Everton fail to take key chances after frustrating Liverpool

We can hardly complain about other teams disgraceful performances as we are where we are due to our own

We can hardly complain about other teams disgraceful performances as we are where we are due to our own

Wonder who will take Keane's place on the bench?

It's just got worse with our quickest defender not lasting beyond the warm-up!

I'd love to have a scintilla of optimism but with Burnley's improvement and our stagnation it does look like the bell is tolling for us. The last derby we'll see for who knows how long?

So wtf is Richie and Gordon starting??

It's nothing of the sort. It's a naive manager caught in the headlights in an absolute tailspin.

The recruitment in January, of players and manager, has doomed us. #SackTheFuckingBoard #GetOutOfOurClub

Don't care about possession. We've had the better chances.

No issue with whatever we do to get ourselves out of this mess. I have no limits any more.

Beglin on commentary is a delight right now.

Doucoure should have done better when through into their penalty area but maybe it was the shock of getting there which goes with not only getting injured at training but now in the warm up. Are we going soft!?!

The tactics have worked so far but he also needs to have a word with Gray as he isn't putting in 100% and if he doesn't get his finger out then he should be subbed early in the 2nd half. And I don't get Doucoure's booking as he did not much more than what the Ref considered OK on Richarlison.

My biggest fear is this Ref doing us for no good reason!

Beglin is flipping his lid. I'm loving it!

Anthony Gordon probably did himself out of getting the benefit of the doubt in two good attacking situations by crumpling to the floor at the slightest touch in all his previous challenges, and Richarlison drained the sympathy reserves by trying to milk it at every opportunity before he probably did tweak his knee.

Hope the yellow cards don't come back to haunt us.

Dele to have more of a role in the remaining games. Why not? Also, good to see Mykolenko looking so solid, I and many others had written him off. If they stay, Iwobi, Gordon and Gray will be immense in the Championship.

We're not dead and buried yet.

I think we're going to struggle now but we just have to keep on with it and hope. It's still in our hands.

We had some fairly good attacking situations and should have had the penalty at 0-0 (another VAR failure).

Just have to keep that application going and hope some decisions go our way to even things up. Having to chase Burnley / Leeds is not ideal but there is still all to play for.

Hope Frank goes for the officials in his interview. We deserve another apology from Riley at the least.

All a bit sickening for all sorts of reasons.

As for the first goal, Gray let his man (the scorer) run past him and didn't go with him and Coleman didn't challenge for the header. And the second nobody picked up Henderson. Something has to be done about the awful standard and bias of refereeing and surely it has to start with whoever runs it, and was there any VAR at this game? They get involved in the slightest at other grounds but, unless the coverage didn't allow, it didn't seem in use here.

We tried hard for the draw but got nothing and for me, again no MotM, but Mykolenko played Salah out of the game and I give him as our best.

A small example was Gordon's corner he sprinted out to make sure it was in inside the D, and Trent put it outside all game. That was a deliberate ploy to unsettle, very subtle, but effective.

That was the hardest game left and we did ok. Need a goalscorer. Need Calvert-Lewin back and on form or we are going to struggle …..good chances must be converted.

The next six we can get points from, we have to stick together and fight, win our home games and go for it away. Never give up.

A miracle is required now. Could be 5 points off safety come Saturday night.

A believe a big football scandal will happen soon. Some officials are very matey with the staff of some clubs. Some are not up to the job, some are corrupt.

Also, I find it impossible to believe that football is devoid of performance-enhancing drugs. It will come out.

Back to us. We are not done yet but I fear that 45 minutes of bad coaching against Burnley has made us favourites to go down. We saw a huge effort today; we need a different type of performance from now on. Perhaps that is something that Frank can coach.

Our position is hard to credit. The combination of every ineptitude possible.

Fully agree, David, said it in the live forum - and why is there nothing in place to question this sort of stuff later, and get an answer? There's no accountability, just an (invisible) internal system supposedly maintaining "Quality".

About the refereeing decisions. It can't just be incompetence, can it?
The Gordon 'penalty' down the other end is a pen all day long, doesn't matter which one of their PED enhanced players goes down- penalty!!!! No questions asked. So where was are VAR review? tell you why, because they would of had to give it.

Even had my brother red shite moaning about our diving!!!! Told him if Salah had gone down like Gordon did under that challenge the pundits would of said 'he had a right to go down', 'stone wall pen' etc etc .

Corrupt as fuck.

But were shite and Frank Lampard is useless. Sorry but his in-game decisions are woeful. He's woeful, full stop, as are the team. Us fans deserve better but that won't be any time soon.

When we were 0-2 down against Wimbledon on THAT day, I had more hope of surviving relegation than I do now.

Obviously, being 5 points behind before we play Chelsea could upset that but there are still winnable games and Burnley are still a crap team. Never give up.

Frank has instilled some character as seen with late goals vs Newcastle and Leicester and in the performance today. That's something Rafa and Carlo in the second half of last season failed to achieve. But he hasn't been able to raise the quality. The passing, movement and finishing.

Our goal threat seems to come from individuals running at goal and hoping to win a penalty. That's a concern. We don't win enough corners to rely on set-piece goals. But at least there is finally some heart and the team and that offers hope.

I got approached by a group asking where I was from because of my vocalness.

Speak tomorrow when I've calmed down.

But it's not over just yet. And Everton will still be here, regardless. Just not on MotD.

As with the Gordon corner thing mentioned above. That was very poignant, a statement of the attitude that would be prevailing later. I no longer believe these are random actions or errors in the ebb and flow.

Why could Attwell not be asked to explain that? He didn't do it to Liverpool. If we could ask, then he would have to explain. They are essentially untouchable for most of the time, and it shouldn't be that way.

We (Everton) are in deep trouble, as Leeds are winning games since Bielsa gone also.

We may well be going down, but I'll be at Goodison next season watching and cheering us on. Doesn't matter if we're playing Chelsea or Preston, it's all football and we are Everton.

UTFT

Who was the VAR official today? They have to be told to come forward and explain their non-action today.

Just need to grind out a couple or dirty wins.

But once the season is over the focus has to shift to the removal of the board and mass demonstrations to get Kenwright and Co out.

It's long overdue and 'kopite' behaviour is very much needed.

Why couldn't we get a bit more luck and a tad better control in front of goal? It was interesting to hear the Sky Commentary go from we'll batter these, to they are putting on a good show. Still, against bent referees what can we realistically hope for?

I know it's a big ask, but if we can perform like that today, even though we got beaten on this occasion, against all the remaining teams, we should do okay. I couldn't fault any of our players today, even though it wouldn't have been my choice for a few, maybe the penny has eventually dropped, albeit far too late, but they now know we are in a battle for survival!

However, something is rancid in football. Liverpool are much better than us, they do not need help to beat us, but they got it.

I said it the other day but expecting good things from players like Iwobi, Rondon, Allan etc is just plain silly. We are total shite and that's that. We had done the hard work but typically the lapses in concentration or downright professional incompetence just let us down in the second half.

Years upon years and years of incomprehensible leadership at the helm of the club has come to fruition. I'm too far away but if somebody can strangle Bill Kenwright for me, I will compensate them with a free ticket to Australia with full board for two weeks.
😡😡😡

Iwobi, Richarlison and Gordon work their hearts out and Mykolenko really looks the part now. Alli showed signs of life too and may be worth a start in place of Gray.

Frank needs a good week of getting inside the psyche of his squad. Chelsea can be beaten and the other games are winnable up to the last against Arsenal.

We must not give up – there is still time!

A bit better finishing and taking our chances and we could have got something, effort was there, Lady Luck was not.

I thought I had seen everything a few years back, when Van Dijk shanked his shot, only for the ball spin in the air, do a loop de loop back towards our goal, and Origi score from it. Today their player mishits a bicycle kick and it falls straight to Origi again, why oh why do we never get that bounce in their goalmouth?

Much as I like Gordon, he needs to cut out his going down, that dive in the first half cost us a penalty in the second half.

Oh well... we now need to find a way of picking results up. I think Burnley have had their purple patch and will start dropping points again, it is up to us to get the points in the bag.

It is still in our own hands, with the game in hand.

You have to remember Souness was a dirty cheating bastard when he played and, as a commentator, he's a prick.

We performed competently, defensively, the way we should have when it was imperative not to lose the game at Burnley. But it is scary how our defence can go to pieces instantly the opposition changes shape, and there was the customary confusion with Coleman moving to cover Holgate, leaving the man at the back post - twice. We've seen it before.

We are in very serious trouble, but not doomed. If we can garner 8-9 points we should be ok. But “if” is such a big word.

They used to have insightful if somewhat dull pundits like Trevor Brooking and Jimmy Hill but since Sky came along it's more about entertainment than expertise. Look at Neville and Keane, dismal failures as managers but getting endless air time slagging off Ole, Ralf, Louis etc. it's all about loud mouths stirring up controversy to generate tabloid headlines about pundit spats. Luckily in America we have the Jimmy Hillesque Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle. Much better than some years back when it was Warren Barton and Steve Nicol — two more illiterate loud mouths

Gordon was silly/snide in the first half, because diving should have no place in football, but to hear people sitting in the sky studio, suggest his first half dive was possibly why he never got a stonewall penalty, is very difficult to comprehend.

Why have VAR? Two absolutely disgraceful decisions now, against the best two teams in the country, not even looked at by VAR, is genuinely scandalous, and has possibly cost Everton at least a point today.

They say you need a bit of luck, but how is this even possible when it's obvious the ref either shit himself, or even cheated? Atwell like every single referee, will just sit back, let everyone argue, never have to open his mouth to explain his awful decision, and get another top game next week.

Whilst far from over and taking the view we must fight to the death, tonight feels very ominous - I do hope these players and coach have sufficient resolve to now see every game as one where points can and must be acheived.

But I thought we played okay today. We are 2 points behind and have 18 points to go after.

I think we all agree. We have our own football problems but are vulnerable (along with many other teams) to a force that shouldn't be.

It would go a long way if there could be the equivalent to a manager post-match interview/statement by the officials. Or even posted questions in the following days. So easy to do today. If they are competent and genuine, there is nothing to hide, and no excuse. It's a maintained tool of potential and actual influence IMO.

Today's result has gone fully with probability but a penalty could have had who-knows-what effect. This needs addressing, it's gone too far.

We certainly frustrated them and caused Klopp to change his game plan and we got caught out with a lack of concentration for their two goals, we had our own chances but failed to take them especially if Doucoure had looked up when Richarlison put him through, instead of shooting he would have seen Iwobi running in on his own for a free shot on goal.

I'm not complaining too much but there is no leader on the field and the number of times we panicked around our own penalty area with players slicing at ball instead of controlling it and putting their foot on the ball and calming things down, even allowing for that Liverpool had all the ball but did precious with it for over an hour and Pickford wasn't troubled until they scored.

I thought Mylolenko was the pick of the defence again, think he will turn out be a good signing with Gordon also looking good when he sorts himself out with his diving. We are still there with six games to go.

