Blues humbled in all-too-familiar fashion on final day

Everton reverted to type in the final match of a mostly tortuous Premier League campaign knowing they were safe from relegation, with a dreadful display that showed little resistance at Arsenal.

Michael Kenrick 22/05/2022 239comments  |  Jump to last
Arsenal 5 - 1 Everton

Everton reverted to type in the final match of a mostly tortuous Premier League campaign knowing they were safe from relegation, with a dreadful display that showed little resistance at Arsenal.

There was a first start for Dele Alli and Tom Davies returned following more than 6 months on the sidelines, as Frank Lampard makes six changes.

Asmir Begovic begins the game in goal and captains the team. Demarai Gray is in the starting XI. So are Jonjoe Kenny and Jarrad Branthwaite, who has completed his 1-game suspension. Rondon was suspended for 3 games and is still out.

Arsenal kicked off and won an early free-kick that was eventually crossed in over everyone. Dele Alli tried to relieve the early pressure but was blocked and Arsenal resumed their attack, winning the first corner.

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Everton were under all sorts of pressure, Keane making a vital block for another corner, cleared after a pinball session, Dele Alli getting roundly booed by the nasty Gooners.

A forward ball for Everton gave Calvert-Lewin something to chase but it was overhit. More Arsenal attacking play was repelled, Kenny getting in a good tackle. But the pressure was relentless, Martinelli getting off a lethal shot that Begovic did very well to bat away.

Everton finally got into the Arsenal end, winning a throw-in. Davies tried to play forward to Calvert-Lewin but it was easily cut out. But Calvert-Lewin brought down a long Begovic free-kick, but Everton could not retain possession. Doucouré gave away a free-kick that Branthwaite watched all the way and headed behind. The corner was cleared.

Nketiah was the next to shoot but way high over the Everton goal. From the restart, Everton tried to press forward in midfield Gray getting a shot in on Ramsdale when perhaps he should have chipped the arsenal keeper, who was way off his line. Gray's corner was delivered in well but Calvert-Lewin could not attack it properly.

Iwobi cleared the ball to Martinelli then blocked a shot with his upper arm, right on the tee-shirt line and the VAR eventually advised Marriner to take a look... finally giving the penalty a long time later. Martinelli converted.

Begovic then got pressed by Nketiah, giving up corner that Everton could not clear. Davies and Dele stupidly waited for a ball to role out behind and Arsenal forced the corner, Nketiah scoring from it, Everton defence all at sea.

A sweeping Arsenal attack saw them dance around Branthwaite and almost scored the third before Holgate poked it behind for another corner. The relentless pressure continued, forcing another corner. Frank Lampard decided to drag off Doucouré and bring on Donny van de Beek.

Everton immediately constructed a decent attack, Gray again firing over when he really should have got it on target at least. Arsenal attacked again Begovic pushing the ball off Nketiah's head.

Everton caused some trouble in the Arsenal area, Calvert-Lewin and Dele Alli messing it up before Gray failed to strike. Gray then went down a bit too easily and the VAR wasn't impressed. Arsenal gOt forward again and Saka then almost beat Branthwaite but shot wide. Xhaka then forced another save from Begovic.

Everton forced their way out and scored a nice simple goal through Van de Beek tapping home a nice cross from Calvert-Lewin.

Everton started the second half where they left off, almost forcing the ball past Ramsdale, Calvert-Lewin then winning a dangerous free-kick from which Gray tried to reprise Thursday's Calvert-Lewin goal, winning a corner that was cleared.

But the home side reasserted their superiority, putting in a threatening cross before too easily denying a counter by Gray, who should have laid the ball off earlier. Van de Beek and Dele Alli then showed they weren't really on the same wavelength.

Iwobi did well to stop an attack but Gray lost the ball too easily and Tavarz was in again, shooting high over the Everton goal. Branthwaite's attempt to clear was not good enough and Arsenal won another corner that Cedric hammered in from just inside the area, completely unmarked.

Xhaka skipped past Branthwaite and ran in on goal but Branthwaite recovered well enough to block at the expense of a corner which was horribly defended, allowing Gabriel to get through and poke a shot that Begovic pushed onto the post but it bounced back across the line for a 4th Arsenal goal.

Gordon replaced the hapless Dele Alli, who had done little to suggest that he had really turned some corner on Thursday night. Holgate needed to be sharp to dispossess Lacazette who had just replace Nketiah, at the expense of yet another corner.

Davies tried to advance with the ball and had to evade a tackle but was deemed to have dived: yellow card! Arsenal sliced through again, Lakonga getting in a good shot that Holgate did well to take the power out of, Begovic saving at the near post for yet another corner. This time, Begovic gathered.

Everton tried a rare venture forward but the final ball to Calvert-Lewin was overhit. Isaac Price was granted his senior debut in place of Tom Davies, as Arsenal kept surging forward through the bewildered Everton defenders.

Odegaard was next and he just skipped round Price and passed the ball through everyone into the far corner of Everton's battered goal. Target practice continued for Lacazette firing wide again.

Gray was fouled by Tavares for another free-kick, but it would not fall for Calvert-Lewin, who had not seen much of the ball. Everton fashioned another attack but Iwobi wanted too much time at the far post and was closed down.

Calvert-Lewin got a good ball across to Price but the poor lad had no idea how to control the ball at the far post. The game and Everton's atrocious season was finally brought to an end in fitting fashion, a 5-goal humbling at Arsenal.

Kick-off: 4pm, Sunday 22 May 2022

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Soares, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares, Elneny, Xhaka (63' Lokonga), Saka (78' Pépé), Odegaard, Martinelli, Nketiah (66' Lacazette).
Subs not Used: Leno, White, Smith Rowe, Oulad M'hand, Swanson, Patino.

