A good away point from an absolutely lousy game

Weird atmosphere about this game so far. Let's hope we get the goal to settle the nerves.

Three points on Sunday is massive, because I can't see us getting more than one from our last two games.

If our failure to win there tonight send us down then we deserve it because I, for one, find that lack of willingness to go for it a disgrace.

That was a game Watford were expecting, and dare I say willing, to lose. Three points tonight could have all but secured our Premier League status but we shit out in my opinion.

No doubt Frank was being "pragmatic", telling them above all not to do anything stupid in the first half. They ended up doing... nothing.

It was probably better in the second half, when they did at least up the tempo from snail to crawl... but honestly, for those thousands of fans, couldn't they have tried a little bit harder to actually score and win the game, and get a vital 3 points?

Gordon if anything getting worse in the "flatters to deceive" category. End product of any kind completely lacking.

Bunch of guys going through the motions, loafing around the pitch.

Shameful.

We'd better win our remaining two home games. I do not want to hope Leeds loses their final two.

That wasn't worthy of "giving all to the cause to stay up". It was actually the opposite.

Steaming pile of shite.

I know it's 7 points from 9, but we could have been home and dry tonight. Frank could have made a few changes earlier. Gordon has been a revelation, but take him off free-kicks.

Our home games now even more important; this is the Everton way – right !

Still, we'd have taken 7 points from 9 but I suppose that's the problem with us...we're easily pleased and stop pushing for more once we've got everyone off our backs.

The Old Lady will have to save us, again.

Michael, It will be a good point, IF it's the one that keeps us up.

Our forwards all need to do more, getting better shots in making assists, creating proper chances. Below par tonight, I think we'll see some changes on Sunday.

But after the end of the season there needs to be a major inquest.

As long as we stay up I really don't care how we get the points though

The point today was very disappointing but still very much on track.

We will need some shrewd signings in the summer though, otherwise we'll be back in exactly the same position next season, that's an absolute certainty.

A few days to rest and go again. We would have taken this situation 3 weeks ago and thats a positive.

Night all!!

"I can't see us getting more than one from our last two games."

You really can't see us beating Palace at home? I'm not saying it's a gimme, but for heaven's sake.

If Leeds get beat this weekend a draw against Brentford will be enough due to GD. Likewise if Leeds draw, a win against Brentford sees us safe.

Doucoure is a water carrier, headless chicken, without guile... Great when defending top teams, fucking waste of time when we need to win.
Only for Jordan Pickford and our twelfth man, we have been shite.

Now Brentford is a must win

Hopefully Lampard has read the riot act after that shit show. Just shows that for all the phenomenal support these players do their own thing

Bloody awful

Whilst it's in our hands, we desperately need both Burnley and Leeds (or at least Leeds!) to slip up at the weekend before we kick off. If Brighton can nick a win at Leeds, we'll simply need a draw to be safe. If they draw we need to win.

#Praying

Delph MOTM.

Tonight was the time to consolidate - or at least put in the effort to look like wanting it. Now should we screw up, or be simply unlucky on Sunday, and Leeds beat Brighton etc.

The permutations however unlikely are still alive. The only way around that fact is to play your own game. Who knows what will happen. You can play great and lose, but you rarely win playing like that tonight. Reminded me too much of what has got us here in the first place.

Looking ahead, it's obviously in our hands and I am hopeful Spurs will beat Burnley and Leeds might not be capable of getting anything from Brighton, so Brentford for us is another chance.
I just hope we don't end up going to Arsenal needing a result - that would not be good.
No doubt we could have made the run in slightly easier for us and piled the pressure on the other two had we won tonight, but as I say Everton never make it easy do they ?

I keep going back to that Burnley result were we collapsed and Lampard showed his inexperience that night, he did not manage that game, had he done so I am convinced we would not be in this position.
There is no doubt that Lampard is learning, but I ma still not convinced he is the man!

We have to save ourselves.
A win and a draw is the minimum required.
Anything else is complacency.

We can't rely on anything at the Arse because our record there is beyond crap.

Can't wait for this nightmare season to end and for us to survive.

Half a billion to get to this - just wishing to survive.
Total shambles.

Root and branch overhaul needed big style - starting at the top.
Nothing any of us don't know - but just saying.

If we do survive, I can see a brighter future with Lampard at the helm and the new stadium.

But we need to get there first.
And we are not there yet.

The thing that struck me tonight was how rubbish we are at crossing the ball in. I don't recall us whipping in a first time ball - like Trent or KDB - at any point. We always take 3/4 touches, and then put in a tame cross or final ball. I was in the home end, level with most of our attacks that fizzled out in the 2nd half. We either delay putting the cross in and eventually put in a weak cross, or we then start going sideways and backwards and don't cross it in!

A real shame we couldn't get 3 points tonight but it wasn't for a lack of effort - just that quality final ball in the final third.

We didn't have it against Man Utd and Chelsea. The goals came from a deflection and an error. We didn't have it against Newcastle - I think the goal was our 3rd shot of the game. Leicester was the best footballing performance in a long time and we still weren't exactly electric!

All the problems of this season (and longer) haven't gone away with a bit of effort and heart in the last few games.

I believe we'll stay up. But prior to Chelsea I had us 50/50 and after the Wolves game I was sure we would drop. Things change quickly and teams pull off results that you didn't think them capable of.

Brentford and Palace are above us for a reason. These aren't sure things. It won't just be determination that wins the games - we will need some quality and goals.

Goodison still has to be a bear pit. The players still need to respond a couple more times.

Keane and Holgate along with Mylolenko did okay, mind you Watford didn't apply any pressure, Iwobi and Delph were very good and shared the MOTM for me.

Lampard, you'll have to do a lot better than you did tonight, we know the squad is very poor but you stood still tonight and did absolutely nothing to change them, not good enough tonight Frank.

To add insult to injury our game was supposed to be on Sky from 11 pm and instead they have a replay of the RS from yesterday! Effing bustards!!!

Fact is, by 6:15pm on Sunday we could be safe (and just imagine the party at Goodison if that were the case!!!)

Brighton are in good form. I think Potter will still be going all out to overtake Wolves and secure a Top 8 finish. That would certainly be another great bullet point on his CV.

But lighten up on Gordon, people. Don't expect veteran decision-making from a 21-year-old head. He's the youngest player in the side, first year as a starter, already the most improved player in the club, but he still has a lot to learn. If he improves as much next season as he has this one, we will have a star on our hands.

That said, he should have come off at 60 minutes for Dele Alli in my opinion.

Worse, he'll be in precisely the same situation next season courtesy in the gross ineptitude of the boardroom and beyond for the past several seasons, and maybe the season or two after that. Frank and his, repeat, "his" team are consigned to marching through shit for the foreseeable.

If the lad gets us mid-table next season it'll be a miracle. That's how shite our owner/boardroom still are.

Having a fan in the boardroom to make a successful difference? Give yer 'ead a wobble folks!

Worse, he'll be in precisely the same situation next season courtesy in the gross ineptitude of the boardroom and beyond for the past several seasons, and maybe the season or two after that. Frank and his, repeat, "his" team are consigned to marching through shit for the foreseeable.

If the lad gets us mid-table next season it'll be a miracle. That's how shite our owner/boardroom still are.

Having a fan in the boardroom to make a successful difference? Give yer 'ead a wobble folks!

Worse, he'll be in precisely the same situation next season courtesy in the gross ineptitude of the boardroom and beyond for the past several seasons, and maybe the season or two after that. Frank and his, repeat, "his" team are consigned to marching through shit for the foreseeable.

If the lad gets us mid-table next season it'll be a miracle. That's how shite our owner/boardroom still are.

Having a fan in the boardroom to make a successful difference? Give yer 'ead a wobble folks!

Worse, he'll be in precisely the same situation next season courtesy in the gross ineptitude of the boardroom and beyond for the past several seasons, and maybe the season or two after that. Frank and his, repeat, "his" team are consigned to marching through shit for the foreseeable.

If the lad gets us mid-table next season it'll be a miracle. That's how shite our owner/boardroom still are.

Having a fan in the boardroom to make a successful difference? Give yer 'ead a wobble folks!