Mykolenko again was excellent, in the first half he had Salah in his pocket. Gordon really threatened but like others I do wish he'd cut out the diving. It was a penalty though.

The solidity and effort showed should stand us in good stead in the six remaining games but I'm just scared it may be too late. How horrific would it be if we got nine points from three wins to end up on 38, only to lose out by a single point or goal difference? If only Frank had thought to play in this pragmatic way earlier.

I won't miss derbies if the worst happens. I hate that lot and all they stand for. The coverage on Sky today was disgraceful.

Thought we did well today: at least we showed some fight. Same old failings and luck though.

The Premier league, the refs and TV demand that the Liverpool vs City race continues. You won't see a decision go against Liverpool for the rest of the season. No ref is going to be strong enough to stand up and make a decision that will cost them. The stink will be too much.

Both goals again came from Coleman coming in to cover Holgate. Blame which every of laurel and hardy you want, but it's that same pair again.

Bright points were that we at least showed some heart, and Gordon and Myko did very well. That's about it.

Next two games will decide if we have hope. 4 points needed……any thing less and it's time for the riot. Moshiri, Kenwright need to go. Stadium is irrelevant if we go down.

Mane should have been sent off as per fa rules for violent conduct, not once but twice - fact.

Gordon was pushed in the back in the penalty area, anywhere else on the pitch and that is a foul all day long - another fact

Both to my knowledge were not subject to a var review so you have to ask the question, why not?

Conspiracy theory or not ever since we criticised mike Riley and Co nothing has gone our way, corruption. no massive corruption but what will be done?. nothing as like today liverpool and citie are part of the super 6.

If and a big IF, we can play like we have recently we may, just may escape but relegation is getting ever so close to being a reality and the only ones to blame are the players, blue bill and moshiri that said the authorities also need to have along hard look at themselves.

I just hope Leeds lose tomorrow and Burnley their next game then we get something from Chelsea.

Here's to hoping 🙏

The club is rotten and we've been arguing the rights and wrongs of protesting while Rome burnt. No to the Blue Union, no to 27 whatever it was called, no to fly pasts, no to asking Bill wtf is happening to our club. We get what we deserve - away days to Stoke in January and fuck all coverage on TV or even a dodgy stream. I for one will be gutted.

So: he didn't think he dived as he didn't book him: so- got to be a pen then as there must of been contact? You'd think so, but no, as ever, but the ref doesn't have to answer these decisions? To us anyway. Why? WTF.

They keep it all in house so people can't ask questions. Nothing of note ever happens unless it's first time rules being used against one of our players for nothing. E.g. niasse v palace. Or when it should be used but isn't, e.g. today, handball v man city.

They are Sly underhand charlatans who will protect their profits/product no matter what the cost.

What should of happened to the break away clubs, nothing. Should of all been relegated. But no.

We're on a hiding to nothing. And there is fuck all we can do about it.

I thought our attitude and game plan was spot on by Lampard today, and if we have the same attitude and have Calvert-Lewin back, there's every chance of staying up. Let's be honest, the refs, the VARs, have done us no favours.

So much for Riley's apology, he's stabbed us in the back, and certain pundits would love to see us relegated.

"One very famous football club said to me two or three days ago 'whenever we have a problem we say 'what would the Everton board do because they always get it right"

Substuitions??

Paul Clement is a dud / shite.

We should have panicked in December, but we didn't, so now to move on... first, the blame game:

Number 1: Kenwright and his decision to make himself and Everton likeable. The appointment of Denise whatever-her-name-is was the beginning of the end – a publicity do-gooder ploy to impress... who?

Second: Moshiri – a total unmitigated 1000% disaster... a fool – worse, a belief that money answers problems. It leads to laziness and poor management - look how many companies are going bust.

Third: complacency – forget PC... Somebody should have run through Goodson screaming “Wake up, you fucking bunch of fucking idiots!”

We need a clear-out – physically and mentally – we stink of complacency and failure totally 1Billion % illustrated today. Failures everywhere and whenever a decision had to be made.

Holgate – woeful and forever will be. Iwobi – worked hard but zero in decision-making or anything decisive.

Gordon – stand up and be a fucking man and stop diving and moaning to cover up your inadequacy.

Doucouré – open your fucking eyes, man!

Keane – go soon, our total lack of any strength and decision-making has led to this.

I am on holiday in Salerno. I walked for hours asking in bars if the game was on? Found one, sat and converted Salerno fans into being Blues – make some fucking effort to match mine, Everton. You have allowed this to happen. You Bastards.

It is so random what goes to the VAR and what does not. It's robbed us again.

Anyway, the attitude was good, the tactics were good and it was a mature performance. If we play like that for the rest of the season, we'll stay up.

It wasn't 'must-win' today.

That is exactly the reason the VAR was introduced, to get rid of the obviously terrible decisions. Some are always going to be marginal but the one in the second half was clear and obvious.

Can someone confirm whether the VAR checks things automatically without needing to be invited to do so or not? My understanding is that he does and then lets the ref know if he's missed anything or cocked up.

It works very well in other sports and they will even pick up on serious things the ref didn't have a chance of spotting. You will even hear refs asking them to check on something as the game carries on.

The obvious reluctance to broadcast the conversations the officials have is just bizarre if there is nothing to hide.

Those who continue to criticise Iwobi's performance also have me bewildered. Whether he has done enough with his recent performances to make up for previous poor performances is up for debate but surely he must be ranked as one of our better players and perhaps someone who can really make a difference in the last 6 games?

We can still do this, Everton.

Graeme also said that the push on Gordon was a foul and should have been a penalty. But Gordon and Richarlison did us no favours with their dramatics, they are too good to be resorting to that stuff.

I loved the way that Pickford was winding up the shite with his lack of urgency. It almost worked.

It is hard to criticise the team performance except that Gray is not much help when we are playing defensively.

I don't think a 1-0 lead for us after 60 minutes would have been any sort of injustice.

Personally, I don't think it's an excellent post, do you see the redshite fans calling out Salah for endless diving? No, there was contact for the first incident, not a yellow. Why criticise our player?

I agree with the second half of that sentence but the first?

We are the victims of bad refereeing decisions. Many teams are too. But the top get away with it time and time again. Today – stonewall penalty. Man City – stonewall penalty after VAR review and still didn't get it.

I've seen Salah and others throw themselves to the deck like an action hero running from an explosion but get away with it,week after week.

Do you think Kuyt's two-footed waist high lunge on Neville wasn't worthy of a red? Not even a talking too. Incompetence or corrupt?

Same game (I think) changed a yellow to red because crease-head said so? Incompetence or corrupt? Lescott fouled by "Mr Ed", no penalty.

I could go on but the fact that nothing ever happens, meaningless apologises and demoting the ref one division does fuck all for us but admits they were wrong. And that's where it ends.

We are victims of bad decisions, but we are poor too; together, it's a recipe for disaster.

Seriously I do not wish at this stage to argue with individuals, we all have our heroes and villains. For me, Holgate is among the worst defenders I have ever witnessed... and Iwobi – workrate, yes, tremendous; effectiveness, poor.

If others matched his workrate, yes, it would be good – but we are covering up for a poorly run club, dreadful, and totally dreadful decision-making all over the pitch... and indeed off it.

God Bless You, Si, and all of us fellow sufferers.

We have had chance after chance after chance to be out of danger and have fucked it up every time with poor game management, terrible finishing, and awful defending.

This team is really poor. but it's been this way for years. No matter which league we are in when the season finishes, everything has to change at the club from the board and the football side. I would say Moshiri also although, unless he gives the club away, he's going to have a fucking tough job selling us.

Burnley beating sides that we couldn't tells you everything. I can not get that Burnley game a few weeks back out of my head. Win that and they would have fallen apart – that was the result that gave them hope, we gave it to them.

I'm so fucking angry.

The first-half tactics were okay and Everton were well organised and did have chances. Both Doucoure and Gray were passengers, leaving it to others to pick up the slack.

Klopp was going to have to adjust in the second half if his team were to be in contention in the League.

What he did do was reduce the midfielders from three to two and bring on a forward and an attacking supporting player. He took the chance of losing control in midfield, because it was only going to take two to do so.

Lampard failed to respond and continued with the ineffective Gray and Doucouré, with tried players that had had to pick up the resulting slack in the first half.

The result was Liverpool did not have to push up into midfield, they were able to apply pressure with two additional attacking players.

By the time that Lampard decided to use substitutions, the damage had been done. Even taking Allan off rather than Doucouré was the wrong substitution, resulting in the second goal. In both goals, Liverpool had a man over on the far post, and no wonder.

It doesn't even equate to a ‘boy who cried wolf' situation because the refs can see things for themselves and now supposedly have the VAR to sort out their mistakes.

It is more a case of ‘the emperor's new clothes' with people not calling out the obvious.

He looks for the foul every time instead of going for the goal or assist. He kicked the ball away twice today on a yellow. Both incidents today could have been penalties but he won't get them because of his prior performance.

I don't think Salah dives that much actually but I don't care what he does as he's not an Everton player.

We cannot give up with games to go, and results for Burnley and Leeds will be scrutinised as well as ours.

Lampard will have the players ready for the Chelsea game, let's get the win and see what happens to Burnley and Leeds.

See my response to Paul Smith's similarly antiquated stance for details.

Mane red all day long, and definite penalty at 0-0 Look at the bigger picture.

Fekk them to eternity, and let's focus on the massive battle that Everton now face for survival in this league.

The RS were rattled today as was it seems the media and the Sky cronies, as Everton played a game plan which stifled them.

VAR was turned off today, surprise, surprise. Atwell and Stockley Park, again didn't see the incidents that counted.

Perhaps Gordon getting booked for diving didn't help the cause but when is a push in the box, not a penalty?

Angry, and wiser, as the years have made us all. Now to stick together for the massive battles left to survive and stay in this league. It is doable but Everton need results to go for us too.

As much as I don't like Palace I hope they stick one on Leeds tomorrow. Leeds have some tough games too.

But it's Everton, all the way, and hopefully today will give the team the courage and guts to believe and win their fight for survival in this league.

My sincere sympathies to the wonderful Blues who have supported the club through this period of decline and I can only share their hopes that we can bounce back quickly. Can we do that while we're in the Premier League though?

Plenty of players dive, but they are applauded by pundits saying shit like "he had a right to go down", good enough for their team or the Sky 6 but when one of our player does it, he's singled out?

Don't get me started on Saurez. Did you ever see him get a yellow for diving?

Corrupt as fuck.

Let me state, I don't think we would've won regardless of the decisions against us. Just pointing out the continous incompetence by officials against us.

It's gone, we never got the decision, but what was VAR actually brought into football for, and when are referees going to be asked to explain their decisions, which change from week to week?

I would have a bet with anyone that this ref will give a penalty for a similar incident before the season is out, and whoever it was in the VAR studio, will also tell the ref to go and have a look in his monitor, if the same situation arises in the coming weeks.