Everton: Begovic, Iwobi, Holgate, Keane, Branthwaite, Kenny, Davies [Y:69'] (78' Price), Doucoure (37' Van de Beek), Gray, Dele Alli (68' Gordon), Calvert-Lewin.
Subs not Used: Lonergan, Mykolenko, Tosun, Coleman, Dobbin, Welch.

Referee: Andre Marriner

VAR:Lee Mason

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Reader Comments (239)

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Neil Lawson
1 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:09:02
No Pickford ? Tottenham bound ? Or a day on Formby beach with the missus ? To be fair, he has earned it.
Michael Lynch
2 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:14:35
That's a pretty mad line-up. Looks like Frank just threw all the names in the air and saw how they landed.

Begovic named as captain - why? I'd have given the armband to Kenny, because he'll probably be gone in the summer.

Kieran Kinsella
3 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:16:14
Guess he hates Tottenham. Notice Gomes has been banished. Hopefully the last we will see if him
Peter Carpenter
4 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:17:23
I wonder what Frank Lampard can do for Tom Davies? An Iwobi-like renaissance maybe?
Tony Everan
5 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:18:55
What’s the formation? Any guesses

Begovic
Holgate Keane Branthwaite
Iwobi Davies Dele Doucoure Kenny
DCL Gray

Tony Hill
6 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:21:06
I think it might be quite effective. Great to see Tom back and I'm glad to see Alli starting. Anyway, let's just enjoy.
Mark Ryan
7 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:23:05
As a young Evertonian, it would be great to see Tom develop under Frank and to have a bright future with us
Tony Hill
8 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:23:38
I think he'll play Kenny behind Iwobi with Gray on the left and Dele just behind DCL.
Sam Fitzsimmons
9 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:23:46
Branthwaite is in but is he not suspended for three games and is this not the third game?
Alan J Thompson
10 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:24:34
I thought a red card meant an automatic 3 game ban? Looks like some might be playing to convince Frank that they have an Everton future, or maybe they just hold their celebratory drinks a little better.
Graham Mockford
11 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:25:24
Sam

Suspended for one game, wasn’t violent conduct hence he missed Thursday

Paul Jones
12 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:25:26
Hi Sam

I was confused about this once before. I think the 3 game ban is for violent conduct. So just the one this time.

Kieran Kinsella
13 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:26:26
Sam

He has one game ban versus 3 for dangerous play Rondon got

Kieran Kinsella
14 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:28:01
Guess Delph could glue himself together for his farewell appearance
Sam Fitzsimmons
15 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:29:39
Phew! Was beginning to catastrophise that we would be deducted points for playing an ineligible player.
Mike Gaynes
16 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:33:27
It'll mean a lot to Davies to make it back into the lineup before the season ran out. Good on him.
Ajay Gopal
17 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:36:09
Close to my pre match prediction, except Begovic, Branthwaite and Davies for Pickford, Mykolenko and Allan.
Looks like Frank is going back to his favoured 3-4-3.

Begovic
Holgate Keane Branthwaite
Kenny Doucoure Davies Iwobi
Gray Calvert-Lewin Alli

Hopefully the team is competitive today and play for a 1st win in many years at Arsenal.

Allen Rodgers
18 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:42:39
Ajay @17 we won at Arsenal last season.
Kieran Kinsella
19 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:44:51
Can’t see Tosun busting his arse for fear of injury as he’s out of contract so hopefully Dobbin will come on if needed. Assume Allan isn’t fit and Frank has given up on DVDB
Will Mabon
20 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:46:05
Bang goes the (my) theory that Dele might not play due to the game count. Of course this wouldn't matter if he left after today.

Will be interesting to see how we look without Richy. Also how Brainthwaite settles after last time. A good idea to play him a soon as opportune. Davies unlikely to last the game, plenty of changes likely, and why not.

Danny Baily
21 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:49:11
Ajay, didn't we win at the Emirates last season?
Tom Bowers
22 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:52:55
As expected a mish-mash line-up in a nothing game for Everton. Spurs will be looking for an easy win at Norwich.

Tosun finally get's named albeit on the bench but will he be kept around for next season ?

John Graham
23 Posted 22/05/2022 at 15:53:58
Early end of season for Pickford and Richarlison, both deserve it.
Team and bench show how poor the squad is. Hopefully a few young players will come into the squad next season and also try to get a few young ones in from Chelsea etc with the promise of first team opportunities.
COYB
Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
24 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:10:28
Tosun is finally out of contract - so unless we give him a new one, perhaps at £150,000 per week?, he will be gone.

Also playing their last games for the club unless something changes in the next 39 days
Jonjoe Kenny
Fabian Delph
Some guy who has been missing all season but we are not allowed to name
Donny van de Beek (loan finished)
Anwar El Ghazi (loan finished)

And Lewis Gibson

I think Lewis Warrington and Lewis Dobbin both have new contracts but ToffeeWeb not updated.

Joe McMahon
25 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:39:04
Yup, certainly the worst Everton team in the PL era, and shockingly the most expensive. I assume Bill's "Good Times" have been the 4 relegation escapes.

To make matters even worse Liverpool currently on the PL title.

Robert Tressell
26 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:40:17
Nothing against the formation as such, but I absolutely can't stand watching us play 3 or 5 at the back. I hope Lampard gives up on that for next season.
Gary Jones
27 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:41:16
At 2-0 down already, this could be a cricket score…..I’m just so grateful we aren’t watching other games and hoping they save us.

The shape today worries me. Seems to be Franks preferred formation to have 5 at the back. If we’re going to go into next season playing it, we probably need another 4-5 players to do so.

Arsenal currently at 83% possession, which is utterly indicative of the gulf between us. Arteta clearly has his teams comfortable on the ball. Big question really is what’s Franks identity?

