to play a more open attacking game, but we have never had the defensive stability to allow us to play that way. Martinez added more attacking options but had Moyes well drilled defence to rely on, but when he moved away from that set up then the poor results followed.

All the very best sides have a good defence and most also have a very good sitting defensive midfield players just ahead. When you look at City, Liverpool and Chelsea all 3 have great defenders, yes its the attackers who mostly get the headlines but all those teams know none of this is possible without a good defence. By and large most of the back 4 that played last night have been part of the back 4 for 5 years, and its no coincidence that for most of those years we have struggled.

I know when Lampard was at Chelsea the criticism of him was the team was to open, and I think that we under his leadership have certainly away from home been guilty of the same fault. Also doesnt help when your best defender Mina has missed so many matches.
I am sure Lampard and his coaches would have been alarmed at the schoolboy defending he watched last night and thats not just the back 4 but the midfield as well. I have to say DVdB doesn't impress at all he hardly puts in a tackle and I am yet to see him link up with the forwards or put in any telling passes for the forwards, and likewise with Doucoure. The only 2 players who came out that game with any credit was Gordon and Allan, even Pickford who has been good of late should have done better with Sons goal and Kanes 2nd.

I think DCL is a very very limited footballer and last night just underlined that fact, he never looks like he will collect the ball and turn and run at defenders or hold it up and play a ball to his teammates. I think the fact he is credited with 1 assist in the last 2 seasons highlights his deficiencies. Richarlison as always gives 100% but there has to be a lot more end product than what he is producing at present. I think he has to stop trying to take on 3 or 4 defenders every time he gets the ball.
I actually thought when Lampard took over we would see more interplay in and around the opponents box between midfield and the forwards but you very rarely see that happening.

Maybe just maybe that tonking last night will have been a massive wake up call for everyone at the club, either that or it just deepens the depression even further. The games against Wolves a team who don't normally concede a lot of goals and the Newcastle game are now huge games and it maybe our last chance for a while to actually put daylight between ourselves and the other strugglers, lets hope with the backing of 40,000 fanatical fans we can do it as I really don't want to consider what will happen if we don't.

To the point about what's in front, on more than a few occasions, he didn't have options in front of him.

I thought Doucoure had an off night (not alone) and Tottenham done a good job in continuously showing Gordon inside, where they could easily contain him.

I am also a big fan of Allan the guy never hides always demanding the ball off the back 4 and is always looking to play a ball for the forwards to run onto. I really do worry as to who would play his role if he got injured.

I think Ali will start on Sunday instead of DVdB and lets hope that Gray is fit to start with him on 1 wing and Gordon on the other and I would start Richarlison down the middle but if Gray isn't fit to start then play Richarlison out wide and I would pick Rondon over DCL to start up front. At least he can hold the ball up and has decent link up skills and seing as he is now fully fit for me carries more threat than DCL.

Sounds simplistic but if you don't start with defense nothing else matters. Keane has deteriorated for a long time and doesn't have mental strength to cope. Holgate has always been a huge liability and never been anywhere near PL level. Coleman is turning into a tragic figure, trying to perform when it is obvious he can't. Godfrey in my mind been forced to play CD even he is a fullback... still much better than Holgate/Keane. Mina yes but his injuries make him irrelevant. Do not know if Branthwaite is up to it but he cannot be worse than Holgate or Keane.

In the big picture I am afraid that there is just too much feel-good factor going on in the team and pictures from the practice field reflect that. We are and have been in serious trouble for long time. Do the players realize that? Or really care?

When going gets tough, tough get going...I am afraid we don't have enough such characters to survive.

I wrote a week or so ago, that I wouldn't fancy being in the trenches with most of this squad. Last night vindicated that and yet I was still hoping for a point. How deluded can you be. We all thought after the City game if we perform like that, with the 100% commitment and passion we would be ok. However playing like that, once in a blue moon ( no pun intended ) won't cut it. In the EPL you have to be on it every game and for some reason EFC cannot do it. Away from home we are the oh so easy touch. Even Norwich beat us.