I know I'm repeating myself, but it's something I've gone on about for a long time now. Football seems to need controversy, now it's such a big part of television, but if any club wants to give me £600 per week plus expenses, I'd bet my life I could prove something is not quite right, with regards officials, and it is vastly underestimated how much a bent referee can change the course of a game.

Bit unlucky today against a vastly superior side. Did any of us really expect a result before the game?

Richarlison as the main striker does not work in this team, as we all know. Onwards and upwards.

Second, Google Jamie O'Hara Sky Live – he says stonewall penalty. Why didn't VAR check it?

Stinks.

When he tried as a manager, Derby County, Swansea, Reading, Circle Brugge [recently sacked]…

I've seen him on the touchline at Goodison many times this season, doing what he did at Derby, Swansea and Reading... Not good enough for our club.

COYBB

ps: I'm here, as well as 40,000-plus, to motivate the players in the dressing room. Clement is a dud.

The so-called Top 6 sides get the big decisions, and teams at the bottom, get sweet fuck-all.

It's not an excuse for Everton being in the Bottom 3, but fine margins, like today, like the penalty v Man City etc, across the season, with no vestige of parity for every game, means some clubs will be impacted extremely well, they get the decisions, and like today, Everton, get sweet fuck-all.

The dog fight for Everton's survival is on, and it won't be pretty, but Everton can do it, with some huge chunks of luck.

And I fucking hate the other lot with every ounce of my being... they battered us, 15% possession is not competing, it's akin to the fucking Alamo.

We are where we are not because of this game but the past 30-odd piles of shite we have had to endure.

The ref bottled it, of that I have no doubt, and I'm still convinced the FA have an agenda to protect the "brand". Football is totally corrupted by TV money and the need for PPV punters. I don't like American footy but have a liking for the draft system which evens the field a bit imo.

I was reminiscing earlier and remembered the teary one after I think the Wimbledon game stating, "I will never let this club get into this position again whilst I am here" or words to the effect.

I hate him as much as I hate that lot across the park.

A stone wall penalty not given, a second yellow card not given to Mane, but the two incidents that really pissed me off was firstly the corner count was 13-1 in their favour, only once did the ref sprint over to the corner flag, to make sure Gordon was taking it from the correct position.

The second being again a sprint to Doucoure to book him, he could not wait to book him.

That my friends is what we are up against, not just ourselves, but every other teams that come up against the shite and City, not one ref will give a decision against the two, for the remainder of the season.

Like I said, what a shame the Euro super league never went through, after that fiasco, they are now even getting every single decision go their way.

If the unthinkable happens, we will have to accept it, but like I also said after we got an apology for the City none handball, I said we would not get any decision after that, and they will be out to get us.

But once again, we let ourselves down with not even getting shots on goal to force the keeper into making saves, we choose the wrong option 9/10 times. Then, as it always does, it bites us in the ass. Coleman not watching his man and Keane ball-watching again and game over.

We've seen the same story over and over again, this squad never learns, good again for an hour and then stupid mistakes kill us.

I still have a stupid feeling though that somehow we're going to pull this off and stay up. Blind faith, I guess, but we do play well in patches, it's just the little things that are killing us by a thousand cuts.

Agghhhh... can't wait for this season to be over and we somehow stay up, fucking hate that lot & now they're revelling in it. One day, the shoe will be on the other foot, won't it? It's got to even out sooner or later, for fuck's sake.

First, I don't support Bill Kenwright and believe that Moshiri should not have kept him on as Chairman. But I can't see how he fleeced him.

Moshiri became owner by becoming the major shareholder, and I doubt if there was much difference in what he paid for them. He bought the shares from Robert Earl and Jon Woods that gave him more shares than Kenwright had; he also bought shares from Abercrombie and the bulk of Lord Granchester, as well as all but 5% of Kenwright's shares.

Yes Kenwright made money off his shares, so did a number of other people, but I can't see a billionaire with all the lawyers he has being fleeced.

Hopefully we'll get a decision before the season ends.

Lampard must go for it now, he must do what he believes. The time for scrapping for points was weeks ago. Do or die, Frank.

Back to the decisions.

I think we may've lost even if the decisions went our way – because we are not that good – but who's to know? That penalty kick goes in, Arnold gets sent off, different game – isn't it.

Refereeing decisions affect games, regardless of how much possession you have, when you have the ball and get fouled, regardless of if you're known to be a diver, the decision should be the correct one.

They have slow-mo video replays at Stockley Park which would've confirmed the penalty, did they? No? Why? Corruption.

Will they answer for it? Yes, in a non-discreet press release stating that Atwell is refereeing in the Championship for 2 weeks until he finishes his detention, writes 40 lines a day 'I must not be "biased" on A4 paper, turns it in to their chief, and gets a rise for his troubles plus a signed Salah training top.

You can rest assured, Bill made a huge profit on them.

This will be the Vigil of Vigils, in football terms, but Evertonians can make it happen.

Chelsea, Palace, Brentford, Watford must be won, and Leicester, Everton can take a point and break the away day mould for getting beat.

There's a daunting reality tonight but, if the players can show the passion and commitment of Anthony Gordon, then Everton have a decent chance.

The maths state Everton have a chance and I believe Everton can do it, and both Burnley and perhaps Leeds have the toughest run-in of fixtures.

🙏🏼⚽️🍀

No wonder VAR has been allowed to make it up as it goes along. I honestly think it's that inconsistent that it's actually been allowed to create an illusion.

God knows how much he got when he sold further shares last season.

Not that I actually give a toss what others think, but we are certainly getting it from all quarters. Most strange what is happening to our club.

Contrast with Newcastle, who looked dead and buried but they brought Howe in well before Christmas and he then had the time to assess the squad and get what he needed- they now sit 9th in the table. The problems didn't start with Benitez but he took a side that finished 10th and made them considerably worse. He managed to bin off the most creative player in the squad and then fall out with the international full back and leave us with no recognised left back.

If we go down, we are financially fecked. Our existence relies on tv revenue - circa £100m a season but with parachute payments of £42million to relegated clubs and a wage bill in excess of £185m, it's not hard to see that we are going to be in serious trouble. With no relegation release clauses in player contracts (allegedly) the likes of Mina and Gomes will only be gone if someone else is willing to pay them £120 grand a week, otherwise they can sit it out for a year or two and move on at the end of their contracts or expect a pay off to move before then. We are in serious danger of administration and a possible points deduction and at the very least a fire sale of anyone who commands a fee.

As much as we need to sort the playing side out - we need to alter our public perception. In Premier League terms we are boring also rans who are supposed to lose. So we're absolutely not going to get the decisions because that would lead to the wrong result.

Please don't give me that nonsense about Gordon crying wolf. How many times do Salah, Mane, Firminho, Jota, Sterling, Jesus, Fernandes etc go down in the box?

Anyway like I say, a mature performance, deserved a point and if we carry on playing like that we'll stay up.

Crazy perhaps, but if you wrote a fictional account of how to deliberately undermine a struggling team, there would be many parallels. Just how can experienced, professional and so-called top class managers do such an appalling job and create such disharmony?

Unless they do, then, the game is and will stay in a flux of disreput and permanent flows of bull shit from the EPL and referees association, and Sky and MoTD.

Football is now not a simple game, the mass media, it's contracts, but by default benefitting all the EPL clubs, and loads of average and crap ex professional players are bleaching the game to its lingering death.

I'd like to know how many referees have ever played football at any level?

But thats, not the issue.

VAR, must be challenged by every club, to get some consistency, and clear governance.

Today the way the descisions went, TAA, Mane and Matip, should have gone..

In football the first goals, and lucky breaks count. The referee, was a shit house and if he hasn't the spine to stand up and be a referee to uphold the rules of football, then what's the point?

All focus on matters Everton and the fight for survival.

UTFT!

I'm glad Mykolenko proved me wrong, he defended with his head and his heart today, but how many times did Allen actually kick the ball today?

What on earth was Darren England doing in the VAR control room. It's his sole job to look at these game changing moments. How on earth, with all the technology, did he not see this ??

At the very least this should have been checked. Another absolute howler that has changed a game.

Also Frank is dead right. If the exact same incident happens at 0-0 and Salah goes down attacking in the Kop penalty area. It is 100% certain that it would be reviewed and 100% certain a penalty would be given. That is not up for debate it is a fact.

Can't predict who we'll get points off nor how other teams will do. Just have to be patient and wait. It's hard.

Manager after manager has led to this. Player recruitment well all is there to see. Our defence has got slammed this season because we have no midfield or premiership standard strikers. Carlo stabilised the ship a little but the squad needed big reinforcement.

We still must believe 🙏. I have asked my father to sprinkle some magic blue dust from behind the blue gates in heaven! My goodness it's come to this. I will take anything now and we need it!

Please stay positive.

The game is now hear say, in terms of rules, and. Compliance.

Everton, should and must make a formal complaint.

Today's another clear case of professional contempt by the EFL and Referees Association..

It's an evil killing the game, and causes many direct and indirect issues on and off the park.

Sit back and counter attack.

The Gordon diving is standard for a top 4 player unfortunately we aren't a top 4 team. One minute he is slammed on national telly for diving then when he dives after the Trent tackle 'he has done well' according to the same pundits. The game has gone!

I saw ours.

I thought I was alright.

And then I saw Richarlisons social media post, and realized I'm not. Brought me to the brink of tears.

You need to hit rock bottom before you can bounce back up. Dear god in heaven, please let today have been the bottom for our club. Let the rise begin from here and now.

Keep that tempo up in our remaining games and we will remain in this league.

With the result that agents, dud players and useless managers have all taken him for a ride on grossly inflated transfer fees and salaries. Some of the players continue to do so thanks to ridiculous contracts. But it's also at the Club and fans cost. Relegation means an uncertain future. Uncertainty about BMD and long term survival. It will only get worse if Moshiri remains.

Liverpool haven't had a penalty awarded against them in any of their last 46 league matches, the longest active run for any Premier League side:

46 - Liverpool
24 - Manchester City
19 - Everton
18 - Newcastle
14 - Aston Villa

Disgraceful refereeing has done us again.

Disgraceful refereeing has done us again.

My football club used to exist to win, until way to many, were taken in by a curse, and if his legacy is relegation, I just hope he disappears, and then after the torture, the re-birth of my Everton, can begin. I obviously hope his legacy isn't relegation, singing “please Kenwright can you be removed”.

Why is today's headline not:

"Blues robbed again by refereeing controversy"

Or

"Resolute Blues robbed of deserved away point"

There is no magnanimity or balance amongst those at the top of the table. Especially amongst the RS fan base.

Today was another outrage so let's say it how it is really is. If we can't see the injustice then you can be damn sure the referees won't.

Paul #195, it's purely about greed and that leads to the bias shown and corruption comes to the surface more and more. A part of me wishes that the Super League had gone ahead in the hope that we were left with a more even playing field where we and others may actually win something from time to time.

The premier league has become a closed club which is becoming more exclusive each season. The wage restrictions that are being introduced will only make it worse if, as reported, they use a percentage based system as opposed to a defined maximum figure.