Alan J Thompson
28 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:56:39
Well what can you say, it just feels too much of an anti-climax. We seemed to be having a go at Rope-A-Dope and it nearly came off with Gray's 20th minute chance but I don't recall us stringing two consecutive passes together in the first 30 minutes. To me the only player worth mentioning is JJ Kenny who is doing well.

As for the penalty, how can it be a clear and obvious error if it takes that long to sort out. Perhaps we need to do something about those sleeves as ours must be different. This VAR certainly needs sorting out as at the moment there seems to be so little consistency. Sort it or drop it!

Anyway, first almost decent move and 2-1, Rope-A-Dope might be working.

Tony Hill
29 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:59:31
Another clever pass from Iwobi.
Dave Abrahams
30 Posted 22/05/2022 at 16:59:39
It’s 2-1, the Dutchman has scored for the Blues.
Dave Abrahams
31 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:03:07
Phil (24), I think Jonjoe Kenny will be here next season if he wants to stay or he might be financially better off if he moves on.
Matthew Johnson
32 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:10:33
No Pickford or Richarlison even on the bench...

Confirmation that both will be at different clubs come the start of next season??

John Graham
33 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:27:00
Yes, five at the back is a terrible formation because, even if they play as wingbacks they are still defensive players.

Much prefer a 4-3-3 as it gives lots more attacking options.

Tony Hill
34 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:28:48
I don't care that we're safe, this sort of pathetic performance is still a disgrace and it needs stamping out: our established instinct for defeat except when the position is critical. I think it is shaming and a betrayal of our travelling support, even in the last game of the season.

I'm sorry if this seems over the top but it really pisses me off that we collapse so predictably. Every single game – every one – should be a matter of dedication and commitment to the last. Without that, we'll continue to flop.

Tony Twist
35 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:31:15
Pathetic... but what did we honestly expect? Personal pride from the players, nah, flip-flops on. Embarrassing.

Major changes required, no let-off due to staying up by the skin of our teeth.

Simon Dalzell
36 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:56:16
City do an Everton. Thank goodness.
Alan J Thompson
37 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:58:19
Interested Team 5 Not Interested Team 1.

What is there to say, they were organized and moved the ball around and we looked like eleven strangers. The third goal nobody marked the man on the edge of the box and there was only the one and then again for the fourth. We rarely do well away to them and we've done it again.

At least we now get to start all over again.

Sean Roe
38 Posted 22/05/2022 at 17:59:35
Not a suprise when we celebrate failure like we've won the league. Now to replace 95% of the squad.
Don Alexander
39 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:01:40
Kenwright alone will take pride in it not being 7-1 again - another of his "good times".
Tony Twist
40 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:02:42
This club... Christ, let's hope they have a better defence for their financial dealings than the team that was on the pitch. The whole ethos of the club stinks. Not a proud day to be a Blue.
John Graham
41 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:03:07
More like Talented Team 5, Bunch of Championship Players 1.

Many of the players are just not up to the level required in the Premier League.

Hopefully quite a few will leave and enable us to get better players in.

Minik Hansen
42 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:03:11
We survived. Let us all remember that, my fellow blues. Big task from Lampard & Co in the next coming months.

All godspeed to Everton FC, let them get things right. Enjoy your summer blues! COYB. Looking forward to August. All the best from Greenland.

Robert Tressell
43 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:04:01
Crap scoreline today for us, but a good week of results. We stayed up and Liverpool didn't win the title. It could so easily have been a whole lot worse.

Enjoy it.

Tony Abrahams
44 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:04:37
For the first time in my life, I turned over to watch Leeds. The good times have got to stop now, Bill, Everton have got to get into the real world… please god.
Tony Hill
45 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:05:22
What a mountain we have to climb, even to be moderately competitive. Thursday was fabulous but we really are appalling. Emotion may take us so far but it's nowhere near where we should be.

The season taken as a whole has been absolutely dreadful. If we sit here patting ourselves on the back because we scraped survival and because we can make a lot of noise at Goodison then we will be relegated next time round.

Awful. I know this is miserable, but we (me very much included) spend a lot of time congratulating ourselves for fuck all.

Anthony Murphy
46 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:11:01
I think today's result will help bring everyone back down to earth and realise how much work needs to be done, as well as changes at the top.
Barry Hesketh
47 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:15:36
Anthony @47,

I think that's a really good point well made. As it happens, the way the scores went today, we would have stayed up without beating Palace, but I don't think I could have handled that had it been that way.

Time for Frank to start his hard work now, shift out those that he doesn't rate, try and not lose too many of the more important players and most importantly try and find some decent bargain players with a 'can do' attitude.

It's going to be a busy summer at Goodison Park and, as was noted earlier today, it most certainly could have been a hell of a lot worse.

Mark Andrews
48 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:16:14
I watched the last half hour of the citeh game as we were getting beaten like a ginger stepchild.

There's so much work to do with this dreadful squad. Tom Davies must go as should so many others.

Dreadful season.

Dave Abrahams
49 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:18:30
Tony (45), when I saw the team I never even attempted to watch them, so got my nerves torn to shreds by another team Man. City until they finally woke up and beat Villa 3-2 coming back from the dead.

We came back from the dead on Thursday then had a relapse today and died again.

As your mother said, and she’s not interested in football, “ Aren’t they bothered about the supporters going all that way” thinking of Sonny and Alfie travelling to watch a team DO WHAT?

Disgrace of a selection and it didn’t look like those players were really bothered about the fans either.

Tony Abrahams
50 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:20:04
It’s desperation Tony, we are absolutely desperate on the pitch, and because that term has got two meanings, a few decent performances send way to many fans overboard. A perfect example would be to ask, how after one good performance, how many people were trying to find a way to sign Donny Van De Beek?

Talent will only get you so far, but if Lampard is not stupid, the main way he’s going to really tap into the Everton crowd, is by giving us a team full of energy.