The tactics last night were wrong. However, Frank probably thought that given their performances against Burnlay and Middlesboro, their confidence might be low and if we could get an early goal etc etc. Alas it didn't work. As soon as Keane put his so called attempt at a clearance past Pickford it was over. As usual Panic Stations ensued. It was like the home game against Watford. The Blue Sea parted and it was St Crispins day all over again. Once more unto the breech shouted Harry Hotspur and ably assisted by Son, they were routed !!

Frank may not like it but we have to play tight and park the bus away from home for the rest of the season. Though I have to say I'm not even sure these players can manage that.

I feel very sorry for Anthony Gordon who has been a lone bright spot, whilst Gray has been injured / sick. Its obvious but we badly need Gray, Mina and Godfrey back real soon. We also need them to stay fit.

I was surprised to see Gomes on the bench last night as I believed he was finished after his appalling substitute appearance at Southampton. I suppose the fact that Frank changed the formation rather than bring him on when DVB was taken off, says it all.

So what do we do going forward. For Wolves and Newcastle.

Goalkeeper. Pickford picks himself

The defence. We have 7 defenders who are supposedly fully fit. 3 RBs none of whom seem fit for purpose. 3CHs, one of whom thinks he's something and isn't. Another who lets CFs bully him and whose confidence looks shot and a young kid learning his trade. At LB a new signing who must be worried 24/7. about his family and friends. Godfrey might be added to this little lot come Sunday. Frank I wish you luck sorting out a defence worthy of the name from that lot.

The midfield picks itself. It has to be Allan, Doucoure and DVdB.

As for the attack. If we go 4 3 3, then Gordon starts as defenders are rightly scared of his pace and determination. Richarlson and if fit Gray.

If there is a U23 match this week then play DCL and Deli Ali in it for the full 90 minutes. get some game time into them.

I feel sick to the pit of my stomach about what is happening to our great club and hope beyond hope the manager and team can find something to get us out of this mess asap, I would hate to go the Emirates in May needing something. Imagine that, Arteta sending us down. Were's the Arteta money Bill ?

If Frank goes defensive, dare I say it Rafa style, and we get beat, everyone says ‘why did he play defensive the only way to beat spurs is to attack'. But he goes attacking and we get stuffed then you have people saying ‘we should of played 5 at the back and tried to sneak a 1-0'. I felt sorry for him last night. Frank is surly looking at his back line and thinking ‘what the hell has this clown Benitez left me with'.

We had one of the best attacking left backs in the league in Digne, Rafa marginalised him and he left the club, we had another left back that we have sent on loan and we had another left back who was a young raw talent who we let go to Southampton, now we are playing a sub standard right back in the left back position, it's typical Everton and typical of Rafa.

James Rodrigues was the only Everton player I have seen in years who was able to get the ball and spread a 60 yard pass to feet. He also scored 6 goals in 23 games. How many have Allan, Doucoure, Davies, Iwobi scored. It's crazy that we got rid of James, again, Rafa fell out with him and Everton agreed and we replaced him with Andros Townsend. A squad player at best who is years past his best.

I'm hopeful that we stay up but I will be honest I have seen this coming since December. That's when Rafa should of been given the boot! We need wins, but we can't cross, we can't shoot, we can't defend and we can't create. Keane after this season needs to go, along with Holgate. Oh also, ankther foot note, Coleman is like 43 years old and we signed Patterson to replace him, the guy can't get near the team. Another Everton shit show.

Spot on regarding James Rodriguez. I was against Rafa's appointment but the way he got rid of James sealed it for me.

Who gets rid of a player of that standard, especially when there is nothing to replace him and nobody anywhere near his level in the current squad?

I think James would have thrived at Goodison with the adoration from the crowd, but we will never know.

Signed two full backs with our scarce funds, who for some reason aren't ready for the first XI. Ignoring the gaping holes at centre-back and central defensive midfield.

Signed a winger on loan who can't get a look in.

Off the pitch, we are still a ship without a rudder, and don't seem to have learned very much. I still believe that our fans at home can keep us up, but the table doesn't lie.

Keane looked broken, if he's been ill it must be showing on the training ground that he's suffering. Why play him? Branthwaite is very young and inexperienced but still a better option anyhow.