It seems to me that plenty can be done to improve on field decisions but that is not on their agenda.

Get the lawyers ready, we have been let down time and time again by referees and VAR panels.

It's not good enough and we should take them to court weather we stay up or not.

I expected us to be in the bottom 3 before the end of April and I'm sad to see that is the case. However, its all about how we react.

Our loss to Burnley may prove to be the difference.

So less South American men of glass or falling over merchants and just start looking a lot closer to home please.

Yep - no more Mr. Nice Guy.

In the comments I mentioned, there was a hatred that we had the audacity to try to keep the "Gods of Football" at bay... among many other things.

It's a wild ride ahead that awaits us. We leave at dawn.

So why piss off other teams when it isn't necessary? Even if we had been awarded the penalty today and Mane sent off there is no guarantee we would have got anything from the game (although our chances would have improved a lot I know).

We are definitely not good enough though, and Nigel's post @209, probably sums up the situation, as good as anyone else has on this thread.

But whilst there is hope, the only thing we can do is get behind them, and maybe we might even be able to sway a couple of refs? Goodnight everyone!

Let's focus on Chelsea, our next game, and use all our massive spirit to beat Chelsea.

This can be a turning point game in this season, for Everton, and can be done.

Let's focus on Chelsea, our next game, and use all our massive spirit to beat Chelsea.

This can be a turning point game in this season, for Everton, and can be done.

the answer is, because they can.

I did see the game and thought Doucoure ineffective and losing possession. I agree with you regarding Iowbi and his performance. Gray I also felt was ineffective, this could possibly be due to not being released as you say. But Everton tactics where effective in the first half.

But at the beginning of the first half players were obviously tired and Change was needed. Tactical Liverpool needed engaged in their own half, but because of no tactical intervention it was them that changed and engaged Everton more in their half. This was a direct result of the Liverpool substitutions.

It was obvious that Liverpool would come out after halftime with this aim. Lampard needed to counter this and the obvious substitutions to do this were Alli in midfield and Rondon to improve Everton's engagement. Gray and Doucoure where the obvious positions that needed changed to do this. Frank did nothing, but tried to continue as in the first half, with tired players and against p a change in Liverpool tactics.

I accept Everton should have got a penalty and missed good chances to score.

Goodnight all

Yes, we are bad. I won't accept mediocrity, from players or officials alike. But after today, why shouldn't people complain about the ref? Possibly cost us a result. That's what people are aggravated about. Doubt many think we don't deserve to be where we are but the decision s don't help and their obviously nd blatantly wrong.

No "spit in the face of a little girl" pundit who is happy to take Murdoch's millions( unlike Colin Murray who quit talk sport because of Murdoch involvement ie owning the sun) is going to sway me.

The red shite fans are happy to ban the sun for THAT. But watch sky in droves owned by the same people. Hypocrisy of the highest order. Off topic but they wind me up.

My contempt for the RS, is total and I'll leave the rest, to let today's wretched day close.

Fekk the RS, to eternity, UTFT!

Because the system is completely broken. There's no consistency in how they apply the video reviews.

But I can accept that a system is flawed. It just is what it is. Incompetence is everywhere.

But how are we on the wrong side of all these inconsistencies? That points to something else. Bias or corruption. It's one of them.

2nd half Gordon pen was reminicent of Lovren pushing DCL in the back and Rooney scored in 1- 1 in 2017 under Lardarse. But this shite ref was never gonna give it especially at 0-0.

COYB.

Watched MOTD and can see where you are coming from, but tactical change and not reacting cost Everton the game.

2nd half Gordon pen was reminicent of Lovren pushing DCL in the back and Rooney scored in 1- 1 in 2017 under Lardarse. But this shite ref was never gonna give it especially at 0-0.

COYB.

Click to enlarge.

This is the Battle - of the remaining games, Everton, must win, to stay in this League.

Fekk the RS!

UTFT!

“Whats Our Name?”

I resign myself now that the game has become a media circus.

Fekk the RS, and UTFT!

Agree regarding Coleman and Keane. Coleman was sucked in out of position and Keane was ball watching.

Agree regarding Coleman and Keane. Coleman was sucked in out of position and Keane was ball watching.

He's done NOTHING for the kids…..he kept playing Kenny and Coleman ahead of Patterson, has Branthwaite behind Holgate and Keane, has sent Dobbin back to U23s, and brought no one else through other than bench tokens.

He wasted his signing……granted I think his was only one of the 4, but Dele Alli was the LAST player we needed at that time. It was a vanity gamble, when we needed cm graft or goals.

The Chelsea connection is gone……no Roman = no youth loan favours.

If we do keep him next year, expect to see the Coleman's, Holgates, Rondon's, Gomes in ahead of the kids. Expect ongoing zonal marking. Expect a mid table championship finish.

To finish and avoid the inevitable “who then”, I'd go with Rooney IF we go down. I think he WOULD bring the kids through and he'd get us the Identity back we're missing. I'd also consider Biesla or Nuno too. Both have promotions on CV and may have hunger to get us back up.

The biggest question of all is how the fuck has the greatest ever Evertonian allowed this to happen on his watch?

Is that why you never gave him a penalty in the second half Stuart, when it was clear that Matip, has stood on Gordon's ankle whilst also giving him a nudge? No I didn't see it like that and Darren English, also told me I'd got it right.

Do you think you might have made a different decision if Gordon hadn't tried to cheat you in the first half? No because I wasn't advised by my colleague in the studio.

After looking at the incident yourself, do you think Darren English made the right call? Yes or no won't change the decision Stuart, but don't forget you're now going to be getting interviewed after every game you officiate now, because you and your colleagues simply lack consistency. It's not easy refereeing you know, maybe it's time for me to retire.

The VAR will never find decisions that will impact the Premier League title run/in. Just like the F1 climax last season, they won't want the 'spectacle' to be impacted by what everyone understands to be the rules.

It isn't a level contest, and perhaps has never been. With camera repeats and more analysis, it just becomes more obvious that it is bent. Commentary teams aren't impartial journalists. They carry on the shameful bias that their teams receive every week.

Football is now about having a 30-man squad of world class players. The top sides can from next season keep then all happy by involving them in a 20-man squad on the day – with 5 subs. The playing budgets will all be set to rise again, now the breakaway Euro Super League clubs are getting even more money out of the Champions League. More advertising, more Cup wins etc. The gap in the Premier League will be a chasm.

The top will probably have 3, 4, 5, 10 times the playing budget. Supported by elite analysts medical staff, conditioning etc. The gap will get wider.

The RS poisonous fans were full of slagging off our park the bus and time wasting on the social media sites. Revelling in our our downfall.

Well all I can say is, football will continue like this. Guerilla football tactics, a knife to a gunfight.

The problem in defence is that both Keane and Holgate are stoppers, prone to errors. Both Liverpool goals were the result of Keane taking up stopper positions rather than anticipating play and challenging.

In the first goal, Coleman got sucked out of position trying to cover the player Keane should have been challenging. In the second, Keane took up a stopper position and challenged no-one. He was nowhere as a result in preventing that attack that resulted in the goal.

This preference is more a lack of coaching confidence than zonal marking.

In my opinion, we fail to pick up men, because we don't mark men, we mark spaces. In yours it's apparently people not being told where to go or not being confident or good enough.

Frank's job has been to provide solutions, and so far the only solution I can see is him sticking to those he thinks are best in training. The same players that have badly failed us on match days for 12 months plus.

Me, my son and my youngest brother. 3 lone Evertonians in a bar that had more than a few international red sympathisers; including one who felt the need to come and ask us why we were shouting for Everton at one point. The fucking elitism and entitlement. How dare you not cheer on the Devil's children!!! Not that incident but I was getting emotional. To the point that when I went to get one of my rounds in, my brother advised me to try and not have a fight on the way to the bar!!! Those who know me know that's not my nature, so it amused me. I must have been pumped on royal blue adrenalin.

To the match. Overall, I saw enough to suggest we can do this. Yes, we could do with a few results going our way, starting with tonight, but it is still in our hands. I thought the players gave a good account against one of the best teams in Europe, let alone England. I feel sick saying that but you can't live in denial from a footballing perspective. The first half in particular we matched them, but you could see Klopp wasn't happy. I'm guessing his half time talk was for them to up the tempo. And they did. They stepped up a gear and in parallel, we tired. A perfect storm for them. Or if a darling of English football, like Grealish when he played for Villa?

I thought Mykolenko had a good game again and marshalled Salah well for the majority of the game. Gordon continues to get better and they were worried about him as a lot of teams are starting to be. Are there legs in the City rumours? He strikes me as a player Pep would like. But he needs to cut out going down to easy. That said, playing for City, would he get more decisions?

I know he's being targeted, but it's a trait that rightly or wrongly is gaining him a reputation. Cry wolf springs to mind. It is costing decisions - wrongly, but it is. Absolute penalty in my opinion. No question, but this has been going on against them since the 70s. The Milk Cup final, the Hutchinson "goal", spit the dog wrestling Lescott to the ground. I could go on; that's just off the top of my head. This is not sour grapes or bitterness, you just can't make it up. I am probably letting my paranoia get the better of me and I am by no means making excuses for the poor running of the club. But the way this season has gone with decisions against us, are the authorities punishing us for our taking the lead against the greedy bastards who wanted to break away last summer?

Anyway. Our soft belly at centre back cost us for the goals in my opinion. An average cross that could/should have been dealt with for the first and Michael Keane might as well have been stood next to me in Covent Garden as he watched from behind the ball and seemingly admired Origi take an unchallenged header for the second. I hope Pickford gave him a rocket. Not that it matters. He won't change and if the rumours are true, I hope West Ham take him even if we stay up.

This is it now, starting Sunday. Frank sees off his old club. A long round trip with the train situation but see you there blues. Then Watford away. Brentford, Palace (different proposition at Goodison), Leicester away. There are 9 points to be had there.

Anyway, it's done. It's out of the way until next season. I hope the Eagles soar tonight and we can get on with the rest of the season. We played as well as could be expected. We didn't get decisions but we didn't get the annihilation some predicted. We're not at their level right now, but as us Evertonians always say, if we see effort, there is no shame in defeat. I thought the players showed character.

I'm hurting, so apologies for my incoherent ramblings. But I'm also looking forward to the next game and getting this season out of the way.

It isn't always someone's fault when a team scores. I don't care much for Holgate but Diaz with a scuffed volley landed on Origi's head! That guy's last league goal at Anfield was 3 years ago and was against us!

Liverpool had 80% possession. They put another striker on and for most of the match 22 players where within 30 yards of our goal. Both goals came from crosses within our box!

They have the best goal difference, we have probably the 3rd worst. We where always going to concede.

I just hope the players continue to believe, and don't start thinking that even if they play well, they will fall foul of similar refereeing buffoonery and bias. I wouldn't have played either Keane or Holgate yesterday, but what else do we have? I'm surprised that Reece Welch has not been given more bench time, and Mina not so injury prone. Still, will never give up hope !