Will Mabon
51 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:22:09
A huge relief that we're still here, but the reversion to type today took some of the shine off Thursday. Big team changes I know, but it had that same pervading flatness that's haunted the team all season. So much work to be done on the heart of the team.
Matthew Williams
52 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:22:26
Firstly, sack our totally useless fucking board. Secondly, gut our squad.

Unless the above is achieved, then nothing will change.

Thank fuck this season is done... a total shambles from start to finish — only the fans can hold their heads high!

Tom Harvey
53 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:23:12
We absolutely cannot let the club or players off because they stayed up, we should not be down there in the first place.

I'll take two weeks off and when I read the news about our club next I want see the sackings and replacements started, hopeful Mr Bean will sell the club to someone who knows what he's doing, then the new owner can gut the club and start again.

Kieran Byrne
54 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:23:13
At last, this wretched season is over.

Top 10 things... the only good things are that:

1) Against all odds, we stayed up.
2) We've got shit contracts expiring.
3) There has to be changes at board level.
4) Maybe we have a management team in place?
5) The fantastic support!! Brings a tear to the eye, a lump in your throat, a pang in your heart at what it means to be part of the chosen few...
6) Man City won the Premier League.
7) We will get younger, quicker and faster.
8) Anthony Gordon became a Premier League footballer.
9) Pickford and Richarlison played their socks off, especially the last 6 weeks.
10) Rebuild, reload, give these beautiful fans the team they deserve; no more dodgy deals with shite agents, no more of Kenwright's fat gob on tele, no more of our dodgy accountant-owner running afoul of FFP.

Have a great summer, Blues!!

Will Mabon
55 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:25:59
"Reversion to type" - snap, Michael.
Kieran Kinsella
56 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:27:00
Dave

Good news is that it’ll be harder for Kenwright to offer new deals to Kenny Davies Delph now. No doubt he will welcome Gbamin back as like a new signing.

Derek Taylor
57 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:30:14
We will never forget Thursday night but this squad is rancid. Moshiri has created a 'money for nothing' reputation for our club and unless things change dramatically, next season will be a repeat of this one.

I wish Lampard well but in no way envy him- even the king's ransome he is paid to save relegation. THIS season.


Bill Gienapp
58 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:30:32
We were out to lunch today, but it's hardly a surprise that the players were emotionally spent. Grinding out at least a draw to get to 40 points and jump Southampton for 15th would have been a nice way to close out the season, but oh well.

Much work to be done this offseason, but we already knew that.

Also really glad to see Burnley relegated. A club that's as dull as dishwater.

Michael Lynch
59 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:33:04
Turned it off and watched city on the last half hour. Fantastic stuff.

But we need to get rid of half of this squad. Nowhere near good enough and if we don’t make massive changes we will go down next season. We got lucky in the end, although I’ll never forget that magical night on Thursday.

I just hope Frank doesn’t let sentimentality about this group of players cloud his judgement. I wouldn’t be unhappy if they all went bar DCL, Richie and Pickford.

Bill Gall
60 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:34:52
Well we all understand how crap we have been this season. The problem we are now going to have is (A) trying to hold on to our better players. (B) Sell off the deadwood. (C) try to find someone to buy the deadwood without loosing to much money. And last of all (D) FFP.

The Manager may have different ideas than the supporters and the director of football may not be able to get the type of player he wants but I think aiming for a top 10 finish next season will be a good start.

Today's game illustrated how really poor we are to play in the premiership, especially when we use back up players. Hopefully we may have some good young players coming up to help in rebuilding a good squad. It is going to take time and patience, and some of us at our age may have patience but not time. So all we want is a team that we know is going to represent Everton F.C, with skill and passion in the badge, and not having to hide behind the sofa and end up putting vitriolic comments on ToffeeWeb every week.

Here is to next season and maybe I will get down to the States
pre-season

Gary Jones
61 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:35:24
Maybe the 2 x 3-2 results are at least a sign the gypsy curse is due to be paid at Mordor? Gotta hope, but for the rest of the season, Carlo Fanstastico, all is forgiven kiddo.

Tempted to go off on a downer about all the vast amount of surgery that’s needed on this awful squad, but I’d just be preaching to the converted. It’s clear as day.

For now, I’m just thanking every super natural force in the world that we went in to today clear. Watching the Burnley score knowing 1 goal would have ended it all, would have been simply too much.

We are very lucky. If we don’t change, Luck will run out.

Bill Gienapp
62 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:35:40
Also, I'm assuming the British media will have another hand-wringing meltdown over the Manchester City fans invading the pitch at the end to celebrate.

No...? No...? Bueller...? Bueller...?

Raymond Fox
63 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:35:44
I suppose we expected to get beat, but I thought it would be closer.

Now, what happens next season heaven knows.
Our best players will probably want to leave if they get better offers, wouldn't you after this season!
Will Moshiri throw more fresh money at the club, even if he's allowed to? I suppose we will have money off any player sales we make, but selling your best players is likely to weaken us still more.
I think the chances are we are in for another almighty struggle again.

Jack Convery
64 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:37:43
Frank illustrating how bad the back up players are too. Thelwell has a task and a half on his hands as we need a complete new defence and centre midfield. If Richy and DCL leave we'll need forwards who can score plenty of goals. The work starts now, if it hasn't already, which it should have been.
Dave Williams
65 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:37:45
Bill # 58 spot on! There was no way the players or even the manager could get up for that after what happened on Thursday. It was always going to be such an anti climax.
That said we showed again why we have been in so much trouble and at least it will remind Frank that he has much work to do and that he can’t get carried away by a few good individual performances on Thursday.
Graeme Beresford
66 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:39:08
This is why I would of played a team of kids today. I think Arsenal would of always beaten us today. But we should of started Dobbin,
Welsh, etc etc etc

Was a pointless game and we should of given the kids a run out. At least we could of said ‘we only played the kids’. Now we just look dumb being being 5-1 with an almost full strength team out.