But for a change, my trip is nothing compared to those magnificent masses that urged the team on and are on their way home north. It might not have replicated the scenes at Leicester, but it was still unbelievable support from start to finish.

I won't dwell too much on the football. As I've said to others, a flat match and a flat performance. We didn't seem to have anyone who wanted to take a chance or responsibility. Although I never felt threatened, I never felt that we threatened. It says a lot that I would give Delph our man of the match. I thought Keane done okay. Coleman gave everything and Iwobi continues to look better under Lampard. Pickford got frustrated and I noticed he was increasingly communicating to the bench in the second half. Was he asking them to change it???

I was watching that clock on the opposite stand intensively from about 5 minutes in. But it's a point we arguably would have lost earlier in the season so it's a point and one step closer. We're nearly over the line. We can have this job done next weekend and move on to better things.

Good to meet up with Brent and Eddie - excuse me for not remembering the wife's name. She can shout at me next time, but great stuff sorting that Watford fan out with his Guinness in a pub beer garden swarmed with Evertonians!! I am now in debt for at least a bag of crisps Brent. Mike, thank you as always and glad your mate got in. I'll wait for the letter of complaint from Watford!! Rob, sorry we didn't meet - see you at the next one.

Once again great to see the young blues out in force. I'll keep going as I've never known different, but they are the future. Unlike me, they've literally had nothing to feed off but they are there regardless and the support has to be witnessed to believe it. Loud and proud and they make me proud.

Spirit of the Blues. Marching down the Goodison Road. We're going to do this.

If we subbed or dropped Gray and or Gordon who would we play? Frank made a big deal about signing Dele so if he looked remotely on song in training don't you think he'd play him? DCL pottered about and fell over a few times, Rondon can run down the clock holding the ball by the corner flag but that's about it. Obviously Gomes is useless so we don't have other options. Those two at least ran and got into good spots that they wasted but I suspect it's more than the others would have done.

To a certain extent with Watford having so many first teamers out, was a perfect chance to give some of the players a rest, recharge batteries for the 2 home games coming up Sunday and Thursday, for me that would have made a lot of sense, if it went wrong then Frank would have took a lot of flack for making changes, damned if you do and damned if you do not.

What we also have to look at is where we were in the bottom three, games in hand but a few points adrift, these last few weeks have taken a lot out of the players, the quick turnarounds, so to pick up points against Leicester twice, Man Utd and Chelsea, another point tonight on the Road, is what a lot would have snatched your hand off for.

Ok not pretty tonight, Watford nothing to play for, with half their team fresh as a daisy with not having played, for me every single point matters, what that point does is put pressure on Leeds and Burnley winning, a draw for them still keeps them a point behind us, even if we slip up, with games running out they have to get wins.

We are all a bit disappointed we did not pick up all three points, but 1 point is not to be sniffed at.

After the effort of the last 4 weeks, I think a little slack for the players is needed.

Regroup and get the Goodison feel good factor going.

On another Day we would have probs put in a better performance but at the same time get caught with a sucker punch, draw will do for me.

I would have taken 4 points from the last 2 away games and we have them. Better Leeds's result at the weekend and we are safe. They play the Brighton team that battered Man Utd and Burnley are away to Spurs.

On the subs, I think Lampard either doesn't rate the players on the bench or know they are not really fit enough. Gordon and Gray are lagging now, but I am not going to criticise them as they have worked tirelessly for the team this season.

Overall, a bit more perspective please folks.

I hope he gets a day on the bench Sunday.

He's been overused and is in danger of burning out.

I'm passionate about developing young players, especially our own, but the danger is that overuse too early can ruin them.

Let's develop him and let him continue to improve as he has been doing.

Let's not have the next Davies or Barkley through overuse or over-expectation.

And I do know there have been circumstances that impacted those players progression (managerial merry go around), but expectation versus development is a big thing in my opinon.

Ohh what a surprise! You couldn't get on that one surely! Put this lot in a situation where they are working six days a week just to pay the bills and that's the only reward they get! Jaded half-hearted,

Why I bother to support these bastards I'll never know!

I'm at Pauper's Pub 5 doors down from Lee's Palace, heading over to see psychedelic Japanese band Kikagaku Moyo in a few. Pretty sure I'll be the happiest Evertonian in the room tonight!

After only two days recovery from a huge effort at Leicester and lengthy travelling thrown in it was hardly a surprise some of the team looked jaded. Moreover Watford allowed us to have over 50% possession. As we know our team performs more effectively when it has less of the ball and can adopt a counterattacking style.

I believe Frank is being pragmatic with his tactics ensuring we do not lose and therefore get points on the board but today was a missed opportunity.

I just hope the tactics and team selection on Sunday is good enough to get all 3 points.

When playing against better teams, the attack seems to be more crisp. Work or not, it flows. Against weaker teams when we have the time on the ball, we kepts fiddling back and forth. Just whip the cross in and see how it goes.

Anyway, a clean sheet and a point is not the worst result. I'll take that for now. Hope the Home crowds will do the magic in next 2 games.

Watching that game last night was, as one poster stated, back to the very worst of our gutless performances. The side and back passing against a relegated side with many reserves was a disgrace and an insult to those great supporters.

Glad it wasn't just me. I thought the application was there and I didn't see a lot of backward passes. I saw a lot of misdirected passes in and around the box (12 corners alone) I agree we don't have quality players but at least Frank has driven them to try which is more than can be said for Rafa, Carlo's last six months, and Silva's first and last six months. The truth is that Gray, Gordon etc are pretty good which means they have about one decent game a month as opposed to say De Bruyne or Sarah who have 3 or 4. The bench is hopeless. Frank is going with the least bag option available. I am just waiting for the usual absence makes the heart grow fonder clamor for Davies, Gomes and Tosun to start Sunday

In addition, Gray has been garbage for months and I have no idea why he is continually selected.

Watch a replay and tell me how often they went backwards? They were terrorizing the right back all night but when the crucial pass came it was either misdirected or Richarlison or DCL were rolling around feigning injury. I generally agree with Christine but the it's easy to say “if we'd played Dele” or whoever we would have won as there's not way to disprove or prove that. I stand by my belief that after gushing over his signing there must br a reason Frank isn't playing him. Logically if he was remotely in form Frank woukd play him and then say “That's why we bought him” after he made an impsct. The fact he's leaving a potentially 40 million pound man on the bench that he personally pushed us to sign tells me he isn't cutting the mustard in training

We have won 10 of 35 games. We have a GD of -19. Our recent goals have come from defenders and deflections.

I think you need to manage your expectations.

Agree mate. I get the “could've, should've, would've” posts theorizing on alternatives. I disagree but I understand their well put perspectives. But some posts, just leave me baffled. Have they been watching not just this year but the last 5 if not 30? But hey call a limited footballer obviously trying his best today a “shit house” and that will show him eh?

Here is the clue - he got 4 points by playing pragmatic football away to Leicester and Watford. He got zero points from the game against West Ham and Burnley.

Sam Hoare predicted that we might struggle in the Watford game where we would have more possession. He also speculated on whether Lampard would rotate the team based on greater possession and to freshen up the team.

He didn't make changes and - ugly as it was - I have no problem with that. Point in the bag and move on.

While the other one insults the fans for the passionate support that is going to keep this team up.

You just wonder what goes on in those brains that makes garbage like that come out through their fingers.

Gordon had a chance to show himself as the best youngster in England and all he had to do was put the ball inside to Richarlison to finish but no, and he came out looking like a head down, see nothing with an occasional trick, and when are we going to stop him taking free kicks and corners!

The only bright lights of the evening were that we didn't lose and Leeds did and that Referee, inappropriately named Dean, is retiring and I hope Everton challenge Holgate's yellow and may be as part of Frank's defence of the disrepute charge.

Disappointed!

This is obviously not Watford.

Quite a lot of Evertonians want "up and at em" football, and that's their wont. Martinez got a lot of criticism for "sideways, backwards crab like football" and Lampard is starting to get stick when we actually hold the ball and play the same way.

The facts are that if the opposition can't get hold of the ball they can't hurt you. This is the modern school of football - it's better to go backwards and sidewards and retain possession than put it into a 50/50 (or worse) contest.