Such mistakes have carried on without challenge or change virtually nonstop and now it has all caught up with us. We accept drivel – backpassing, cowardice – it has all become part of The Everton Game.

"School of Science"??? – more like Nursery School. We are naivees in a professional environment; we don't know how to take care of ourselves in The Big School.

Corruption:- "dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery."

If you (and many others) are saying that premier league referees are on the take as defined by corruption then I honestly believe there would be serious investigation by the authorities. I am tired of reading corrupt/corruption allegations being levelled at refs, the league itself, media etc. Favouritism, for sure, and intimidation by crowds, managers, players, stadia (yes - stadia and we have one of the most intimidating) but saying all these people are corrupt is weakening the posters' arguments in my opinion.

I genuinely believe our officials are not on the take but that they are simply weak individuals for the most part - afraid of a call against a top club.That is not being corrupt, that is being weak. It seems to be a malaise currently among British officials (I ask how many were there at the last world cup - answer, nil, because our officials were not deemed up to the job). Where are the Howard Webbs, Jack Taylors, Graham Polls these days?

Anyway - moving on to the game. I sat through the whole thing not expecting much but hoping for the best and was more than pleasantly surprised we were still 0-0 at half time. I wasn't too optimistic about the second half though.

The penalty shout was frustrating and the only defence that Atwell could present would be that he considered it a fair 50/50 challenge for the ball, incorrectly, and it should have been looked at by VAR. I do not understand the vagaries of VAR although clearly, Gordon doesn't help himself with his diving. Subliminally, I wasn't that bothered that we didn't get the penalty at that stage of the game because I did feel that the RS easily had two goals in them and it potentially might just have wakened them up. At a later stage in the game I would have been different, as with the City shout which was more blatant and probably did cost us, I don't think it cost us a point yesterday - the RS did score two subsequently of course.

What I would really like to see is crisp finishing - Doucourie and Gordon both scuffing very good chances with just the GK to beat - and better decision making around the opposition box. Richie, Gray, Gordon, Iwobi all seem intent on running themselves up blind alleys rather than finding an earlier pass. It's becoming so predictable when we get the occasional breakaway that I don't even swear at the tv anymore, just sigh and utter ffs under my breath.

So, our destiny is no longer simply in our hands now we are in the whirlpool. Teams above us will leave the door ajar, however, so we just need a slice or two of luck, resilience as shown yesterday, bag some points and we may be ok.

I really can't countenance relegation.

My missus who normally goes shopping when the game is on could not believe the RS bias. From Souness inane ramblings to Carragher's commentary who more than once used 'we' when talking about the RS, it's just wrong and Sky should be ashamed.

The game itself was a reflection of that. Mane should have seen red for gouging and the penalty would have only been given if Matip had broken Gordon's leg, and that would be after the VAR check.

I still have faith we will survive but we need a big shake-up this summer. Boys Pen Bill and Little Miss Dynamite need to be turfed out on their ear.

Kevin Campbell hit on it in the Studio, when he referred to the badly needed restructuring from the top down at Everton. How long is it since he has left the playing staff?

Maybe the fighting performance yesterday will kick-start something but we could be 5 points adrift by our next kick off. It seems like all the cards are against us.

Surely we have to take a gamble with Dele Alli from the start from now on? We need goals and someone to create them. It's not over but it feels close.

We really need Palace to beat Leeds tonight. Leeds then have Man City on Saturday.

Losing to Burnley, who have now taken 10 points from 5 games, really did the damage.

I know that penalties against "them" at the other place are as rare as hens teeth. And that Gordon is rapidly getting a reputation for diving. Put the two together and it's not only unlikely that we get those penalty shouts but also likley that a card is shown.

Anthony, please stop taking a step to the side at the last moment, moving your body into and in front of the opponents body. I know other players get away with it. We / you normally don't, Stop it. Nothing to do with it being unfair. All about the odds against a decision in our favour and odds on a card against us.

Danny, you say “ But the way this season has gone with decisions against us, are the authorities punishing us for our taking the lead against the greedy bastards who wanted to break away last summer”?

Surely if this was the case, wouldn't the authorities be backing us for not wanting the greedy so called big six clubs to leave the premier league, not the other way round? The premier league is one of the most watched leagues in the world, and the authorities would surely not want to lose their most prized assets?

Anyway, as for yesterday, again, as some say, expected a mauling, but we were right in it up until the second goal. Well, when I say right in it, we weren't getting the expected mauling and still had a chance of sneaking a goal. Anthony Gordon had them worried down the left, none more so than Trent Arnold, who threw in one disgusting challenge on AG to scythe him down. Funny how that wasn't shown, or even mentioned on MOTD last night. Yet again, could have been reviewed as a dangerous challenge and a possible red card, but I doubt very much this happened, the same as with Mane, raising his hand to Allan's face and pushing him. I thought you weren't allowed to raise your hand towards someone? Also that second penalty shout looked a definite penalty to me. Mind you Attwell, (what a piss poor referee he is) had probably already had his briefing from Mr Ed before the game not to give us anything.

At the moment, I am feeling pretty sick in the stomach, and that's nothing to do with the ale yesterday. I still firmly believe we will get out of this shit mess we've got into.

The team is working hard, as they always should, we create chances but we are not scoring enough goals. Stating the obvious, yes, but we need to be winning at least 50% of our remaining games and our current win rate is half of that.

What to do? Play Richarlison wide left, Gordon wide right and Rondon or Calvert-Lewin in the middle. Should we try the pace of Dobbin in the final 15 minds if looking for that vital win? I would take that chance.

We will be rid of several non-contributing players this summer and hopefully some others will be moved on, future recruitment will be decisive in our rise from the ashes of this season. COYB.

We've all been calling it for years. Top to bottom restructuring of the club. I love tradition. I love history. I love the Goodison Supper Bar. But when I go to Goodison, as much as I adore the place with a passion, it's the Goodison I went to as a kid. I still have chips, peas and onion gravy from the same Chinese lady that served me when I was 15 years old.

Look at the clubs we were on a par with or even ahead of when I joined the Army in 1988 and gave up my season ticket. The Big 5 as was then:

Arsenal, Tottenham: Sparkling new stadiums. Both have appeared in Champions League finals. Arsenal overtook us in title count.

Liverpool, Manchester United: Didn't relocate but have improved their stadia to the point you can't recognise them from the old. United overtook us in title count and created a dynasty that dominated English and European football for the best part of 2 decades.

Let's go beyond that:

Aston Villa: Yes, ups and downs (literally) but a stadium to be proud of.
Newcastle: Yes, ups and downs (literally) but a stadium to be proud of.
Manchester City: 3rd tier of English football at one point but say no more.
Chelsea: Watch footage of Dogleish winning the title at Stamford Bridge in 1986. The younger generation wouldn't recognise that awful excuse for a stadium from the one on the same site today.

Wolves, Brentford (yes, Brentford). West Ham. I could go on.

We stood still. Standing still is akin to walking backwards because others will walk around you and go past you. If we make it through this season and even if we don't, someone needs to get the smelling salts out in that cosy board room that lingers in the corridors of Goodison.

Now in my book, that's a red. But I think they are immune or have a waiver?

I have to say when Leeds sacked Bielsa and replaced him with someone who had never managed in the Premier league I thought that would lead to their collapse but quite the opposite has happened, and likewise when I heard Burnley had sacked Dyche I thought that was good news for us; how wrong could I have been.

I have said for a while this squad lacks goals and somehow Lampard is going to have to try and change that. When he came in and beat Brentford 4-1 in the cup and followed that by beating Leeds 3-0, I thought at last we have a manager who has us playing on the front foot, but sadly since those 2 games we have struggled for goals.

I think playing Richarlison up top is a waste of his talent and he is too easily marked in that position, he has always looked a far more potent threat playing out wide or just alongside the main striker.

Gordon is getting better with every game and I agree with Danny, he shouldn't always be looking for penalties when he has the chance to score, but there is no doubting this lad is going to be a player.

And to complete the front 3 we have the enigma that is Demarai Gray, at the start of the season he looked a rarely special talent but for whatever reason since Benitez left he looks a shadow of that player.

As I say, we lack goals and I think we need to start with Rondon up top and have Richarlison and Gordon on the flanks, and I would play Alli in Iwobi's position. Dont get me wrong Iwobi has worked his socks off since Lampard has come to the club but I think we would get more goals from Alli than from Iwobi in the remaining games.

Obviously it would be any 2 from Allan, Delph and Doucoure in midfield. The back 4 has to be Coleman (as there is no alternative), Mina, either Keane or Holgate and Mykolenko. I think a word of praise for Mykolenko in his first couple of starts I wasn't sure about him but he is getting better and better with each game. I am sure Ashley Cole has been a big help to the lad.

It's a chance, in my opinion anyway, we have to take with the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. We simply cannot let that fall by the wayside. If we don't complete the building of the new stadium then we will simply be standing still forever.

Moshiri has to see this through before selling up. I read in the red Echo last week that the club have lined up an, as yet, un-named lender to the tune of £300M to complete the building of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock... Has anybody else heard or read this?

Benitez's Liverpool history was of no consequence. Personally I didn't want him, but to be fair, he had no money to spend whatsoever and was given an impossible task.

If going down is what it takes to finally rid us of Kenwright & Co then so be it. Other clubs with just as an illustrious history as Everton have suffered the same fate and eventually came back stronger.

Nobody has a divine right to Premier League status. The insidious terminal illness which has run through our club for decades needs to be eradicated once and for all. Of course relegation would be a catastrophe, but it is not the end of the world. It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise and actually hail a new beginning.

In football terms, we battled hard yesterday, but fluffed chances. In the remaining games, Rondon must play. He's all we've got right now. It would be foolish and grossly unfair to throw a youngster into this caustic cauldron at present.

We need Rondon's physical presence up front, if only to create scoring openings for others. We must attack teams. Employ the same game plan as yesterday and we will get the same result: defeat. No matter who we are playing against.

I am actually more sickened by our current tactics than our present predicament. Our situation is the culmination of many years of decline. A dying man has time to come to terms with death, but a brave man goes down fighting, attacking his illness with everything at his disposal.

Survival is still mathematically possible. Until such time as it isn't, we fight to the death. Everton have looked like relegation contenders for much of this season, so why should anyone be surprised that we find ourselves in the bottom 3 now?

We are where we are because, in all honesty, that's where we deserve to be. Possession counts for nothing if you can't score goals. Goals win games. It's as simple as that.

Ian Bennet- Good post, but so depressing too.

The morning after the night before and I feel sick to my pit. Can't believe were in this position.

"We are where we are because in all honesty, that's where we deserve to be."

Hard to accept but true.

Brian, I liked Mykolenko from the start. I saw and see a lot of potential. And let's not forget, he's only 22. For a defender, very young, so will only get better. I'd like your and others' views, but more of a Hibbert style defensive full back? It will be interesting to see if Cole can coach the more modern attacking full back aspect of the game into him over time. But right now, just keep doing what he's doing.

I know he's injured, but I'm interested to see what Patterson has to offer. Again, a young player and very young defender.