Andy Crooks
67 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:40:12
Travelling supporters betrayed by coach
and players. Everton, that.
Will Mabon
68 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:42:12
Bill @ 62, when the "Darlings" do it, it makes it a little difficult for the media and authorities to flex so hard. There'll probably be some "Consultation" or the threat of it over the summer, and then it will just fade away.
Bill Gall
69 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:43:45
Not the first time Andy
Peter Neilson
70 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:43:57
Back to reality but maybe a worthwhile reminder after the euphoria of Thursday that we’re at the wrong end of the table for a reason. Interesting summer ahead hopefully Frank and Kevin Thelwell are allowed to work without interference. Best of luck to them.
Joe McMahon
71 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:44:19
Bill, they don't have the finances at Burnley, and since Dyche went they improved by playing a higher line.
Brent Stephens
72 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:46:50
I thought the Price substitution was interesting. Now seen as ahead of Dobbin in the pecking order? I know they play different positions but Dobbin seemed to stand still this season while Price has developed further. His contract expires in a year - a lever to get him to re-sign?
Tony Everan
73 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:49:33
Today was a nothing match, it’s all about the rebuild that Frank needs to do this summer.

With a good few players out of contract and others maybe moving on it’s going to be a crucial summer for us signing the right players. It’s an opportunity to build a team in Frank’s name, playing with an identity we can be proud of, the great support needed is already there.

Hope springs eternal.

Kieran Kinsella
74 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:56:43
Gerard claiming Roben. Olsen attacked and telling press to ask Guardiola what happened …. Let’s ask Dalglish to explain himself over Heysel while we are at it
Jerome Shields
75 Posted 22/05/2022 at 18:58:29
Maybe a few cared along with Frank, the rest could not be arsed. Just shows the mentality. Job do in the second half of the previous game no effort on them once they where going to have to work.
Tony Abrahams
76 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:00:03
I would still need to watch him more to be sure Brent, but Price might be the type of player who will improve massively just by playing with better players. He works hard, he doesn’t dwell on the ball, preferring to just keep it moving, and he’s full of energy, which means he rarely stands still, so he might just be the one who ends up pushing through quicker?
Jason Hewly
77 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:01:37
It's been a terrible season, but we shouldn't go overboard. There are only 3 things I'd change on the playing side, the defence, the midfield, and the attack.
Brent Stephens
78 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:02:04
Tony, come and watch him a bit more at Southport. "Get down to Haigh Avenue..." as the song might go. I'll buy you a beer.
Jack Convery
79 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:03:37
Just a reminder. There are 3 domestic trophies. The FA Cup, The League Cup and the real one - The Premiership. Just in case the RS forget.
Kunal Desai
80 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:13:10
I half-expected that result after Thursday night, together with that line-up.

Now the season is over, Question 1 now is: Are Evertonians going to congregate in masses and protest to get rid of this board?

The fans have influenced the club in appointing Lampard and then played a huge part in preserving our Premier League status. Surely now it's long long overdue for the likes of Kennwright et al to be moved on from this club in order to start seeing some tangible progress in the next couple of seasons.

I really hope we don't let up and allow this board to dictate because enough really is enough now.

They have had a free ride for far too long.

Ian Bennett
81 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:29:51
The rebuilding starts tomorrow.
John Keating
82 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:37:36
We've seen a number of mid table teams break this fallacy about switching off towards the end of the season and go on holiday.

Two who definitely are in this group are Brentford and Palace as we saw for ourselves the previous two games.

By all accounts Palace, Brentford, Newcastle, Villa, Brighton, Leicester and Wolves all gave it a good go today

It's just a shame that our lot didn't or couldn't make even a half-hearted attempt in front of our magnificent away fans.

I appreciate we managed to get out of trouble on Thursday but was just a last 90 minutes of effort possible?

Pathetic

Barry Jones
83 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:39:19
We were dire today. The board should do everything in their power to lure Mauricio Pochettino to Everton on a long term project to rebuild. As much as I like Frank, we need to get serious and it starts with a good coach/manager.
Christopher Timmins
84 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:40:16
Thank God the season is over, we need a revolution over the next two months. I expect that close to 8 will leave and 4 or 5 to come in.

Danny, keep walking the dogs over the summer and hopefully you will be your positive self come early August. You kept me going when things looked bad in recent weeks.

Eddie Dunn
85 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:41:07
The euphoria of surviving on Thursday has been followed by a predictable capitulation.

Our manager enjoyed cuddling the Chairman and the CEO and anyone else near him.

Without Mina, Richarlison, Pickford, Allan, Delph, and Coleman, this shows how thin our squad is.

To lose 5-1 is a disgrace. The thanks the away supporters get for yet more expense and more time on the road is a half-hearted performance that illustrates just how poor our players are. How little they care, and how weak they are. Add to this a lack of talent and we can see why we are in our current position.

Lampard was very relieved that we escaped the drop. His CV remains unsullied. However, he has managed to set his teams up in an unbalanced way, with square pegs in round holes all too often.

His tactics have been equally ill-conceived with his five at the back ensuring midfield dominance to any opposition.mI have no faith in him and his team getting us anywhere near mid-table.

He smiled at Arteta after the whistle. His team had just escaped the drop and been hammered 5-1. He should have been purple with rage and he should offer to reimburse the costs of the travelling thousands.

He seems a lovely guy – he loves Delph, and Seamus is the best man in the world. I am sure Seamus is very nice; perhaps Seamus is the guy who dragged the guys over the line on Thursday?
Get Bielsa - now!

Christy Ring
86 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:48:45
I wasn’t expecting anything from today because they were spent from the massive comeback on Thursday night that defined there season and to be honest there heads and hearts were probably switched off, so I wouldn’t be over critical. A big summer ahead, thankfully 4/5 on their way, and big wages off the books.
Danny O’Neill
87 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:52:05
Bielsa who was taking Leeds down, Eddie? Not for me.