Then we get to the utterly shambolic full back situation.
Patterson and Mykolenko are young hungry full backs, they need to play. If a slower Seamus and third reserve RB Kenny are preferred instead may the lord have mercy upon us for our transfer sins.

DCL hasn't shown anything, but has he had a decent cross to attack ? None last night and maybe one or two previously.

Wolves and Newcastle are now do or die games.

The crosses our wide players have been supplying in recent PL games have been dire - and not much better against Boreham Wood.

At home, you have a better chance of playing that way, with the crowd behind you and the away team inclined to sit back a bit more, but away from home, facing Kane and Son, you are inviting a hiding. Ancelotti recognised the limitations of his players, and cut the cloth to suit the measure.

Lampard needs to learn fast.

How on earth are we going to fix this mess? It's a perfect storm that is going to wash us away.

Losing 5-0 at Spurs is not going to send us down, it's the pathetic losses to Palace, Wolves, Norwich, Watford, Villa, West Ham, Brentford which will hurt.

What has it come to when 2 points in the next two matches is about all we can hope for?

Even if we don't get relegated, there is no way back for this group of overpaid, overrated, gutless, spineless, careless wasters. They have shown their true colours and we as fans deserve – and demand – better.

Lampard complained at Chelsea not having a squad good enough. Then came Thomas Touchel and won the Champions League with that same squad. In other words, Lampard did not do very good at Chelsea relative to the squad he had at hand.

Why should Lampard do any better with Everton than with Chelsea? I have no idea. I don't get the logic, let's bring a manager that did not do very good at the last club, then everything will be fine. Smart strategy...

I hope I am wrong, but I don't have much hope left. There are so many things in our club that seems not to work that I am totally losing interest in Everton. Last night I forgot we played a game. It was probably good I did not see it anyway.

Sorry to say, but I give it 65% chance of relegation. There is a big risk we end up last in the Premier League.

Calvert-Lewin looked uninterested. I know he stated last season that he preserves his energy to be alert in front of goal, but he could at least do more than jog occasionally to put more pressure on their defence.

Richarlison looked like he spat his dummy out at not being centre forward so tried to do everything himself.

Van de Beek was anonymous. Allan and Doucouré looked like they tried in the first half but weren't much good. If Allan is playing as a defensive shield then that's where he needs to be, not chasing shadows up the pitch. The second half was Doucouré's worst for a long time, but maybe playing 3 games back from injury in a week took its toll.

Coleman should never have been playing against Son. He was reckless going forward and hopeless in defence.

Keane is a liability and can only play one way (despite the stats that some posters will post), and that's backs-to-the-wall defending. He should be nowhere near the team for the next 2 games.

Holgate is someone I've defended and, to be fair, wasn't as bad as Coleman and Keane. However he, and the rest of the defence, were shown up by Gordon in the first half. There is no excuse for the half-arsed jogging back that he constantly did. In the first half, Gordon was 20 yards behind Son and sprinted back to make a challenge, none of our defence broke into a sweat when losing the ball and that is unacceptable. Gordon in that one moment, showed the rest of the team up.

I've not got much criticism for Kenny, at least he tried, he was just out of his depth at left-back, or Pickford, who made a mistake but was otherwise very good. Gordon puts them all to shame.

If Godfrey is back in the next game, I would drop all of the back 4. Play Patterson, Godfrey, Branthwaite and Mykolenko. At least we'll have a bit of pace to play a higher line.

Evertonians didn't choose Frank Lampard. Like every other employee at the club, we don't get to vote on who arrives and who leaves, we're stuck with whomever the board and manager appoints.

Frank may not be able to stop what is seemingly inevitable, but at least he has a slim chance, a chance that would have been beyond Benitez.

At the moment, if the season's form continues for the Bottom 4 or 5 for the remainder of the season, Everton would escape relegation by two points. Unfortunately or perhaps luckily we can't see future events, therefore, we'll just have to see how each and every result for Everton and those around us affects our league position.

Until it is mathematically impossible for Everton to stay up, we have to support the club.