You are both right this club just hasnt kept pace with its competitors over the last 30 years, Once the Moores money was no longer the controlling factor the club went into decline as far as winning leagues went. Money and good recruitment are the key to success and as we know to our cost just having money without the right people in place to spend it wisely is just as bad as having no money. But in our case we managed to compete in the top half of the league when we had no money, but since Moshiri threw his millions at the club a top 10 seems hard to achieve.

I find it very sad that the Brentford game could be the last top flight game ever to be played at Goodison, so we may end up saying goodbye to the Old Lady while playing in the Championship how demeaning would that be. I have been going to Goodison for 67 years and next year may be the first year I will watch us play in the 2nd tier of English football.

So Frank and the players you have 6 games to make sure this doesnt happen and I will be cheering you on from my seat in the Upper Bullens to help in whatever way to make the prospect of Championship football disappear.

I detest the day he walked into our club, and yes there were bigger problems behind the scene but his pig-headed attitude towards certain players was destructive from the start, it was always going to fail.

I still believe we can stay up, the Watford, Brentford and Palace games are key, and even Leicester in relation to their Europe involvement. It maybe misguided but I'll never give up.

I prefer the Upper Bullens these days as opposed to my youth when I was a middle of the Gwladys Street kid.

I've got an obstructed view seat in the Main Stand for Sunday, but I take what I can get!

I know I'm an over-optimist, but regardless of what happens, I think the foundations are literally being laid. The stadium. Lampard and the DoF and his own coaching staff. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ferguson leave in the summer.

Next step; board room restructuring - you all know what I mean.

In those types of matches usually a team scrapes it 1-0. Wolves have 65% possession against Burnley but Burnley nicked it 1-0. You're always reliant on certain things going your way. This could of course be anything from a counter attack, to one chance. Unfortunately we couldn't make them count, Doucoure chance in first half for example and also Gordon's dragged shot in the second.

However, you're also reliant on an element of fairness. Now, Liverpool fans have had a right moan about our diving and time wasting etc. I've had no many messages about this, however to me I think we made massive errors in this department. Of course we are going to waste time, every away side does this in every game, it's a horrible tactic but we have to start getting with the times anyway. But, I'm convinced if our players reacted to some of the incidents the way Henderson reacted to Richy then VAR would of had to look at them.

Coleman gets elbowed in the face by Jota, right in front of the ref. Coleman needs to throw himself to the ground there and hold his face, James style against West Brom last season, resulted in a red card for their defender. Allan when he is pushed by Mane and same with Holgate, again it's a horrible tactic but both players are pushed in the face and not one goes to ground. If you're rolling around holding your face then VAR has to look at these things.

Even Gordon for his second penalty shout. To me Anthony does everything right, slings, gets in front of the defender and draws a foul, the poor thing here is that he gets up, sits and stares at the ref and the ref gives nothing. If Gordon starts rolling around their in the box VAR would of had to look at that and we probably would of got the penalty. In my opinion we were far to nice yesterday and naive thinking of we don't behave like the other teams in the league we will be fine.

Sky have kept the narrative, they want another Aguerooooooo moment at the end of the season which they can play for years and years, but surly something has got to be said by Everton now to the FA. If anything, just to get some decisions in our run in. This season so far, from what I can remember;

Brentford away, Rondon shirt ragged over his head. Brentford having already been given a penalty themselves, we don't get one, is Rondon too nice?! Should he be going to ground so the VAR have to view it? Doesn't matter to me but it's clear penalty - NOT GIVEN

Southampton away, handball from a Romeu, moves his outstretched hand towards the ball, it's a clear penalty - NOT GIVEN

Man City at home, infamous, everyone knows about it, - NOT GIVEN

Liverpool away, Gordon sprints free, going through on goal, gets pushed in the back, - NOT GIVEN

Now also add these to the decisions we have had against us for cards.

Shelvey, Newcastle away, chopping Gordon down 2 footed, a tackle. NO RED CARD.

Allan, tackles ASM, stops their counter, ref books him, VAR looks at it, becomes a red. Did Trent not do the same thing to Gordon last night, the fact he should of been booked for the earlier push which unbelievably was given the other way.

We also have Cresswell booting Richy on the floor. I'm probably missing loads but I simply won't listen to anyone that doesn't agree that there is some sort of vendetta against us, is it the Russian thing? Have the FA and the ref's decided they would rather Everton go than Leeds or Burnley etc? I'm convinced something isn't right.

Wouldn't surprise me in years time if a hidden camera footage came out with all the ref's on saying what they are going to give and not give to certain teams. We had three players sent off against West Ham, Newcastle and Wolves… it seems other players don't even get booked for some of the challenges they make against us. All seems to far gone for it not to be a problem.

The referee should either give a penalty for the second challenge on Gordon or send the lad off for a second yellow for simulation. It's one or the other. Instead, he does nothing.

When I look at the RS penalty they got when Jota ran into the Palace goalkeeper and Salah 'fell over' the Villa player recently, it just adds to the feeling that football is not an honest game and the officials are swayed, influenced, mindful, or aware of the impact that the top clubs can have on their careers.

Even with the VAR, it remains flawed and incompetent.

Appointing Benitez was the worst decision I have ever known in my time of supporting the blues. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

Let me paint this picture for you and see if you agree with this hypothetical situation:

Klopp moves to real Madrid.
Liverpool appoint David Moyes
Salah gets suspended for the year for a serious criminal offence.
Liverpool sell Mane as he doesn't fit into Moyes's style of play. They replace him with Rondon.

You tell me that wouldn't impact any team? That's what has happened to us.

From top down, we are a shambles. They have feathered their own nests and forgotten about the football side of things. "We have had some good times" – for fuck's sake, what type of shit is that from the Chairman?

Don't forget the Spurs penalty we were “awarded” then overturned by the VAR. Lloris may well have got a fingertip to the ball, but the ball was still in play and he then brought Richarlison down as he went for the loose ball. Penalty all day long.

When you consider the Arsenal penalty on Saturday, they had a goal rightly ruled out for offside but, in the build-up, there was a foul, which the VAR deemed to be a penalty. So all phases of play were looked at in that penalty decision, yet in our case, the VAR only looked at Lloris touching the ball, and never considered the next phase of play, the bringing down of Richarlison.

Burnley have to play Villa twice, visit Watford on Saturday and have to go to Spurs, their last fixutre is at home to Newcastle.

Watford face Burnley on Saturday, and have home games against Everton and Leicester, with a trip to Palace and their last game is against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds have away trips to Palace, Arsenal and Brenford and entertain Man City, Chelsea and Brighton at Elland Road.

I was hoping that the equivalent of less than a point a match over the 38 fixtures would be enough to save Everton, but it looks as if the 'magic' 40 or at least 38 points may be required to even stand a chance of staying up.

Everton might have to win at least 3 of their remaining fixtures and with the issues surrounding goalscoring that would seem a massive ask, it's not over yet, but I honestly think this is the season from hell and our fate has somehow been written in the stars, prove me wrong Everton.

There was a huge gulf in the abilities of the two teams yesterday and we did what any team would try to do in order to stay in the game. We now have to move on quickly and forget about the offended “experts”.

How anyone can pay attention to the likes of Carragher, Souness and Beglin when they are employed as “experts” watching a derby is beyond belief! Surely even the most brain-dead individual can understand that they are biased and will not give a level-headed view of the game or incidents from it.

Surely the TV companies would be better to use “experts” with no connection to either club in every game they televise – then at least we would get unbiased opinions.

The good thing to come out of yesterday, apart from the continued improvement of Gordon and the clear signs that we have acquired a very good young left-back, is that we lost narrowly and can cite a number of examples to our players about how we could have grabbed a point.

Confidence has to be fragile and it shouldn't have been knocked by this result. Frank now has a week to work on his approach to the Chelsea game whereas they have Man Utd on Thursday night after a tough game yesterday against West Ham. They have a huge squad but may just feel a tad weary come Sunday.

As for what team does Frank go for, Mina looks a certain starter if fit. Mykolenko, Richarlison and Gordon will also start but, after that, it gets interesting. We need some wins – we cannot go to Arsenal needing a positive result if we can help it, especially if they need one to qualify for the Champions League.

Rondon may be worth a start and Dobbin on the bench to come on for the last 20-25 minutes if we need a goal. Alli looked engaged and lively yesterday and, if he trains well, he might just be worth a start.

If Calvert-Lewin is not fit or match-sharp, then we need a spark from somewhere and Dele Alli might just respond on the back of a couple of promising cameos this last week.

Centre-back alongside Yerry is a problem if Ben is not fit. Keane and Holgate are way too unreliable and Branthwaite played well at Stamford Bridge.

Frank has options in midfield but must not be too defensive. Chelsea are way better than us and will dominate possession but we must be able to attack and score goals. Can Delph or Allan cope in central midfield with a more attacking partner or do they need to pair up?

It's absolutely disgraceful that we are in this position and there has to be an enormous inquest, regardless of where we end up. For now, our fate is in our own hands and the staff and players have to get ready for the most important six games of their lives.

As for the fans, we can be that extra man against Chelsea which has made the difference before against them. Take a deep breath – let's get stuck in!!!

Maybe we need to go down and reorganise, who knows? Blue since 1953 but I still have hope!

In fairness, we have just beaten the high flying Newcastle and fought back for a point against Leicester.

We lost yesterday against a team that demolished Manchester United (who we recently beat) and tend to wash away most teams they play.

We were not subject to the humiliation many doom mongers predicted and have enough about us to see this out.

I forgot about that. Just watched the highlights back on YouTube, Gordon is fouled by the last man before the ball reaches Richy, I'm still convinced the on field decision was correct, richys foot goes on the inside of the ball and knocks it round Lloris, it is a clear and obvious error? Certainly not. However if no penalty is given VAR should of looked at the foul on Gordon on the edge of the box, however no pen was given and Spurs where given the ball, when the ball was still in play and their goalkeeper was in no man's land.

Oh, another is James Tarkoski's horror tackle on Richy at Goodison, not even a booking. Richy was out injured for weeks.

It's all too often. Especially this season. There's a vendetta and there has been since around November.

If they were to go down, it would represent one of the game's most colossal, expensive failures and the list of culprits would have to start with Moshiri and those in the boardroom.”

Okay, he got involved daftly once or twice trying to pick a manager but the continual common denominator in all this is the good times Buffoon. No-one else.

Brian, I think the McNulty piece spreads the blame quite fairly between the board and the owner.

If the story of our demise has to get told, I hope someone gets to the bottom of 20 years of mismanagement and tells the truth.

If you allow the opposition a man over and don't respond to the opposition weakening themselves in midfield, your already suspect defenders are going to be under more pressure and conceded.

He firmly places the blame at Moshiri. But he is a Moyes generation kid (he's actually 32 now). I reiterated that the rot set in just after we last won the league title. We stood still, appointed Dr David Marsh and bought Ian Wilson from Leicester to "improve" the champions. It's been 30 years of neglect, not 6 years of irresponsible people spending the generous owner's money irresponsibly.