Most managers exchange a handshake at the end most of the time, unless they're playing to the cameras. And they all know and respect each other as well. It's sportsmanship. I'm not sure what being angry at Arteta would have achieved. It's our players that sentiment needs directing at.

I'm sure after the euphoria of Thursday, a few frank words were had in the changing room. That's where it belongs. Like any walk of life, you get praised when you do well, you get a rocket when you don't.

We're over the line. We can reset. That's what this season uncomfortably became being about.

Sam Hoare
88 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:55:09
A relatively meaningless game with a squad who probably celebrated a bit on Thursday. Nonetheless, not a result that fills us with optimism for next season.

A lot of mediocre players and, dare I say, a manager who has not yet proved (to my eyes at least) that he knows how to find points without the crowd dragging the team over the line.

There will be much change presumably this summer though you'd expect Lampard to still be in charge, he has united the crowd through our relegation battle but is that enough? Interesting summer ahead.

Eddie Dunn
89 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:55:35
Danny,

Leeds had nightmare injuries, much worse than us.

Jeff Armstrong
90 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:55:49
Eddie 85,

I tend to agree with a lot of your comments and see our games similarly to you. And again I agree about Lampard cozying up to Kenwright is not a good look. His recent picking of Gomes, and Kenny at left-back today instead of his more natural right-back position.

Iwobi was excellent on Thursday second half when played in the middle. What did Lampard do today? Put him at right wingback!

Lampard worries me, to be honest… he seems to forget some players' terrible performances and gives them far too many chances to fail again.

Jerome Shields
91 Posted 22/05/2022 at 19:59:49
Kunal #80,

The problem is that the Board is controlled by someone who mitigated the effect of sanctions and convinced the Premier League that £170 million of loses where due to Covid. This is the reason he was let stay after the take over, in case of scrutiny by the authorities. His actions will make the letter from Leeds and Burnley a damp squid.

Of course he sold to parties that had potential baggage and he headed the mismanagement that squandered millions. But that is not how the owner will look at it.

He was left to run the club and made sure that loyalists were placed in most of the strategic positions in the club. The manager selection and his team are the only area he does not have control, though loyalists are able to hold their positions as managers come and go. Recently, he has attempted to control fan protests by the setting up the ESSG to advise the Board, initially on fan representation, but which has materlised as a Fan Advisory Board to advise the main Board, with no fan representation.

So the whole lot is a shit show from top to bottom and solutions like "Sack the Board", "Get rid of Kenwright", or get rid of anything else are not going to be that easy and frankly will never happen.

The best analogy is a spider's web, where any attempt at change will be clogged up in immobility. The only chance is that Everton have a young Manager who may get backing to change the squad and be able to develop the football side to get a consistent and competent team. He may also outlive certain protagonists over time. It might be that is better than nothing.

The only other change is that Bramley-Moore Dock will be completed on udget and adequately financed; I have confidence it will be. There is alot of money out there looking for a home and the above incompetent parties will be having nothing to do with it.

The combination of both may result in some change, which may eventually lead to substantial change. Though I now feel that will be in the era of the next owner or offshore entity.

Clive Rogers
92 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:01:20
There won't be any new cash in the summer. Moshiri's wealth is down to £1.7billion in the just published Sunday Times rich list from £2.9B a year ago. He has gone through £1.2B and has run out cash.

He wants to sell the club. Money for players will have to come from selling our best players, reducing the wage bill at the same time.

Gary Jones
93 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:04:27
Yep, can't help myself. Entire midfield needed, especially on defensive side. Massive summer ahead. New DoF needs to be a miracle worker.

Keep
- Begovic
- Pickford
- Coleman (sub/squad)
- Holgate
- Godfrey
- Keane
- Nkounkou
- Mykolenko
- Patterson
- Simms
- Iwobi
- Gordon
- Gray
- Dele Alli
- Richarlison
- Calvert-Lewin

Loan Out:
- Tyrer
- Branthwaite
- Welch
- Dobbin
- Onyango
- Price
- Whitaker

Let Go or Sell:
- Mina (sadly)
- Kenny
- Allan
- Gomes
- Davies
- Delph
- 32 year old Icelander
- Doucouré
- Tosun
- Rondon

Eddie Dunn
94 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:05:38
Lampard is keen in his pressers to recall his own experience of important games coming in quick succession. Does anyone think Mourinho, Klopp, Guardiola, would tell their lads that "never mind son, you had a tough game on Thursday – we are all a bit shot after all that"?

Answer is No, if you want to be the best, you go out and compete, you never give up. Lampard said we were going out to give it a go, on behalf of Spurs. Imagine if Spurs had slipped-up!

A joke selection, a joke performance. Pathetic. I think Frank is a sentimental old pussy. I think he needs Jodie to hold his hand.

That scene with Seamus in the dressing room was just embarrassing. He has been sitting on Bill's knee sipping too much Claret.

Danny O’Neill
95 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:06:17
Let's be clear, I was on the fence with Lampard when appointed. I still am to a degree and do understand with the points. But changing yet again would concern me. Stability and reset for me. I'd give him time.

I'll comment more on Everton's performance today in the morning. But a non-Everton observation if I may? When Arsenal play the way they can, they are pretty impressive. A victim of their own inconsistency, when they fire on all cylinders, they move the ball slickly and quickly, with plenty of constant movement. Very difficult to defend against when you have players of the standard we have. The first 15 minutes, we were chasing shadows.

Sorry, I've always watched the football as I see it.

Grant Rorrison
96 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:07:50
5-1. Jesus Christ. Should have stayed at work. Let's hope we make some tangible progress in the next 12 months. Another season like this one and I am done.
Robert Tressell
97 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:12:58
Gary #93.