Surely after last night Lampard must realise a change of approach is required. First and foremost he needs to set the team up not to be beaten. I fear he lacks the experience and knowledge to do that effectively in enough matches between now and the end of the season.

It seems to me we have a comparative novice as a manager, still feeling his way into the job. We have no alternative but to live with that, hope he can turn it around but accept that relegation may be the price of failure.

It is vital that the supporters lift them selves and get behind the team on Saturday against another counterattcking side.

Lets just hope Frank has learned his lesson and starts with solid defending.

As benchmarks, in my own head I have placed the defeat to the rs kids as the most shameful defeat in the Club's history, and the 0-5 defeat to the rs, together with a 3-0 defeat at Wolves at Christmas 1983, as the worst performances I've seen from an Everton side. The early 70s also had some very low spots.

But last night was right down there with them.

We're playing Sunday at 14-00hrs, not Saturday Jay.

The 7 - 0 thumping by Arsenal was dreadful.

But last night was up there with them. Is it Sunday yet?

I knew we were going to get battered away from home playing like this. I mean, Keane in a high line? Has Lampard ever watched us? I don't think he understands how systemic the problems are.

We've barely won a game since Jan '21 and are in the middle of a deep malaise. There is something seriously wrong in there and "enjoy the ball" just won't cut it with the biggest bunch of phonies he will ever encounter.

We are going to the wire with this. Even a point gained away from home may be the difference. He needs to immediately prioritise solidity, organisation and clean sheets.

The mix of centre backs at the club is completely wrong and with Mina injured the other 3 can't play together - none of the combinations work. Holgate and Gordon are under size and Keane has got nothing.

The only realistic option is to sit in a low block and make sure they get protection by sticking at least one holder in front of them so no one can get into them. If Lampard doesn't change the away set up then we will keep getting absolutely battered.

Being beaten by Liverpool's kids in the FA Cup must be up there surely?

No more Match of the Day, we'll get 2 mins on Quest at 9:15.

No more coverage on 5 live, we'll get a disinterested 20 second update at halftime of the big match that day, Fulham vs Brentford.

I could go on. A major loss of status is coming and it will be hard to swallow.

For me though, being thumped by Liverpool in the early 80s when we were still a relative force was more of a shock than the one you refer too.

And the other aspect is what I have previously referred to. Liverpool were able to do that without the presence of their manager because they (he) has installed a system throughout the club. From academy to first team, everyone is coached the same. Every team plays the same system. Subsequently, their kids find it easy to step up when asked to do so. They play the same system.

We have left boot not being able to talk to right hand.

To your point, that was an embarrassing night. However given where we were and how they have implemented a top to bottom system, it was no surprise to me.

The Ian Rush derby was a distraughtful shock to me at the time.

A dark day. From cheers to tears.

Ian Rush. I've never met him and never want to.

I believe that was what Brands was brought in for but was never given the chance.

Completely wrong tactics and selection in certain positions, which may have been to suit thetactics were completely wrong. Even in the second half there was a still a adherance to th e same tactics, with Subs to suit.

My concern is that both. Benitez and Lampard were hired to play open attacking football and like Benitez, who did not change, Frank will do the same.

Now after that performance the Wolves game will. be more difficult.

What is clear right now is that there is a pattern where we play a decent game and then a very poor game so hopefully this weekend we get a decent performance and the 3 points to at least keep us alive.

Lampard will be feeling the pressure for sure so it's time for him to organize these shithouses for a fight because lose against Wolves and I feel we are done.

As for the ultimate loss well it's an easy one for me. Only ticket I could get was in the Park End stand to watch us get murdered by the red shite 5 - 0. I couldn't even get out of there until the gates opened with 10 minutes to go.

Another one is getting battered at Villa 6 - 2 in a night game and having to drive home with the window smashed because someone had robbed the radio cassette.

He's come in to deal with a mess. He got to sign two players and then it's up to him to use the players he has keep us up.

That is not how to get a result away to Spurs.

Of course, had we scored early we might see have seen a different game thereafter.

Ah hindsight.