I can kind of see the mentality of "I'd take 7th and mediocracy now" given where we are.

Not me. Call me out for being a fool, but that's not my Everton and not what I was educated and brought up on. Sorry for not lowering my standards.

Looking forward to Sunday and I'll be looking out for your brother!!

You cant be relegated after 1 game it takes 38 and until then I believe we will stay up. The one thing that makes me more confident, is reading these reports it seemed that the Everton players showed one thing that they haven't shown for a while, and that is fight and determination.

As I say it takes 38 games, so to get into this position it started with the hiring of a new manager pre season not after 32 games

It was never a penalty and it wasn't given as Gordon dived in the first half.
Mane was booked for his face push and nothing more was needed
Jota never elbowed Coleman
And finally
She said Richarlison should of been sent off for his kick out

Safe to say I am now sat in a Costa pondering ending our marriage.

I know from someone close that Gary Stevens had his wages trebled to join Rangers. Trevor Steven was offered a £25 a week raise and followed him the next year.

Derek Mountfield never earned more than £400 per week as the club knew he just wanted to play for Everton. To put that into perspective, my uncle earned similar at the time working offshore.

Although I know times have changed immeasurably, now we are the polar opposite, paying fortunes for average to poor players.

Even when we were at the top, we were run poorly and reliant on the benevolence of the Moores legacy and gate money

This has been a slow decline caused by lack of foresight, stratgey and true ambition from 1987.

We are traditionally a parochial club and remain so, despite all the decadence of recent years. We truly now are a laughing stock, which I never used to believe.

For me, a couple of things that were significant - Rush signing for Juve in 86 but not going over till 87? Why did they keep hold of him another season? Oh and he came back in 88, when they were stronger than ever. Why did we never try and tempt Lineker back? (ok, I know there is an argument we didn't play as well with Lineker in the team...)

Mark Walters all set to Join Everton but then... well, who knows exactly who he signed for. Kendall in for Dean Saunders. We all know where he ended up as well.

Selling a prime Beardsley to Newcastle. Made no sense to me. Did we need him off the books to refresh the squad? That was 93, and we all know what followed season 93/94...

So why when Michael Keane jumped for a ball, earlier this season and landed on a players foot, a penalty was given.

You cannot give a penalty for one, yet dismiss the other as accidental, where is the consistency there, Keanes was less obvious, because when you jump for a ball, you cannot second guess where your foot is going to land.

Regardless of the one not given yesterday, the blatant handball by Rodri, the one Keane gave away is farcical, compared to the other two not given.

The fact is, the derby is history now. It's in the books. It doesn't make a damned bit of difference whether you're right or she's right. The result isn't going to be overturned. The game is not going to be replayed. It's done with.

You married her because - I presume - you loved her. You knew she was a kopite beforehand - I assume - and therefore should have priced that into the equation.

Our kid, my mam and all her side are kopites and they've been giving me loads all season (not me mam mind, she's boss), and especially in the last forty eight hours. So what? They're no more responsible for Liverpool success than I am for Everton failure. When they go too far I gently remind them of this fact.

Everton is part of all of us but by no means does it define us. Be the bigger person here and say sorry. Everyone has flaws mate and if your soul mate and life partners largest one is being RS then in the big scheme of things you're not doing all that badly.

Everton routinely ruin our weekends. Doesn't mean we should allow them to ruin the rest of the week for us as well. Say sorry and move on. Happy wife happy life as they say. Kia ora mate.

Made me smile that Derek on a very dark day.

Thanks.

Make sure they are not red ones though ! :-)

Better to make a clean break to save yourself more pain in the future.

After the match come on ToffeeWeb and get it off your chest, pointless trying to have a debate with a Red shite after the game.

We are the club that's big enough to make a statement to others, but not big enough to upset them at the top.

Let them speak. We have ref watch, everyone in the media giving their opinion, but “only silence” from the man, who everyone is arguing, disagreeing or defending. Why can't referees explain their decisions? It's the only way to find consistency, and stop the debate about wether they are incompetent, or if there is even a sinister motive behind the scenes.

I asked him personally why he didn't choose Everton over Rangers. He said the treatment Barnes got from us was the main reason. Just repeating what he said. Racism was rife at the time as you all know.

As for Ian Wilson, jeez... the only good thing he done was go on a mazy run at Anfield and sent in a lovely cross for Wayne Clarke to head the winner. Clean goal, clean header but it was disallowed, replays showed there was no push. Nothing new, eh!

170 - Liverpool
169 - Man Utd
157 - Chelsea
156 - Arsenal
137 - Man City

This does not include any given after Feb 2022

And why are sky an their ref pundit emphasizing solely on the shove by Matip!!!!!? THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT STAMPING ON HIS RIGHT FOOT FFS!

Moshiri listens to agents like Joorabchin, a fellow Iranian, another only interested in his clients, not EFC. Why do you think El Ghazi is here on loan? Got it in one – because Moshiri listened to Joorabchin.

Moshiri and Usmanov took over the club but, as he has often stated, Moshiri expected it to take up no more than 5% of his time. Apart from Ancelotti, his and Usmanov's appointments have been woeful. They brought in Koeman, absolutely no track record as a manager, and allow him to spend money as if it was going out of fashion.

Then, to add insult to injury, they appoint Allardyce on another short-term contract. Silva hadn't had any experience of managing in a top league although, if rumours are right, he wasn't allowed to bring in the players he wanted.

So, for those who think Moshiri isn't to blame for all this are living in Cuckoo land. Now his boss is no longer allowed to have any influence, then the sooner he finds another buyer, the better. And we will need another chairman as this one is long past his sell-by date.

I knew we were finished as a club the day Ian Wilson arrived. Single-handedly destroyed every ounce of confidence in that dressing room. Pushed out Sheedy, exposed VDH shortcomings and left Sharp isolated. I don't know how he sleeps at night. If we go down he can't escape a measure of blame

My ultimate point is that the VAR was brought in to help referees. Basically, the refs needed help because, quite simply put, they are mostly ‘bottlers' and can't officiate a game fairly.

My biggest gripe is what happens when the ref and the VAR get it wrong? This has happened to us several times this season and all we get is a… we're sorry.

It will happen again over the next few days. Mike Riley will call Frank and say "You know what, Frank, the ref didn't give it, I think the VAR should've looked at it longer and advised the ref to go and look at the screen, so we apologise about that."

It's of little or no significance because I'm convinced it's all a big ploy for us to go down. It's happened all season. There's too many incidents for it not to be a common denominator. The common denominator is, quite simply, the officials.

How can LIverpool be awarded a penalty in the 89th minute against Watford because a man has been held at the back post…. I will tell you why. It's because Watford where in danger of getting a late equaliser which would've finished the game at 1-1, handing the title to Man City.

It was given because it was a foul though, but where is ours against Brentford? Rondon's shirt is lifted over his head, because Rondon doesn't throw himself to the ground we don't get given it.

Then yesterday,we're being called divers and cheats because we are throwing ourselves to ground. There's no in-between because the officiating has made it this way. If you want a penalty, you have to throw yourself to the floor, if you stay up and try to do the honest thing, you don't get it and the VAR didn't check it.

All we want is a fair crack at the whip. And I'm telling you now, we will get a penalty against Chelsea now. Because the FA will feel they have to level it out.

I imagine it will be Gordon again, he will run, one of their defenders will leave a foot in, he will go down and the ref will have no hesitation, as the officials know we have been wronged and also we are at home so 36,000 people will scream for it…. Just wait.

Who brought Moshiri to our club?

Kenwright!

We won't be plucky if we go into the Championship, we will become the team that everyone wants to beat again. Although I don't see no reason why we can't stay up, even if it seems the whole of the football world is against us right now.

Having said that, a bit harsh to blame him for events 34 years later!

The VAR must have seen this incident from the beginning yet never advised the ref to take a look at the second incident where he poked a player in the eye. A comment another pundit said, you don't like to see it, but if the Everton players just dropped to the floor and rolled around clutching their faces they would have got him 2 yellows and a red.

Talking about favoritism to the Sky 6, how did Fernandes only get a yellow for the tackle on the Arsenal player that was worse than the one Holgate got a straight red fo? These refs are getting away with it because they have incompetent people backing them.

Koeman did well first season (7th, 61pts) mainly because we still had Lukaku. As soon as Romelu left, the wheels started coming off as our main source of goals had left and his replacement's wife didn't fancy Merseyside. That screwed that season up and was compounded by the hiring of Allardyce, although in fairness he had us 8th (48pts) at the end.

Obviously, Allardyce was not fashionable enough to continue, so Silva and Brands were brought in. Had a decent first season, again finishing a respectable 8th (54 pts). Then Gueye and Zouma left in the close season, which messed the next season up, so Silva goes, and in comes Carlo with us down near the bottom of the table.

Carlo comes in and stabilises us to a 12th place finish (49pts). Improves on that the following season for 10th place and 59 points.

Lo and behold, the first good opportunity he gets and he's on his way. And via Benitez, we are where we are now.

The overriding theme here is that we have been, and are, a stepping stone club, and as soon as the best performing players/managers get flattering glances from the elite, then they are off before too long, constantly destabilising the club.

This is in addition to the fact that, with the likely only exception of Ancelotti, the club has not been able to attract the very best.

With us not being able to attract or keep the best, then our position is always precarious, and finally, this season, the chickens are coming home to roost.

The stadium development is our best way of joining the elite, and if Moshiri presides over our first relegation in 70 years, at least he is also delivering our best path to the promised land in the long term.

As for the officials, pundits, premier league and all the other bias, corrupt, cheating twats - fuck them! We are Everton, the greatest club in the world.

UTFT

I never wanted to use Ian Wilson as a scape goat. Just an example of how we set out on a policy of downgrading. A bit like downsizing if you think of of moving house.

The fanfare rolling out of Neil McDonald, Tony Cottee, Stuart McAll and Pat Nevin. It looked good, but were they really adequate replacements for Stevens, Sharp, Reid and Steven? The signing of Duncan Ferguson; an idol for a generation who had nothing else to pin their hopes on. Getting Tim Cahill on second dibs after Crystal Palace pulled out of the deal. We've been downscaling for decades. Even when it got better and optimistic, we were shopping in the bargain basement and hoping for the best.

Whether you like it or not, none of those players were of the standard I briefly was accustomed to or grew up learning about. And we were hardly fighting with the best to secure their services. Okay, Cottee was a coup at the time as he chose between us and Arsenal. But Tony Cottee, English football legend? Not really.

We can still turn this ship around. I sometimes think this club don't deserve me. But then I know they do. And regardless, they are stuck with me. I don't want anything else.

At least there is no breaks and it should be apparent now to players that they need to put in a shift. Game time being better than Finch Farm time.

Losing the Liverpool game away from home was always a possibility. So the focus now will be on winnable games and the possibility of survival.

My wish is that Newcastle can bully the treacherous 6 with their new wealth.

It would be nice to have it rewarded from time to time though.