The DoF only needs to be a miracle worker if you expect us to challenge for the Top 6 next season. Because, short of a miracle, that will take around £200M. It's all academic though because it will not happen.

What our DoF needs to do is to deliver a programme of change over about 3 to 5 years that restores us in the upper echelons of the Premier League and competing for trophies.

There's no short cut. But, if done right, we could have a very good side for the early BMD years when the RS will be rebuilding after Mane, Salah and others. It's worth being patient.

Jerome Shields
98 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:22:45
Baines will get moved up and Seamus will fill his position. Pre-empting announcement by the Chief Executive Officer, with PR undertones, playing on fan empathy.

By the way, during the relegation dogfight, another Academy recruit with Everton DNA has taken place.

Christopher Timmins
99 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:24:13
Gary,

I underestimated the outs at 8 in my earlier post; however, you might find it difficult to move some of those named on your list, who would buy Gomes for example? All who are out of contract must go!

Joe McMahon
100 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:25:20
Gary@93, I agree but Seamus (good servant Blah Blah etc) has to go. He has been responsible for too many goals in our horrible goal difference. He is no longer a Premier League player.

Unfortunately, as much as we would all like Richarlison next season, he will be off. EFC has to do something about the debt and he will want to play for trophies in the Champions League.

Chris Leyland
101 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:28:29
We have a poor and unbalanced squad and you can see the difference not having Richarlison playing makes but we are spent after Thursday night and I expected a beating today.

But, let's not forget that, just 3 weeks ago, we were 5 points adrift of safety and looking dead and buried and yet we've ended up 4 points clear of 3rd bottom.

There's going to need to be a massive rebuke but it's going to take time and we as fans will need to have plenty of patience.

John McFarlane Snr
102 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:28:38
Hi Eddie [85], I am drawing a veil over the season with the exception of Thursday evening. We all know that the squad needs strengthening, but that's something that needs to be addressed in the coming months.

I think that you are a bit caustic in your description of players and manager, I believe that the players proved their commitment to the cause on Thursday, and if, in the long run they're not good enough, it's not their fault.

Frank Lampard is still settling into his job, and you're saying "Get Bielsa now". I'm sure that Lampard is aware of the positions that need strengthening. I am prepared to give him time to do so. Meanwhile, I will bask in the memory of last Thursday.

Barry Hesketh
103 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:32:22
Frank may not be able to take us to the promised land and he does have his faults, but he's been here during a very highly pressurised 3 months, achieved the job he was hired to do, and has done it in a way that is far more in the Everton Way than the likes of Allardyce would have done it.

Lampard has earned the right to begin next season as the manager at Goodison Park and the fans should support him as much as they can, because the realistic alternatives to Frank are the likes of Dyche et al and not the likes of Pochettino et al.

If as seems likely, Everton lose the three or four quality players that they possess during the summer, anybody believing that the club can make a run for Europe are deluding themselves as the main aim once again next season will be to get to 40 points as early in the season as is possible.

Frank or any other manager of Everton will be tested to the limit next season, but fans having totally unrealistic ambitions won't help whoever is the boss. I want Everton FC to do well, I want us to be winners, but I've resigned myself to the notion that next season could be just as fraught as this one. At least we start in the Premier League, when it could so easily have been in the Championship.

I might be accused of being defeatist, but I believe the current financial situation and the strength (or more like the lack of strength) of the squad tells its own story and we'll need the fans behind the players all through next season, and not just when the chips are down.


Ian Riley
105 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:42:08
Next season, we start on 0 points – like every other club. Changes to the squad must happen and, whoever the manager is, we must improve.

This season has been exhausting but we survived. Hopefully better days are ahead.

Have a good summer, all.

Anthony Murphy
106 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:42:19
The much-needed squad overall may take several windows so patience is needed. We will (unfortunately) need to keep some of the peripheral operators for now – we haven't the cash for a quick rebuild and will therefore need to accept a phased approach. We need some experienced pros in the mix as well as young talent.
Kevin Molloy
107 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:47:02
I got a feeling there will be one or two truth bombs dropped in the next few days, now that the dust is settling. 'Bramley-Moore Dock? Money for transfers? Fucking forget it!'

I reckon Moshiri is already more than half-way through selling the club, and the big condition precedent has just been satisfied. It's not like it was ever his money he was spending, and now that Big Daddy has other fish to fry (like staying alive), I think reality is about to hit again, so brace for another smack to the face with a dead fish.

Of course, we won't find out about it til it's all done and dusted. I just hope it's not to the shysters that bought Burnley.

Gary Jones
108 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:49:45
Robert # 97, certainly don't expect us to finish Top 6 next season. I'd settle for 40 points by January it February and somewhere in 8th-12th.

Agree entirely that longer-term planning is the way forward, but we've still got to act on that midfield this summer. Maybe raise enough to go find another “Bissouma” somehow (cost £15M to Brighton), hope Chelsea and/or Carlo fancy giving us a couple of decent kids on loan (Gallagher would be nice), and see if we can replace experience of Delph and Allan with someone on the cheap (Gana swansong maybe).

Controversial like, but I'd take Barkley back at this stage if they'd let him go for a nominal fee.

Unearthing the next Cahill, Arteta and Pienaar would be nice…..but that kind of astuteness died when the Ginger One left. Again, got to hope the DoF has another Neves in that little black book at least.

Andy Walker
109 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:50:20
Ian #105, I’ll be more than happy if we start on 0 points next season.
Bernie Quinn
110 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:50:26
Gary @93 has got it right.

I think Frank was showing today just how difficult it was to pick a competitive team. I'm sure he is already rolling up his sleeves and looking for new players who will be good and who will want to play for Everton.