Often when we go backwards - like from that corner cited somewhere above - it's in recognition that there are eleven opposition players behind the ball. The gaffer wants to draw them upfield, create space and allow ourselves to play through our lines.
So far, games when we have tried to play this way the results have been disappointing. But Lampards ethos and beliefs about how the game are meant to be played are what they are. He's not going to change. It's enough for me that he's demonstrated a lot of pragmatism during his time here already. The hiding at Spurs was clearly an eye opener.

Gordon does not have great delivery from set pieces, however it bears remembering that we have lost James, Digne and Sig...err the Icelandic bloke. Gordon is therefore now the first choice set piece taker in a team where he would have been an afterthought to take them only a season ago.
Needs to improve however.

It's a precious away point, and although a win would have been brilliant it keeps our fate in our own hands. But I do despair at some of the comments on here. I'm no football genius or expert but I'm basically a savant compared to several on here.

Yeah I just see two clean sheets out of three with a calamity Jane defense, 7 points from 9 for a team that were odds on favorites for relegation 10 days ago but yeah “shit houses” who should thrash a team we were one place above a few days ago. If Leeds lose either of their remaining games factoring in goal difference we'd need one point from three games to survive. Shit houses indeed. Yes we've wasted money on plenty who deserve such titles but Gordon, virtually free Gray,are not among them. If — as seems likely we survive then I'd like to see Frank given some leeway to rebuild and hopefully offload Gomes, plus the out of contract Sig, Delph, etc. If we go down it's not because of Gordon, Gray, Iwobi or even Holgate. It's because since we signed Ian Wilson and Neil McDonald we've had a clueless scattergun approach to recruitment and a board who'd embarrassingly lose an episode of The Weakest Link to Putin's generals and Jeffrey Epstein's defense team.

What he can't say is that this same group of players that got us results recently and should have done better last night could also lose us points very easily because they are crap. Pragmatism was the order of the day, as much as I hated it, and we have to take the point as an important one.

I believe he has had to deal with these players very delicately for fear of overloading them and he is not very confident in them at all. He did mention recruitment in the future which was a hint at the future but I would hate his job of trying to deal with these losers.

"I wouldn't say I'm frustrated. I think if you can't win, you don't lose, and we were more than secure in the game"

Amongst many other things, this has been our problem. We have not picked up enough draws from games that would have already seen us safe. So I'm taking last night as a point amongst the points we will get against Brentford and Palace that see us through.

Then I can breath and relax against Arsenal.

Heaven help me but at one stage shortly before Calvert-Lewin coming on I thought we might do better if we brought on the lamp post that is Rondon so we had somebody in the box to aim at and work around while he kept the central defenders occupied as we didn't seem to need five at the back at that stage of the game.

And while they say that in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king that might not apply here to the one eyed savant. If what is happening on the pitch is not working then something different should be tried.

Delph has restored calm and commitment to the defensive midfield. Pickford has ceased the histrionics and found his form. The defence as a unit has looked more solid and composed. Iwobi is the most improved player in the team.

So, given all of the above, why did Lampard not select a team and formation with more goalscoring possibility? He must have gambled on safety and the odd goal from Richarlison, because where else were the goals likely to come from?

Recent goals came from defenders. He had options on the bench in the shape of Dele Alli and Rondon, but chose only to bring Calvert-Lewin on much too late in the game. It was obvious that, the longer the game went, we were running into dead ends. The only saving grace was that Watford didn't snatch a goal.

Gray's performance was dismal. But the worst culprits for me were Doucoure and Gordon. For all their effort, there is no end product. The final ball is appalling. Box to box? Doucoure for me has neither the brain nor brawn required to be a Patrick Vierra or Roy Keane.

To his credit, young Gordon has given everything to the cause this year and I hope his game continues to improve. But recent performances have shown that he is far from the finished article. All dash and no vision. He continually wastes passes and fails to find teammates from dead-ball situations. Goal attempts have become scarce. Yet when he first burst on the scene he was shooting repeatedly from all angles. Time to rest the lad, Frank, in my opinion.

"If what is happening on the pitch is not working, then something different should be tried."

It did work. Lampard set out to not concede and to not lose the game. Both were accomplished. We moved a point closer to safety. We keep our fate in our hands.

We've got 11 points and only 4 goals conceded from Man Utd, Leicester home and away, Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford. I think one more win will see us safe and we can worry about playing well next season.

But I'd look at as a positive. It's another clean sheet, another point closer, and more pain for our rival in terms of defeat, suspension and injuries.

Mathematically we need 4 points from 3 games, and it might be less. It is still in our hands, and it looks a hell of a lot better than after the Burnley defeat. The fans are behind the team, when it could have easily been civil war.

I thought we were down, but the team has beaten Man Utd, Chelsea, Leicester and picked up a point at Watford. A harsh defeat away to Liverpool being our only big setback.

Keep the faith.

For all that Gray looked off the pace, he was a threat with his pace and came close to scoring.

None of Alli, Calvert-Lewin or Rondon are in better form, and it's unclear whether the former two are remotely fit.

All things considered, it was a decent night of results.

Our slow build-ups went sideways, then backwards and on the occasions when good balls were fired down the wings (often from our best passer – Pickford) both Gray and Gordon took too long to get in their crosses. Indeed, often you could forgive a delay in crossing due to nobody getting in the box for one.

Gray lost his way and should have been hooked on the hour. Once again, Lampard used his subs too late. Gordon's decision-making is worrying – I hope he doesn't turn into one of those frustrating wingers who runs out of road. His set-pieces are a waste of time.

My main worry was Coleman. The guy is panicking because he has little pace left. He did pick up a cheap yellow from the idiot Dean but he cuts a frustrated figure and often we see him tired and grumpy pushing people and getting into silly spats.

Our best player was Iwobi. He actually won tackles, read the game, and he crosses instinctively. What an improvement under Frank!

A mention too for Delph who controlled the game; his calm assurance was an asset and a hindrance, as he slowed us down to a crawl at times.

Still I suppose a point will have to do. If we survive, Mr Lampard and his team will find a less sympathetic response if they play like this next season, against a team of no-hopers.

I had serious concerns going into this game because of the status of the opponent and the appearance of some players looking shattered at the end of the Leicester game. Watford was an anti-climax and Frank was clearly content with a point.

He trusts his first-choice team to give it everything but his reluctance to substitute perhaps indicates a lack of trust in some on the bench. If he had used subs earlier and lost, he'd have been crucified for blowing away a valuable point.

We might clinch safety on Sunday – then the real hard work begins.

We gained a point. Not perfect but better than nothing.

We can bemoan our midfield and the likes of Richarlison, Gordon or Gray all day long, but as I saw it, despite their limitations, when they looked up, they had no options. "Getting it in the box" was just lumping it into the land of the giants and easy pickings for them. I think we realised that hence more attempts at being patient and attempting cutbacks from wide. We just didn't have the finishing edge.

I know it won't mean a lot to many, but a really nice touch from Rondon after the final whistle when he was sent out to do his warm down having not played. Appreciative to the fans and came over to give his training top to a younger supporter. The small gestures in life mean a lot.

Brent, I hope you make it out of East Berlin 1986 (aka Milton Keynes)!

We're a point further away from Leeds and our fate's still in our own hands. Let's finish with a couple of home wins.

Prior to Watford, those lads gave their all and deserved our praise and at the moment they must be exhausted.

Now Frank has said his interview and I feel a little better. But I'm still scared that we may have to depend on other results going our way, I wish it was June!!!

Hope Gill and Eddie had a good drive home (mein hosts at the Fisherman's Rest, Southport- well worth a visit if you're in the area). Gill, nice touch in buying that blind guy a Guinness.

Having slept on it my view remains. A point gained by a team recently in free fall against a side close to us in the table. And now a further point ahead of the two main rivals.

That's two bags of crisps you now owe me, Danny.

Pickford
Coleman Keane Holgate Myklenko
Allan Doucoure
Gomes Alli Richy
DCL Rondon

Gomes getting the ball and moving it forward, DCL and Rondon working their defence, Alli hopefully finding a killer pass. Allan and Doucoure to shield. I mean they didn't have a shot on target so we didn't make the most of trying to get the three points. Frank says we were tired, this doesn't boad well for another game in 4 days, then another in 4 days after.