All conquering league winners, rolled over and beaten by Coventry 4-1, which was enough to save Coventry, and send Norwich down instead.

How must Norwich have felt after that result?

Tony, The link is Nev saying pretty much the same as you - great minds eh?

Accidental? Contact on upper arm or lower leg? Doesn't matter. All that does matter is that he is obviously sent sprawling by Matip's interference.

The only pundit I heard say it wasn't a penalty was Jenas on MotD and he didn't explain why. He said something like it was “‘just a no” – whatever that means! Minimum from anyone else was it's a foul anywhere else on the pitch.

You could say the ref couldn't be sure there was any contact, in which case he should ask for the VAR to check it for him (the VAR always checks penalty incidents anyway without needing a request from the ref); otherwise, he's deciding there was no contact which means he has to book him again and send him off. He surely can't just assume that Gordon tripped himself up, can he!?

Maybe that's what Klopp was inferring; if it's not a penalty, it's got to be considered diving. In that sense, Klopp is calling out the ref as a bottler too.

The VAR had all the views he needed. Once they'd confirmed Gordon didn't simply do a ‘Devon Loch', then it should have been a simple overruling of the onfield decision.

Michael, agree, on the football side, the slide started with Martinez in that the team mentality of being solid and together just disappeared. Ill-discipline crept in to the squad and ultimately they downed tools.

They've done that a few times since then also. We've not been the same since, other than the Lukaku-inspired 2nd half of the season (mostly at home) in Koeman's 1st season.

You are spot on with your analysis of Klopp's comments.

1) The VAR looked at Mane's push as ‘red card sending off offence'. It was deemed not a red and therefore a yellow was branded.

Or, and in my opinion, the more likely:

2) The VAR looked at it as a yellow card offence and advised the ref to treat it as such.

The 2nd seems more likely to me; however, if this is the case, then this is against the rules.

By this logic, the second incident should also have been looked at and again another yellow card awarded, resulting in a red.

What is going on with the VAR? Who has access to what they are talking about? The commentators as far as I know. Not once yesterday did they say ‘They are checking for a red card offence here', so what actually happened?

The second incident was missed. And again. That's another huge decision gone against us in this game and this season.

Certainly not comparable to the City incident, where that error was galling. But hopefully that incident ensures City winning the title.

Now as far as I'm aware none of that happened yesterday. Unless the ref saw Mane during the first push to the face, but if he never then someone advised him to book Mane. If this is the case then that is VAR becoming involved in yellow cards, which according to the rules, is wrong.

I've just decided to watch this back. There is no way the ref saw the Allan incident. It's too far away from him with too many bodies in the way.

The Holgate incident he reacts to. I can only presume this is the incident Mane got booked for, not the Allan incident. If that's the case then VAR has failed because the Allan incident should of been looked at as a potential red card offence. But it wasn't.

I can only presume Allan's was missed and VAR didn't deem it a red card offence and therefore they can't intervene to say ‘he's just done that to another player aswell which you've missed' because it's not allowed with just a simple booking offence.

My other question would be then, what was linesman and 4th official doing? Did the see it? Why was nothing done?

Interesting.

Rules are rules, but I thought it was all handbags, and I personally wouldn't have sent Mane off, but Atwell was definitely consistent, (poor) because I still hadn't got over how Arnold had got away with shoving Gordon, in the first half in a very, very similar incident to the penalty.

I think Gordon surprised them with his pace, so Lampard must be at fault for not telling the kid to slow down! Anyone who's ever played football, knows that once you reach top speed, any little shove is going to send you sprawling, but unless it's done with the shoulder, it's a fucking foul.

TAA completely wiped him out in the second half aswell.

The reality is… I don't even really want red cards in games. It usually spurs the other team on… however I defo want blatant penalties. That, was a blatant penalty.

Somehow or other we have to win three more points than Burnley in the remaining games. They have 15 points to play for, we have 18.

Kenwright is the root of our problems.

Just do it!

If it's over, then we stop now?

It wasn't over at half time on the last day of the season in 1994.

It's not over.

Couldn't agree more regarding 4-4-2 and playing Tosun and Rondon up front. I've been saying as much since they've both been available.

I'm well aware that neither have shown much for us, but in recent times Tosun has been offered little or no first team opportunities.

Before people start screaming "Madness!" Remember what Einstein's definition of madness was. 'Repeating the same process and expecting a different result' (or words to that effect). And that is what Lampard has done with his attacking options since his arrival. If he continues to do so he will get the same result, no goals.

If nothing else, both Tosun and Rondon have credible goal scoring records elsewhere. Playing them together up front in our remaining games, could prove to be the last roll of the dice for Lampard to save our skins. If anyone can tell me where else the goals are going to come from I'll gladly listen.

Desperate times need desperate measures.

I still believe that point salvaged against Leicester may be the lifeline. If it is, I'd pay Alli's wages myself if my pension would run to it!

Those points dropped at home against Wolves and Leicester (not to mention the 6 pointer at Burnley) have all but relegated us.

So not far off 4 wins from 6 games. It's obvious, but we've got to be able to be tight in defence and have a goal threat. The defence has looked better, but our ability to put the ball in the net is a problem throughout the team. Richarlison scores the odd goal, but we get practically nothing elsewhere.

For the record, I think Tosun is shite. But I do think we've a better chance sticking him, Gordon and Richarlison up top – than a misfiring Gray. My only doubt is that he's not going to want to get injured ahead of his next payday.

Probably the same with Alli. He's not impressed, but has a lot more ability than Allan. We are getting down to reckless gambles nearly.

We need three wins and a draw. Palace worry me. That is one of our must-win games. They are a big, powerful side, who have already put 7 past us this season over two games. I'm hoping they are on the beach by the time we play them. They certainly weren't against Leeds last night. Just a shame they couldn't get the goal.

Leicester will have played Roma away on the Thursday night before we play them on the Sunday. We have a full week to prepare. That can only be a good thing for us.

I do believe he is one of the more creative players we have, and we should utilise him.

Also I don't think you can play Gray and Richarlison in the same team because they are both at their best wide left. Therefore Gray is on the bench Gordon wide right.

Godfrey is injured so it has to be Mina and Keane.

Sorry, Frank lad, it has to be 4-4-11 from now on.

Pickford
Coleman, Keane, Mina, Mykolenko
Gordon, Allan, Doucoure, Richarlison
Alli,
Rondon

If he starts Calvert-Lewin up front against Chelsea, I will throw a wobbler.

Assuming everyone fit, that's;

Pickford
Coleman Mina Keane Mykolenko
Gordon Doucoure Iwobi Allan Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin

(Godfrey for Keane if fit)

If we come out the next two games any more than 3 points away from safety, then we must take the brakes off and go all-out attack in an attempt to win the final 4 games in a row (okay, maybe not the last one but if we need to win, then so be it!).

For me that'd be:

Pickford
Coleman Mina Keane Mykolenko
Gordon Dele Van de Beek Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin Rondon

I think Burnley's form and fixtures are likely to see them ease clear.

Laurie @ 360. Agree with that formation I would also go with Rondon and Dele and Richarlson and Gordon out wide. We do need to try something knew, most of our attacks break down with a sloppy pass or running into blind alleys. Dele has shown in the last few games he needs to start for me.

Where the stakes are high challenging for Top four positions the bias is in favour of the challenging team. The stakes at the lower end of the table are not a priority in comparison.

A team loses out on a top four challenge will be news and pressure next season. A lower finishing team will be less so. If relegated not at all.

Ultimately a team cannot beat the Referee or his Assistants on and off the pitch.

One of the joys of the relegation dogfight.

Burnley's threat to Everton is not only on the pitch, but their a Public Relations offensive which has the Media on their side, which may influence crucial decisions and provide them with 12th man help beyond their match going fans support.

What a state of affairs this is, so much money spent and yet no proven goalscoring striker at the club. Or goal difference has been pitiful for several seasons and this is never addressed.

I've been saying the same as you for about the last two or three games. We need to be going 4-5-1 for every game until the end of the season. Grab a 1-0 lead then defend like there's no tomorrow.

Bore the arse off everyone if that's what it takes, but it now getting to the stage where we will have to start taking some chances as we need to start winning, and PDQ.

If Calvert-Lewin is still injured, or not got his attitude right, then it has to be Rondon up front, and staying there, no coming back to defend corners.

Richarlison and either Anthony Gordon or Demarai Gray are going to have to play in a midfield five, but run their bollocks off between defending and attacking. They've got to be up and down that pitch and come off at the end literally crawling on their knees.

Despite all the doom and gloom, this is still in our own hands, and we will get out of it.

I think the feeling a few weeks back was it will be okay can't see Burnley or Leeds winning to many games well both did what we couldn't this weekend Burnley beat Wolves at home and Leeds got something out of their away game at Palace.

But I think the reality of our position has finally kicked in with everybody and they now know the time for excuses is over. Yes, we have had an appalling injury record and yes some of the officiating in our games has been disgraceful, but let's not forget we were awarded 2 penalties against Burnley and still lost. Now if one of the other clubs in trouble had been awarded we would have said how come we never get those, well we did and messed it up.

But that's all gone we now have 6 games to save our season and we now need to be brave both in selection and attitude. We have tried playing Richarlison up top and it isn't working for him or us he is too tightly marked in that position and he is not a hold-up player so it doesn't help us getting more players forward into attack when they know Richarlison may lose possession trying to take people on.

So please Frank start Rondon against Chelsea, play Richarlison and Gordon on the flanks and play Alli just off Rondon. Both these players had a big part in our equaliser against Leicester.

Alli was bought not loaned to help us stay up, and now Frank it is time to back your judgement irrespective what he is doing on the training ground. I know Iwobi has ran his socks off since Frank arrived but Alli has a goal threat and I don't believe that Iwobi does.

Obviously Mina comes back and has to play every game as the stats show our win ratio with him in the side is so important. Probably Keane will play alongside Mina as he looks a better player alongside Mina, than he does without him in the side. then Coleman and Mykolenko at full-back.

Now he can play 2 holding midfield players and he has a choice of 2 from 4 he has Allan, Doucoure, Delph or if he feels he needs to be really ambitious Van de Beek.

Although he may start Van de Beek on the bench and maybe bring him on later depending on how the game is going.

Like Liverpool, Chelsea will come at us. They are fast, attacking, and with players like Mount and Havertz, will potentially have a killer blow. I hope Lampard is studying the Brentford game from the other week. They were to every second ball, pressing, doubling up, and more importantly they had shots on target.

I would go 4-4-2 in this game. Allan to sit as he did in the derby, Doucoure to be the legs, but we have to utilise the wingers who should be Gray on the left and Gordon on the right, they are the runners, get them to the byline crossing balls away from their tall keeper. Look for Rondon and Richy up front, flick on's, etc. I think this is a must win, it's a shame it's against Chelsea but let's have it right, it prob doesn't matter who we are playing. If we turn up we can beat anyone.

Your post is the most accurate of what actually has happened at Everton. ' The things that happen to people are very like the people they happen too. '