It may go that deep that the current regime, with the appointment of Sharpe and Cahill, are actually dictating the style of play, which the Manager has to follow. I found it unusual that Benitez stuck with the same style of play, not reverting to a defensive formation at any stage.

The January transfer window acquisitions were not by the manager. Even Lampard, who was appointed on the last weekend of the transfer window, may have okayed Van de Beek, but how much input did he have?

Lampard was appointed to suit an open attacking style of football and the acquisitions where done to suit. But away from home, an open attacking style of football does not suit, because Everton do not have sufficient tactical and technical players to do so. This has been the case since November last year.

So who at Everton is dictating this open style of play and selecting the manager to suit? Who is deciding on transfers (not the managers), particularly in the January transfer window, where players acquired look in the main to suit an open attacking style of football?

It looks like the manager was selected to play this way and so were the acquisitions selected. The manager's input was minimal.

What is the actual aim and result of the Strategic Review on the ground, which has seen Sharpe and Cahill appointed, and appears to have increased the control of the Board over the football end of the club?

Every Spurs supporter I have talked to could not believe the tactics that Everton employed at White Hart Lane. All thought Spurs could have easily scored more, had they not laid off in the second half.

Played City, very unlucky and should have got something out of the game, he said, then we turn up here tonight and put in a performance like that.

In a nutshell, Frank. We played a lot more compact against City, which helped to protect the back four, and we also had balance on both sides of the pitch. We played close to each other, not allowing the opposition to play through or around us, and this gave us the backing of the crowd.

Complicate nothing, keep everything simple, and pander to nobody, please, Frank.

"Benitez was appointed to play an open and attacking style of football and didn't revert to a defensive formation at any stage."

Were you not watching?

He never had three in midfield. What looked like defensive was Everton not able to get out of their half. It wasn't a defensive formation like Ancelotti.

When you have less talented players than your opponent you give yourself a chance if you play in a compact manner, you stay in the game longer which allows the crowd to play it's part. If we set up like we did against Spurs against City it would have been a wipe out.

Frank can set his team up whatever way he wishes when he has the players at his disposal who can play in such a system, until then, and then might be the autumn of 2023, he has to keep things compact.

Our formation Monday was to attack away from home. Why? We can't defend!! Frank keep it tight and compact which allows each player some protection!
Why not recruit Sam allardyce for 3 months as a consultant advising Frank and his team?

Unless Frank finds a formation to defend with their lives and get points then championship here we come. No one on that coaching team have experience of relegation battles! The club must now act to give Frank all the advice/support available. Get Sam in now!!!

A Board member - refs to Graham Sharpe. Cahill was a advisor to the Board on manager selection, according to Bill Kenwright.

They play with very wide, very high wing backs, by pushing our full backs forward it should have negated their attacking threat as they wouldn't be able to get as far forward.

The issue arose when Son and the other guy dropped into the space that our full backs left. At this point one of our midfielders, of which we had a man spare, should have dropped into the back and effectively created a 1 on 1 situation - much as their 3 centre backs did with our 3 strikers.

Unfortunately, our midfielders seemed content with chasing shadows all game which meant that, whenever Son or the other guy dropped into these pockets of space, either a centre back had to come over or they were just left alone.

If we'd have had a competent defensive midfielder in the Gareth Barry model who would have anticipated this, it would have been totally different.

Given that in 2 of our last 3 away games our much vaunted attacking players haven't managed a single shot on target, this strikes me as a more sensible approach.

Back four was Kenny, Holgate, Keane and Martinez

Go figure

Posters need to research before they post!

Maybe it's just Kenny and Holgate who are shit. Nope Keane definitely is as well

Frank and his coaches staff have a massive job to turn the players mindsets, but it can be done.

Also surely the poxy Officials will be under the scope, bearing their reckless and cowardly performance v City.

The media, are gloating and the saga mega drive gob, Palace chairmen, sounding the virtues of football.

All taking bull, and putting the boot in.

I hope this gets Everton coming out fighting starting Sunday, and take Palace part in Cup and league.

But Everton can and will prevail if they can sort their heads out for the biggest end to a season in living memory.

Everton's luck with officials must change soon.