If everyone is tired then it's about rest and recovery now until Sunday.

Not on the bench and not mentioned pre-match. Is he that bad?

What I can't understand is why Frank didn't change the team a bit more if the first XI are shattered. DCL on from the start. Richy on the left to give Gray a break. Iwobi on the right to let Gordon have a rest. Allan and Gomes starting. Will three days be enough for the same first XI to recover their mojo? Surely those players - even not match fit - would be enough against a Watford 2nd team? It feels like Frank's strategy is to flog the nag that is our first team in the hope it'll manage to crawl across the line before it drops dead.

Still, on we go. What a reset we need in the summer. We need a striker who can score 15+ per season to replace the departing DCL; a dominant CB to replace Mina; several midfielders who are comfortable on the ball and have a mildly creative gene in them; plus a number of squad players to replace those who've come to the end of their contract. That could be a decent team.

Cut backs from wide was the answer. Watford just set up shop for a frontal attack. Cut backs from wide would turned their Centre backs and allowed Everton to at least attack the ball.

We are going to be hard pushed to spend any decent money and stay out of FFP trouble for at least a year as many have said, and our main potential is bringing on and improving players we already have (like Lampard has done with, but not specifically for example Iwobi and Delph, Holgate to some extent, Gordon etc) and bolster the squad with a couple of astute signings in relevant positions. We seem to have some half decent squad players coming through but assuming we survive which is looking increasingly likely (although I remain unconvinced until mathematically there) next season will be another toughie.

It would be nice to do a Leicester but how many times can history be repeated?

In our last 6 games, we've conceded 4 goals.

In our previous 6, we conceded 16 goals.

At this stage of the season, we're hard to beat and hard to score against, keep it that way until we're safe.

Sorry, I forgot Big Dunc and The Dixie dean statue up front aswell.

I would try and go for a midfield overhaul this summer, with even a defender thrown in for good measure.

If we have to sell then so be it. Everton will continue without certain players who I now have no doubt will want champions league football. Richy, DCL, Pickford, the only danger is they leave and don't progress, there's only been a handful of players who have excelled once they left Everton, sometimes it's better the devil you know…. Pienaar for example. Bench warmed at Spurs after being one of our best players for years. Came back to us and did well again. I'm sure he looks back at that now as a massive regret.

However let's say we sell Richy, DCL and Pickford, we should not be held to random. I would ask for 80m for Richy, 65m for DCL and 50m for Pickford. There's 195m.

Get bissouma for 40m, get Ward Prowse for 40m. There's 80 spent. Get Ben Foster for a season from Watford, 10m. Leaves us with 105m.

Get James Tarkowski for free. That covers Mina who will prob be sold aswell. Then there's 100m to go out and try and find two really good attacking players. A winger and a striker.

I know it's all a bit champ manager but needs must.

Hopefully we do our shopping in the following markets:

- Premier League rich 6 reserves / youth
- Premier League (best relegated players)
- Champs League reserves / youth
- Championship (not promoted)
- Cheap talent from France, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands
- Established players / prospects at middling clubs in Italy, Germany and Spain
- Top prospects from Scandinavia, MLS, S.America, Mexico, Scotland, Balkans
- Maybe players in Ukraine / Russia who want to get out (eg Neres, Malcom and Tysgankov)
- Free transfers with modest wage demands

Ideally we'd be getting players age 23 to 26 with plenty of games under their belt, Europa League quality

Then also age 18 to 22, more speculative but ideally Champions League potential

I don't think we should be spending more than about £20m on any particular player unless it's a maybe one key strategic position in the team.

My expectations are well managed. I have expected very little from most of the games we have played, but I did expect 3 points against Watford reserves, a team already relegated.

After the hard-fought wins against Chelsea and Leicester, I guess this game came too soon after last Sunday. It's funny how so many say "Never change a winning team, unless forced too"... ie, the injury to Mina, but maybe one or two changes could have been made last night. Both Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray looked jaded, so one of them could have been benched and either Calvert-Lewin or Rondon on from the start, pushing Richarlison out wide.

Anyway, it's gone now, and we move to Sunday. I think Frank will probably make one or two changes, with Calvert-Lewin and maybe Allan to start. I honestly think both Leeds and Burnley will finish on the number of points they have now, 34, with Leeds going down by virtue of their goal difference.

Frustration played a part in your post as it did in mine, frustration that a lot of fans are relying on Burnley and Leeds not gaining enough points to overtake us instead of Everton taking a positive attacking game, without being reckless.

Instead, creating a few chances like we did versus Chelsea, Man Utd and Leicester – missed some but scored and won the games. Last night, we created hardly anything and out of close to 20 efforts on goal, only the very weak shot from Gordon and a tame header from Keane reached the Watford ‘keeper.

Frank failed for me last night and threw 2 points away.

I feel sorry for all of the fans who travelled from far and wide to attend last night's debacle.

What happened to Everton? Yeah we all know what happened – total mismanagement from the top for nigh-on 30 years. Leaving us a million miles behind our peers in the former 'Big 5'.

Enough of that. COYB's – win on Sunday and let's start a new chapter next season.

"I don't know if I expected to see anything other than an honest performance, but the players could've been forgiven if they didn't produce that sort of performance – given some of them had hardly played a game during my time at the club and with so many players unavailable against a side with an awful lot to play for."

Given this, and the way we approached the game, I feel that we lost the chance to be more secure at this stage.

It's you with the cheap shots and the complete lack of ambition.

We could have been a win away from safety but came and settled for a draw with barely Watford's reserve team, or so you say.

If that's what you want, and you seem to think standing around waiting for the opposition to make a mistake is the best way, then you probably think the last 27 years have been a success, the "good times" eh, Derek!

Our fate, to settle for a draw against relegated teams, heaven help us!

I'd be far happier sitting with 37 points than the 36 we're on as it means Leeds have to win and draw or at least two draws to go above us, however now they only need 3 points, which remains mathematical viable, especially with our lack of goals. In reality, I think we're safe, which leads me nicely onto the teams mentality.

The team think they're good enough to win games and too good to go down, so they don't put the effort in. The games are already lost before they kick the first ball. The team is good enough to win games and to be top half but only if they put the effort in. We saw the drive and determination in the previous three games which paid off. Having got to a place of comfort, they took the foot off the gas. We can't afford that and need the team to be putting in the graft from the first game to the last.

There's a lot of work Lampard and his staff needs to do over the summer to bring in players who have that grit and determination as well as creative players to bring the backbone to the team. Currently we don't have that on a consistent basis. The other element is to work on the mental approach. The drive to compete for the 90 minutes - not just 60 (or 20 as it has been until recently).

The big questions for me are:
1. Pickford - is he the answer or is he part of the problem? He's a fantastic shot stopper, without doubt, but is he collected enough to organise the back for is he causing them to panic?
2. Who plays in the back four? They have been dire this season... which leads me onto the midfield
3. who is providing the drive in the engine room? There doesn't seem to be any ownership here.
4. Creative options in midfield
5. Clinical striker - we need someone who knows how to score and can do the job consistently. DCL has been out the entire season and seems to be way off the pace - will he get that back or go to Arsenal?

Terry @ 161. Barca bid 80m for Richy a few years back. What thinks he is now worth less? He's a Brazilian international forward who can play as a winger or striker. If I was Everton I wouldn't let him go for anything under 70m with 10m or add on's. We bought him for 40/50m so we need more profit back on this type of player.

Even DCL, he was bought as a kid for what 3/5m. He is now an England international and a striker in demand. Who doesn't want a tall, athletic, good headerer of the ball. However again we cannot let him go for anything under 50million. He's too valuable an asset to just cut losses because we have had a bad season.

We were tired.

I said before the game, one can often see teams who play mid-week play absolute garbage on the weekends. Same holds true in that teams who play well on the weekends often play garbage mid-week.

The players just get tired. Recovery? It's a thing. And when you don't get solid recovery, your performance suffers.

If you also consider the incredible effort the squad has put in recently, and it has been amazing no one can really honestly argue that point, the fatigue is truly understandable.

That's not to say there shouldn't be criticism leveled. I said on the live forum within like 6 minutes of the game kicking off, we were sitting back. Why in the world are we sitting back and looking to counter Watford? We should have been aggressive, pressuring, and looking to completely control the game, not hit on the break. That's Frank Flaw #1. Frank Flaw #2 is that he cleary should have subbed earlier, and seen the player's exhaustion and reacted to it. Very poor management of the game in that regard.

I'm a big, big Frank Lampard fan. But that doesn't mean he gets a pass. He'll mature as a manager, and we've got a damn good one who's future is bright and I hope Blue for a long, long time. But yesterday he missed the mark.

Opportunity lost, danger still on the horizon, bring on the weekend. We'll now definitely need 3 points at home.

Frank has had some lessons and he's starting to get the picture. I'd imagine that, from the outside, it was hard to understand just why things were as bad as they were. After a bit of taking things in, he's got us working together. I wasn't expecting us to (seemingly, I wasn't there I heard the radio and saw TV "highlights") be as poor as we were but then I was also expecting some changes to the team. We've got what, 5 or 6 games in around 3 weeks? With the increased intensity of the previous few matches (not just the two we won but also the sterling efforts against Liverpool and City where we we screwed over), it can't be that surprising that players were somewhat drained, especially as they weren't used to it. And that's how it looked/sounded to me. Not that the desire wasn't there, more that the body couldn't keep up. So I was expecting a few changes last night to give the (now established working) team a chance to recover for the run-in. For me that was the mistake/lesson from yesterday.

I still think Frank is the man we need going forward, and there still need to be some big changes in the summer assuming FFP can be worked around - some big wages will drop away, we'll lost Richi or DCL or both (whether we want to is a different debate), and we get a bit of room to manoeuvre. I think he's learning too - but I also think he's got the brain and the desire to do so. Which is what we need. Perhaps he can bring up "his" team along with himself and all will be good in toffeeland once more :)

Who dresses up as a schoolgirl now and then. The fact is he picked up a lot of bad habits under lockdown and Ancelotti. All that "one touch" striker nonsense. One touch is all he's getting these days.

If Lampard keeps him, he had better work with him a lot before next season. We want to see more movement, better runs, better touch, more scoring with his feet.

If he wants his England spot back he needs to knuckle down. Otherwise, he can forget about the World Cup next season because he will be watching it on the telly like the rest of us.

On Sunday, the Everton manager must pick a team who will grab hold of the game when the whistle blows and grab the 3 points, which may be enough to secure Premier League status... at least for another season.

Against the lower league opposition, not so.

This might be due to tactics, but probably as much with a 'medio' complex - not superior to the 'big boys', but certainly superior to the 'lower boys'.

We are Everton.

I remember distinctly Benitez saying that he expected to win against Watford at home. Look what happened there. How any team has 4 goals scored against it at home in the last 12 minutes is beyond me, but it happened.

So, it's an energy and intensity thing in my view.

Somehow we have to emulate how Guardiola or Klopp motivate their teams, who consistently perform home and away against all classes of opposition.

He might well have been right but I found it a bit bizarre – either part of his normal manic behaviour or a telling comment on what we weren't doing with the ball – or probably both.

We are just supporters and are not aware of the fitness levels or niggling injuries of certain players, but we can see when some players are tired and below their standards, and that is why there is a negative attitude from last night's game.

There was at least 6 players who either never started, or played a minor amount of time against Leicester, on the bench yesterday, and 1 or 2 from the start could have made a difference, or brought on earlier.

What is the problem with Calvert-Lewin? Has there already been a fee accepted for him or is he really so unfit that 15 to 20 minutes is his best? Yes a point was except able, but not gaining the extra 2 seemed poor-decision making by the manager.

It is no use speculating on how other teams do, our future is in our own hands and feet and the manager's decisions. Yesterday, we lost the opportunity to make it a little easier.

If we go into the Palace game still needing points, with Arsenal to follow, the pressure will be enormous, and their attack is incredibly strong.

Best result for us tonight would be for Spurs to beat Arsenal and keep the Champions League place open. We need Spurs to be fighting 100% against Burnley on Sunday.

Palace, Brentford and Arsenal are potential banana skins – not Watford's reserve team!

That was 3 points thrown away for me. Shocking performance last night!

I applaud you and every Evertonian who follows the club through thick and thin, I'm afraid that my away days are in the distant past due to age, finance, and ill-health. I am, however, programmed to visit Goodison Park whenever Everton are playing at home. I think I must be one of those who accept mediocrity but, to be truthful, I don't seem to have much of a choice.

It was very telling. Pickford was getting more and more frustrated with his teammates. I must admit, I did smile just after half-time when, right in front of us, he had a word in the linesman's ear and then gave us a wink!!

It's a point and we go onto next week to get the next 3.

Never feel sorry for us, Andrew. When we can get there, it is a privilege to be part of the support. There were many who had travelled and didn't have tickets last night. We can revisit the wrongs of the club in about 2 weeks time.

Right now, I just want points, however we get them. Although I'd rather have got 3, we got 1 last night, didn't concede, and are still controlling our own fate.

I wonder if they will get any action taken against them for approaching and conducting negotiations with the Forest Green manager without notifying the club first. The foot-stamping they did after we made a legit approach for Sliva is now just amazing hypocrisy.

It's Everton.

We all live Everton.

The reality is mate he can dress however he wants to dress. I couldn't care less.

He's a good player. He has been very unlucky with injuries all season. It has knocked him down a bit in terms of confidence. I get he's not everyone's cup of tea however strikers are there to put the ball away, if they don't get chances they can't score. Abamayang at Arsenal was the same. They way they started to play in the second half of the season never suited him, off to Barca…. And now again he's fantastic.

The DCL way, that's get the ball down the wings and fire crosses in for him to attack. Digne cross for DCL header at Goodison against LIverpool last season etc etc. Unfortunately we haven't played this way in ages because we simply can't. We are too exposed at the back with poor defenders. This means we can't attack down the flanks. This has affected DCL's game.

1. Do not get arrested and if so don't use your call to phone me.

2. Do not let me see you being Danny aged 18 on television camera.

3. Do not let me see you on the pitch.

I probably couldn't have controlled point 2 given where I was sat. Although I wasn't sat, because everyone stood up throughout.

Definitely an issue with our performance against average / poor sides, as you point out.

I expect energy, intensity and mindset does play a part.

My view is that the big issue is simply our lack of quality. Not an earth shattering observation, I appreciate.

But basically, the easiest ways for a poor / average side to score goals is counter-attack and set pieces.

That's a decent formula against better sides (and away) because they will attack and leave gaps. If you stay compact you can avoid defeat and pick up the odd win.

Against fellow average / poor sides we get much less space / opportunity to play on the break. Watford almost played like an away side yesterday and we had a much higher share of possession than is often the case. So we huff and puff with the ball struggling to use our limited quality to break down a compact defence.

Since we're also keen to remain compact, we don't attack with numbers. This makes it even harder. It basically relies on a great bit of skill, luck or a mistake - or a set piece.

Goals from open play when dominating possession are going to be very hard to come by against a poor / average but compact side.

"Stop listening to agents and don't bring in players that I don't want!"

Iwobi was MOTM again for me, in a generally lacklustre showing from the boys in blue.

We are out to 14/1 to go down now but we don't create enough chances do we, to be sure of anything.

I don't see Burnley or Leeds getting more than 3pts each, quite possibly none at all in their remaining games.
I wouldnt want to rely on draws for us though, but another 2pts could be enough.

If we do survive what the MO for next year will be I wouldnt care to guess, up the creek without a paddle comes to mind.

Yesterday we really had little option other than to go sideways and backwards. Partly because of what was in front of our players in terms of forward options and partly because of how Watford were set up. And partly because of what we had on the pitch. Multiple factors contributed.

I know I'm a bit of a groupie, but when Allan came on, even though he is touted as a defensive midfielder, he is always looking for a forward pass and we started forcing a lot more corners and were generally higher up the pitch.

In terms of set pieces, we had little to aim for. Easy pickings for their defence every time we swung one in.