Dean supports neither Liverpool nor Everton and has officiated in only one Liverpool game, against Sheffield United, in the League Cup, on Jan 8, 2003, and two Everton games, in the Premiership against Manchester United on Dec 26, 2003 and against Wigan on Jan 31 this year.

I take it Mike Dean has moved away from the Wirral, or have the conditions altered since 2006? I don't know if Mike Dean has sons but could it be he has remarried and has step-sons?

Lampard was selected by the answers he gave at the interviews. Answers to selection critera, which both the gentlemen you mention had an input into. Of course those answers would be influenced by what he thought they wanted.

It would be clear on appointment that both parties would be working to the same objective. If a Big Sam type was interviewed, would he have been selected? What I am saying is the manager was selected to play open attacking football, not defend and nick a goal.

Defend and nick a goal was not popular under Big Sam or Ancelotti. They both left after one season. Do you think Lampard is going to change the away tactics to defend and nick a goal? I am not saying he can't.

Then ask yourself the question why not? It is a question that is not made up, since Everton look like relegation fodder away from home.

No club, manager, team, player or supporter can beat the referee.

This is my 1st post after the Spurs debacle, but I have read most of the comments here, and as usual there are some wise words of advice for Lampard, if he cared to come on these pages. Two styles of play - play on the front foot for the home games with the Goodison crowd behind our team, and then the infamous KITAP1 (Keep it Tight and Pinch 1) strategy in the away games.

My home starting XI (4-3-3):

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Branthwaite Godfrey
Doucoure Van de Beek Allan
Gordon Richarlison Gray (/Alli/Iwobi)

My away starting XI (4-5-1):

Pickford
Kenny Holgate Branthwaite Godfrey
Gordon Doucoure Iwobi Allan Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

Away I would have Rondon rather than Calvert Lewin to keep the team shape and keep the opposition defence pushing forward in support of their midfield. Would be ok with your home team. . Calvert Lewin as a sub at best to have a tired defence something to think about. I would think a counter attacking strategic is now vital.

A Keane Holgate positional interchange may be better, but I think Keane's confidence is shot and there is now no place for errors. Therefore I go with your selection.

Colman as a sub further forward or as back up.

Swedish International - Viktor Claesson. 56 Caps / 11 goals. In club football he has played 399 games and scored 117 goals. Released by Krasnador on 5th March 2022. Set piece specialist. age 30.

I've been having an interesting literary experience reading about lower-league football, going back and forth between Nige Tassell's "The Bottom Corner" and Ben Smith's autobiographical "Journeyman".

Smith actually encountered Lampard on the pitch as an Arsenal academy player. Here's what he writes:

At that time Frank was a decent player, but not someone who really stood out -- and definitely not someone you'd have predicted to go on to have the wonderful career he had with Chelsea. However, even at that age he had a great attitude towards training. I think Arsenal knew that his loyalties were always with West Ham but they had a go at taking him on anyway.

Lampard never coasted on his natural talent, and he won't allow his players to do so either. And I'm pretty sure that anyone who won't step up to his standards in training and commitment won't be a part of the club going forward. I think we may be in for some surprise departures in the next window.

Either we needed to buy both of them, or we bought the wrong one.

Big Sam was available but reportedly didn't want to have two relegations on his CV.

ToffeeWeb would have gone into meltdown if Allardyce had been introduced to the crowd on the pitch as our saviour.

We need to get behind Lampard and the team of misfits, not be questioning his appointment already.

1. A new owner
2. A new chairman
3. A new CEO
4. A new and expanded Board
5. A couple more Execs to implement the strategy determined by the
above
6. 8 or 9 new quality players

It has to be done in chronological order, mind, as – if the current regime buys the players – we will end up with 8 or 9 one-armed goalkeepers being bought. The existing muppets somehow managed to bring in 5 players in the last transfer window of which 4 cannot make the starting XI of a team that's won 2 games in 6 months or so… and that was probably one of their better windows of the last several years.

Let's face it, if we go down and the current shower of shite stay in charge of the club, their proven track record in incompetency will ensure we are far more likely to do a Sunderland then come back up in a hurry.