We set out not to lose the game, but didn't have enough to win it. I know that is stating the obvious.

Maybe with Allan and Calvert-Lewin back for the home fixture at the weekend we have more teeth and play on the front foot, with Richarlison in his natural position and something to aim for in the middle? We protected the result last night. If it wasn't such a crucial stage in a crucial season, we might not have been looking back on that so critically.

3 points on Sunday and I'll get myself arrested for a pitch invasion!!

We really need a top-class striker in the summer - especially if DCL heads off when fit again. Would win more games then and be more of a threat to teams in games like this.

Last night we could have remained compact but had much greater threat at set pieces with Rondon and Branthwaite on the pitch.

But it would have taken courage and quality together to commit people forward, give the man on the ball an option and expect the man on the ball to see the pass and execute it.

I suspect Frank (rightly) questions our courage and quality so played for the draw.

This may have also been because Leeds conceded and went down to 10 men early. If Leeds had been winning or even drawing Frank may have really gone for the win. But we didn't need to and so he played safe for the draw.

They haven't developed the group timing of coming to life to take a game from the jaws of a draw that was cultivated under Carlo. Frank played it safe throughout while watching the scoreboard do the other half.

We now just need a draw since an expectation of Leeds getting four points from their last two games is beyond a team without James or Ayling. Cheer up damnit.

We should have beaten Watford but didn't... why? Because they were already relegated and the potential was there for us not to play to our full potential and slip up. It nearly happened.

You say Palace, Brentford and Arsenal are the actual banana skins and yet I would suggest that it is quite likely we could lose to all 3 on their current form, ie, not banana skins.

That's why I suggested Watford was a potential banana skin. The result showed it very nearly was that yellow slippery thing.

All players need much physical support but psychology plays a major part as well. As much as ability to get positive results you have to believe you can.

Frank was spot on last night. You don't win so make sure you don't lose. Against Burnley, Dyche was right at half-time, Everton don't know how to win. Believing and confidence to do it can be barriers in sport as well as life.

Last night was not the result we would have taken but we are out of the bottom 3. We all must stay positive and give the players confidence. Our club and our life!! Stay positive!!!! Reflect on a month ago!!! See!!! Massive improvement!!

PS Have you seen Steven Gerrard didn't get charged for John Moss comments after Frank did? #TechnicolorBiasAgain

Jordan Pickford has got us out of jail so far. We stunk against a Watford reserve side. No change in tactics or formation.

IMO, It was a knee jerk appointment by Lampard at the eleventh hour. We play terrible football and Clement's record stinks.

I can understand why he stuck to the same system but we all knew it wasn't right for this game. I fully expected Dele Alli to play at least the last half hour, he must be either shit in training or have an attitude because he would have been ideal for us in that game.

And what of El Ghazi? We were much more proactive when Allan came on and Calvert-Lewin did okay, both Gray and Gordon need a break and of course Richarlison but I don't expect them to get one.

3 points should see us over the line but will we get them? Maybe 2 draws will be enough. Well here's hoping...

Yes, all talk for now but it seems the wind is blowing more in that direction. Could you imagine this team/squad without those three and maybe Pickford too.

Personally I think Gordon is the one the sharks will go for. I noticed Klopp mentioned in two separate interviews after the derby, what a good player Gordon is.

Another rebuild ahead I feel, whether we want it or not. This time though, without the money.

I was trying not to look at it, but it was right in front of me.

I wouldn't go that far.

Instruction manuals, and worse, those ridiculous charts waved/flipped in front of the subs before they enter play: no-one will ever convince me that is anything more than "Modern" training method nonsense.

Godfrey has been a disappointment this season after his strong start last season and I am ambivalent on him.

I would love to see Branthwaite given a chance as, on size alone, he is what we need at the back.

He may do a Le Tissier, who knows. We'll see in due course but I guarantee you, great pressure will come from the you-know-which type of clubs not far down the line. He's been getting the talking-up.

Almost no-one is out of their reach ultimately, nowadays.

Clubs can sell their best players as long as they reinvest wisely. I won't use examples of other clubs, because we know who they are.

When Howard Kendall took over, he needed to rebuild a squad that hadn't won anything for years. He did so, but it took a couple of seasons and by the time he won his first trophy, the squad looked nothing like the one he inherited or initially tried to build. It was progressive and he tried a few different things out; test and adjust.

Different times, but you can make many similarities in the modern game. Allow Lampard and his team to do similar. This team and squad needs overhauling and rebuilding. There are a few I'd like to keep, but I'm not afraid of losing any of them. It's been a failed project to coin a modern football phrase.

Players come and go. Everton are always here and always will be. As am I for what that's worth. Well, until we win our 10th league title. Then I can rest.

Okay, a 6th FA Cup because I like even numbers.

Oh and another European Trophy. Any flavour will do.

Then I will go.

Playing a defensive formation against Chelsea and Leicester City was the correct decision. But against Watford? Give me a break.

Go expansive and we get exposed by most teams.

Ancelotti was crucified for it and switched on early, nearly qualifying us for Europe by "dinosaur" football.

Frank has eventually caught on. You can't get this current crop to play the way we'd all like them to.

These are the players we have. Just get them to the summer and reset.

We are not that. Let's not kid ourselves here; we would like to invest and improve whilst adding to the better players we already have.

Selling a "Bird in the hand" to invest in what might become a bird in the hand (for let's face it, a lower price) is a strategy that reduces team quality and adds risk. Quite apart from the fact we have no particular record in such an area.

It's not the same as selling a winger in a situation where we have two spare, for example, to address a shortage of fullbacks.

We will sell from the better players because we screwed up as a club, and want to get money in and reduce the wage bill.

The crap can go. The better players, I am afraid to lose.

Is Holgate really good enough? Same for Keane? But they definitely look more focused, and sometimes this change in attitude makes all the difference, so hopefully this is coming from the back room staff.

Frank got it wrong with the starting 11. He seems reluctant, unsure, or unable to make changes when they are needed. The "Up and at 'em" Corporal Jones attitude is commendable but he needs to be tactically aware. We needed 3 points but we leave Rondon on the bench and give Calvert-Lewin a cameo. Frank seems at times to be a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.

At the end of the season, if we survive, I think we should thank him for his services and move on. I know that's cruel but let's lose the "People's Club nice guys" set-up. I know this might annoy some on here but Frank's record is as bad as Rafa's and it's not good enough.

Get a manager in that's tactically savvy and a strong character. At the same time, get rid of the spongers hanging around, getting a decent pay package that they would only get from teary eyes.

A reset is needed; keeping the spongers on and off the field is not a reset.

Attitude is the major thing that's been wrong or missing these recent seasons. Not everyone will agree but I still don't believe this squad are as poor as some do. We've had several periods that prove the potential is there.

How many of the clubs relegated or very low in the table in more recent seasons also had two good periods near the top of the table? The lack of belief, spirit, motivation, professionalism is what has caused the woes; through the whole club I'd add, not just the team.

There has been improvement for sure. A small improvement, but there had to be. So far, it looks like maybe being just enough to save us. Last night was a horrible partial reminder that the poison is not banished but it seems the staff are turning it around.

I hope there is enough of the team left to work with next season.

Keane is Keane. On his day and in the game that suits his "dumbly doo" concentration span, he can look good. He still worries me a lot, but he is what we have and is going to help keep us in the Premier League.

But I do think the foundations being put in place with the background staff behind the manager bode well for the future, regardless of where we end up this season.

Now to sort that boardroom out!!

Changing managers every 5 minutes is not the answer. We need stability, and from where I'm sitting, the players are firmly behind Lampard.

He needs to take some credit for galvanising the fans. He's a proper football man. Yes, he's learning his trade, but has shown already that he can learn from his mistakes.

He has to take credit for the recent set of performances and results, when we were only heading in one direction at one point. Now we have a chance and I'd take a young, hungry British manager any day of the week after the dross we've experienced in recent times.

I like the way he talks, I love that he understands the club, and it's so refreshing to see his passion on the touchline. He might not be the finished article, but neither are we, and I for one am excited about seeing both Frank and the club grow together.

That's exactly correct about Holgate. He looks a different player and most definitely more aggressive, which I think has helped him concentrate better. It will be interesting to see if it's a permeant change or does he revert back to his casual, disinterested self.

Holgate – lacks concentration, has poor positional sense and is too temperamental.

Godfrey – I don't think he's a defender. I'd look at retraining him in the Fernandinho role. He's strong and quick and can carry the ball.

Mina – misses too many games; otherwise, he's good. Maybe lacks concentration at times.

Keane – truly awful. Worst defender since that Wigan guy whose name sounded like a prison.

Branthwaite – has promise, but hard to blood-in in such a poor defence.

I believe we need a minimum of two central defenders, who can pass, have good positional sense and are quick. This opens up so many options for different scenarios. Our Midfielders are similar too:

Delph – his contract is up next month, and, although he's looked decent (not hard), I'd let go.

Allan – way too slow now for this league.

Davies – too slow, but I see him as a stop-gap. He can fill in for a few positions, so I'd keep.

Van de Beek – loan finishes, so does his Everton career.

Doucouré – for a midfielder who struggles to pass a ball? See you…

Gomes – no heart, no guts, no glory.

Alli –- get rid asap. He's lost his hunger.

We need three midfielders, plus Godfrey retrained. A box-to-box midfielder who can pass and shoot and who has an engine (Kalvin Phillips?). A playmaker who can control a game's tempo and can thread the needle and defensive midfielder in the carsley mould.

The above I believe would get more out of Gray, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon. The irony is, to get what I want we'd likely have to sell Gray, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin and Gordon. Bollocks!

Your post is typical of the short-termism and impatience that prevails ToffeeWeb and some Evertonians.

First of all, Frank's record is not worse than Rafa's, and secondly, Rafa was taking the club down like the Titanic from an inherited 12th position.

Frank inherited a club on its ass with very little scope to bring in reinforcements and has endeared himself to the majority of supporters IMO.

The Watford game was hopefully a one-off and smacked of nervousness and tiredness from a threadbare squad.

We have to move forward on a united front and stop chopping and changing managers. We have to be patient.

Name me a British manager outside the current top 6.

It's not about nationality or age. It's about ability and capability.

The less the manager changes it, the more he must be happy with how the game is going, with regards how he's set his team up, and what he's already decided he wants out of the game?

The less the manager changes it, the more he probably doesn't trust the players he has sitting on the bench?

Everyone has their own opinion, mine is that football nowadays is all about intensity, which also boils down to attitude really, and is probably why a player like Deli Ali, hasn't been given a run in a team, with such a poor set of midfield players, and also why Everton lack so much intensity away from Goodison Pk.

My own opinion is that this can't be changed without some new players. I'd argue it's absolutely impossible, for this current squad to suddenly change, because we have to many players with bad habits, and very few players who even compliment each other.

I commend Frank for encouraging these players but it will be proven that they will revert to type. The problem is that many of our squad have seen off many managers at this stage and the power base is firmly entrenched.

By the way, Jay, I've been supporting Everton for over 60 years and gladly witnessed some great days. They are that long ago now that all I want is to witness some success again before I take leave of this crazy planet. Short termism, my arse.

I'm also loathe to call trying to win against an even further weakened relegated team, brave.

Edit. Maybe on the players as much as Lampard. I don't know his instructions before or during the game but the initial team set-up didn't look defensive.

I think you hit the nail on the head. A good smack too. Individually, most of the current squad look decent on paper, but collectively they have little faith in each other – nor do they want it enough to "die" for each other.

They are not mates but a collection of individuals that have been through the mill with several managers, have lost faith and trust in each other, never mind the club itself.

They would tell you that not one shred of the above is true. But when they get home and their wives ask them what sort of day they had, that's a different song.

The only way to save their careers is to move on, not because they are all bad footballers, but because they are in a club that lost its way. Without that trust in each other, or the club individually or collectively, they will fail.

I am not advocating a 100% change of the squad but it's up to the manager how he wants to play, who he can use, and who needs to go. Only when he has the stamp of his players, playing his way, will we see a stronger more focused team.

Right now, he is using what he has in a way he can to get what we need to survive. It's a painful exercise for all concerned, but we all get it – the fans, the players, the club. At least in this respect, after years of naval gazing, confusion, discontent and anger, we are all pulling together. It's a building block, but not a cornerstone!

The legs weren't there from those who were in the previous two games and Frank doesn't trust throwing a sub into the mix easily. He is somewhat stuck with a conservatism that is hard to criticize, every recent manager has bumped up against this constraint and few have found rotations to get around it.

Goals win games and Everton do not have the firepower to trouble most teams if any at all.

Last season saw a half decent combination of Richie and DCL,
but this season they never got going for one reason or another. The back up crew of Tosun and Rondon have never contributed for different reasons and Gray has faded after a bright start. Injuries in other areas like Doucoure have also affected the attacking side of things and so, when the goals dry up it's been up to the defence to stay strong but silly mistakes have cost them dearly in too many games.

The last few games has seen improvement in defending without being overly impressive, save for Pickford's heroics.

Obviously Lampard and his staff have a big headache to sort out this squad for next season.

They have to get rid of quite a few off the payroll to make some room for new players as another season with what we have is going to be another season of misery.

I like Mykolenko and would like to see Patterson given some starts as Seamus has seen his best days.

Keane and Holgate is not a great combination and Mina seems to be injury prone.

Not sure if Lampard feels that Allan, Davies and Gomes will fit in next season but we need players who can push up quickly and take the game to the opposition.

The modern game is built on the press and Everton just don't have what it takes to do it well but at the other end the defence is woefully slow at playing the ball out.

Many faults to be rectified and it remains to be seen what transpires.

We won't see the same kind of caution on Sunday. If this earns a result, it will reflect further on the missed opportunity at Watford, tired players or not.

Look at it this way, it was a game in hand and we got a point. [I thought you would like that one].

Yet many here seem to think or expect that we should have just swatted Watford aside. Have they not been watching us all season? Have they not been watching us away from home all season?

Expectations from many here seem to be divorced from our reality. We're a struggling tired Premier League club with very little quality or depth, fighting for our very existence in the division. A quick look at the league table would tell you we have no right to go anywhere and "expect" to beat anybody. The table doesn't lie. We're one of the worst teams in the league.

That was a game we had to get something from - and we did. It was actually only our second clean sheet away from Goodison all season. It keeps our fate in our own hands. It keeps the pressure firmly on Leeds and Burnley.

This was a point gained for me. I do feel anyone who "expected" us to win this has grossly over estimated the quality of this group and grossly under estimated the trouble we're still in.

Chelsea at home, Leicester away. Same team Mina aside, two wins.

Personally, I didn't expect a win, but expected more of an attempt to gain one, as in the previous two games. It was a flat and disappointing effort that looked more like what we've seen until three games back.

Gray missed a sitter in front of goal, Richarlison gets two runs at goal and either loses it easily or falls over, Iwobi has a run at goal and tries a pathetic cross and these are the better players in our team.

We are just fucking rubbish and as much as I'm really frustrated with that result the other night I'm also wondering how on earth we have recently beaten Man Utd, Chelsea and Leicester.

Frank's done well to have us where we are with this bumbling gang of misfits. Let's not forget the idiots at the top who allowed all of this to happen.

One of those Bluebill's "Good Times" moments. Right?

If you think last night's effort was justified then we never have to win anything again.

We aren't trying to win any trophies right as we have already been eliminated. We are trying to survive in the premier league. Of course you won't win anything playing how we did last night but you won't win anything with this team regardless of how they play or the manager. The hope is that we survive so we can attempt to offload people and get some better players.

Just need to regroup for the weekend and get ourselves back in front of the Goodison fans and get the win against Brentford.

I'm sure we'll have enough to just crawl over the line before the Arsenal game,my only concern is I just can't see any major changes at our club when we stay up...I really can't!

I couldn't agree more, we needed the performances of recent games and didn't do enough against relegated Watford's reserves to try to win the game. This is not the time to settle for a draw in winnable games and when the right substitutions might have changed our outlook and performance.

I can't agree that settling for a point, so that we have the opportunity to win our remaining games and safety from relegation, is a good outcome in what (as the game went on) looked more and more winnable.

Interesting I can only say servant there. It says a lot about the last 30 years and I have this debate with family members a lot. Baines, Cahill and Ferguson. Great servants and fans favourites.

They were not Kevin Sheedy, Graham Sharp or Trevor Steven. That is the bar. Win not exist. We are Everton. It starts from the top.

Let the lad (Godfrey) settle and develop. He will become a good defender, although I actually think more of a full back or better suited to playing in a back 3, but that's just my unqualified opinion.

Tony, that's what I've been saying for ages. We have had a decent 12 or 14 for a while but forgetting who the manager is or has been, once we're down to the bones, everyone of them has looked at the bench and what else is available and not been convinced.

I know people are desperate to give the kids a chance. But multiple managers from different backgrounds can't all be wrong.

Frank Lampard knows what it takes to win. As he said, if you can't win, you don't lose. Right now he is dealing with the players he has and he has not been afraid to publicly chastise them.

Sunday. Safe. I breathe again. Then next season reset, rebuild and European qualification.

Taking the dog out. The poor lad. He's an Evertonian. He understands.

I get your comments. It was only a few weeks ago after we lead a half time lead slip at Burnley I said get rid of Lampard now and get Big Sam in until the end of the season, however I was wrong.

I do agree with some of the other posters in that changing manager all the time does nothing. I'm sure if we could turn the clock back we would of stuck with a Martinez or a Silva, just a bit longer to see if they managed to improve results…. Maybe not? Again… football is about opinions.

I think we have to stick with Frank, keep us in the league with a win against Brentford, then see what he can do in the summer with transfers etc. I'm happier with a young, hungry manager, Rafa was a disaster. But changing the manager again, surly that's not the right option. More back room staff, training methods, players, it's just two steps backwards one forward all the time with us. I for one am going to now allow Frank to have a go. Yes there will be games like Watford where we all become pundits and say ‘well I would of done this' ‘well I would of played him', however as someone previously posted…. Watford put 5 past us at Goodison, we are terrible away and that point could prove to be precious. I'm now fully behind Frank, I think he gets it, I doubt he wants to be playing 5 at the back and counter attacking football but he's been left with little choice, especially with a squad like ours.

COYB!! Come on Frank! Get a win on Sunday and I'm cracking my finest bottle of Moretti open, then another, then another.

It's going to be enough Christine. We're bringing the points home.

I hate the place but it was my Grandad's local in later life, so I'll go to the Arkles and stand there with a big smile on my face when we do.

I think Lampard played it safe, knowing we have 2 home games to come against teams in mid table with nothing to play for. If Leeds lose to Brighton and Burnley lose to Spurs (which I think they both will), we only need to win one of our last 3 games to stay up. It was smart not to lose the game in my view, with an eye on the bigger picture to come.

For Sunday I would go with the team that started against Watford as it appears all other available options are a risk at present. I base this on the manager's after match comments on Wednesday.

Once he secured the win over Leicester, Lampard may have identified Brentford as the priority game for rotation and freshening the team up He knew he could easily secure 4 points from the 2 away games with a draw against Watford, so why take a big risk? That team and formation should have still been able to nick all 3 points with a bit more of a clinical edge.

That may frustrate some of our fans, but for me it is the sensible move.

The last few games of each season are different, some teams think their on holiday already, Burnleys and Leeds opposition should be keen enough to finish the season on a high though.

I fancy the Crystal Palace game as our best chance of a win, but a couple of draws will probably be enough.

When we had quality in the past with James and an unnamed player, we could unlock those stubborn defences often.

Sadly, our lack of quality in midfield is telling.

I can guarantee you that Brentford will not “sit in”. They are an all-out attacking side who will not be fazed about coming to Goodison, plus they've nothing to play for.

I'm expecting us to win but I can assure you that Pickford and our back 4 will be busy.

The atmosphere needs to be at least what it was for the Chelsea game. Will be lively outside the ground I'm sure, especially if positive results are filtering in from elsewhere.

If that's the case, well Frank has to put Richarlison in place of Gray. Then go and buy two plus top-class wingers that fit Frank's formation. With this present squad and Frank's desired formation, we haven't got a cat-in-hell's chance of survival next season if we stay up.

Regarding those odds, I believe if we can even draw against Brentford and get a point, and Leeds lose this weekend, we're safe.

Not 100% mathematically, but the goal difference is so large there's no way they could make it up in a game. They would need to make up at least a 20 goal differential over three games. They'd need to win 10-0 and we'd need to lose our final two 5-0 (or any scenario to wipe out a 20 GD). That ain't happening.

So a draw / win for Everton coupled with a loss for Leeds and we're safe.

Conversely, if we lose this weekend and Leeds win, it's nervousness, angst, and heart attacks.

All this, "Brentford will be tough" is accurate, but a bit of perspective.

Brentford have lost 5 more games than they've won. It's not Justice League FC coming to Goodison on Sunday, for fuck's sake!

Brentford is a winnable home game. If we can't beat them at home in a relegation battle, then we deserve whatever comes.

Lyndon said on his second-to-last podcast (haven't heard the most recent one yet), that if he could fast-forward through time to the end of the season, he'd probably do it.

I would. This is agony! Just fast-forward to the end so we know how it panned out! 😉

I like your laws of the playground. Very scientific. So much so let's just tell Brentford that's the result, they can stay home!

Got a nice morning chuckle out of that one.

The dogs are resting ahead of the weekend. Bless them, they're going to need it.

Let's face it, these players are, almost to a man, utter tripe. We cannot rely upon them in any way whatsoever. The only way we bring home the bacon on Sunday is to recreate the atmosphere of Chelsea, and the crowd will roar them home.

I just hope the fanbase is capable of rising to those heights again; anything less than that and we are walking a tightrope. It's got to be done this weekend, we do not want to be needing points against Palace – and certainly not against Arsenal.

We are the rag-arsed kid nicking pop bottles and getting the 3d to get a couple of toffees off the penny tray.

You should know by now that we will be shafted for Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Pickford, especially if deep-pockets, short-arms Levy signs any of them.

I realise that with the situation we are in pragmatism is a virtue, but surely that applies to the likes of the poo, Chelsea and Leicester not Watford reserves for god's sake. My new acquaintances in the Watford seats nearly wet themselves laughing, first clean sheet at home this season, 11 previous home games all lost, I was reliably informed that 7 of their starters had only 12 games between them this season, yet we invite them to come on to us, absolutely shameful capitulation.

I was at Brentford, Palace and Spurs away games all of which were demoralisingly poor but Watford plumbed the depths, yet Frank (who I really like) and it seems a majority of loyal blues were quite happy with the 1 point when with just a tiny bit of ambition we could have taken all 3 and improved the goal difference.

Dreadful truly dreadful. Why do we put up with having the piss taken out of us time and time again?

Kenwright OUT.

Brentford was bad. Norwich a low point for me and by the end at Tottenham, I was passive due to the submissive state of shock I had been placed into.

I didn't get threatened with eviction at Wolves but got complained and pointed at.

Wednesday was a flat performance. We could have sealed it, didn't take the opportunity. But this is Everton so let's go for the drama and do it on Sunday! I'm genuinely not sleeping much right now.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Why we sat back and didn't take the game to Watford is just inexplicable.

I think Frank was looking at the math(s). A point on the road, 2 of the last 3 games at home, and we'll most likely only need 3 points to avoid the drop garnering the Watford point on the road.

The forgiving nature of the fans is pragmatism. Take the point, stay up, and just put this miserable season behind us!

But I'm with you and your assessment.

Brent and I had to step aside in the concourse at half-time to avoid getting caught up in a fracas that was developing as a few got thrown out. Brent stepped in and protected me!!!

We all have idiots. No club is immune.

But this lot believe they are. They airbrush history.

Don't start me, I want to enjoy the weekend when we secure top-flight football tomorrow.

I'm not just saying it, but in comparison to what I witnessed at a 0-0 relegation match on Wednesday, this is tame.

If this was Everton it would have gone nuclear already before we'd hit the stadium.

We live you, Everton, and it's not fake or for show. It's real.