Gary Jones
111 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:53:25
Christopher # 99 - If we could get a loan for him where we pick up as little of his wage as possible that'd still be a win after that first half against CP. He nearly single-handedly sunk us.
Jamie Crowley
112 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:54:39
I agree with Christy Ring @86 completely.

Herculean effort Thursday, short rest in a nothing game with a ton of changes to the lineup, including some player's first game back from injury, and nothing to play for. There's no free pass in life but, in an honest moment, this might come as close as you can get, for me at any rate.

Next season I see three leagues within one Premier League:

Top flight: Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Man Utd

Second Tier: West Ham, Leicester, Brentford, Wolves, Brighton, Palace, Aston Villa, Newcastle

Third Tier: Everton, Southampton, Leeds, Fulham, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest (I think they'll win; otherwise, Huddersfield).

We have to rebuild, and it will be gradual due to finances. The question is: Can Frank take us from that bottom tier to the Second Tier next season? If he does that and improves the play, I'll be okay with that.

It's going to take 2-3 seasons to return to Top 7 footy.

Patience will be a virtue now more than ever. The very last thing we need is yet more disruption with a manager and a lack of continuity with staff and players.

Tom Harvey
113 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:58:18
I expected Arsenal to be more willing today and they were after letting their fans down with Champions League qualification.

Our players were playing with the attitude that they've just won the Premier League in the previous game and had the Champions League Final to play next Saturday: "The fans will understand if we take our foot off the gas a bit".

They've already sunk back into the attitude that got the club into the mess it has been this season. Those travelling fans deserved so much better.

Gary Jones
114 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:59:33
Joe # 100 - I agree on Seamus, but he's got a year left and nobody's going to buy or take him. I've got high hopes for Patterson next season so (injury permitting) Coleman would only be cups and off the bench at most.

If there was an opportunity to do something more at right-back, we defo should. (Another young Scottish kid for 25% of Patterson fee?)

I do fear we will have to cash in on one of Calvert-Lewin, Pickford, or Richarlison in the summer, but we should only let any of them go if it's a monster bid and enough to really revamp for next season.

Philip Bunting
115 Posted 22/05/2022 at 20:59:37
Hope Frank has been watching Bassie and Kent at Rangers, two players who don't hide, and if he could get Gallagher from Chelsea, I'd be made up.
Roger Helm
116 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:00:42
More or less agree with Gary @95, though I can't see all of Pickford, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin staying.

For recruitment, we need a Moneyball approach, players aged 20-25 who are likely to appreciate in value. Don't know who, I'm not a DoF, but Moyes managed it okay.

Jamie Crowley
117 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:02:31
Roger Helm:

For recruitment, we need a moneyball approach, players aged 20-25 who are likely to appreciate in value.

From your mouth / keyboard to God's ears. Absolutely. That is the way forward, of that I have no doubt whatsoever.

Eddie Dunn
118 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:09:17
Danny and John, my Bielsa comment was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I find myself feeling rather angry at the players and the manager(s).

I was as delighted as anyone to see Frank get those good results and he has to share the credit with the team for getting the wins needed. It does seem though that he has succeeded despite himself.

His set-ups have been largely awful. His attempts to change things were usually too late, and always like-for-like.

He displays a lack of tactical know-how. Shocking when you consider what a good player he was in midfield and the coaches he has played under.

His time as Chelsea manager saw him forced through a transfer ban, to play the likes of James and Timori. I remember watching his team try to play out from the back and give away silly goals.

He has been in crisis-management mode since he arrived. He clearly knew little about what had been going on here over the last few years, and mentioned regularly in his early pressers, how he looked on us from "afar". He had been gazing, like so many other plebs, at the Sky Six.

My prediction is that he will get a few new faces in but his pre-season will not bring us the promised land that we all crave.

Without the spectre of relegation looming, I fear we will be subjected to poor players trying to play like Man City. We will be picked off and swatted by the clever teams, and the powerful teams.

His success here has been when he has been forced to go more direct. That is why I liked Bielsa at Leeds. It did unravel with key injuries and a small squad but boy did they give it a real go.

Brentford have shown that there is room to mix it up. They have a clever coach, hungry players, and Ericksen. If we can find a Connor Gallagher, then we might do okay.

We had to get rid of Benitez and we had no time to spare. This is why we have Mr Lampard. Our crowd kept us up – not Frank.

Christy Ring
119 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:11:16
Joe #100,

Of course you don't remember his aggression in getting the last free off Zaha which led to our 3rd goal.

Andy Crooks
120 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:11:48
Eddie Dunn, I absolutely did not find the dressing room scene with Seamus embarrassing, though perhaps Seamus did. I found it a moving and authentic moment; unlike Kenwright, it was spontaneous and genuine.

Also, I believe that Seamus Coleman is one of the reasons we survived; certainly people who know more than you or me kept picking him. Before the Palace game, I hoped that our players would show the courage to not hide. To be prepared to make mistakes and come back for more. Not to do a Schneiderlin or Gomes.

Seamus actually is a very nice man. Tough, determined and strong-willed. Not a tough-talking toy soldier like some pundits.

"Get Bielsa-now!" — Now that is embarrassing.

Phil Lewis
121 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:12:03
Back to reality.

The deadwood needs pruning with immediate effect. Frank Lampard's next moves will be crucial. If our financial situation is as dire as has been suggested, then there must be a price tag hanging over every player in the squad.

The only players likely to attract really big money are obviously Pickford, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin. Sad as it may seem, if we were offered somewhere in the region of £200 million for that trio, it might go some way to strengthening in desperately needed areas.

Ideally, I would like to keep all three (even though I've been critical of Pickford in particular many times on here) as I believe you need to hang on to your best players in order to improve. Realistically, none of the three by any stretch of the imagination could be considered 'Superstars'.

Unfortunately we'd be likely to get peanuts for the rest, so it would seem that – given our predicament – sacrificing our main assets is the only means of consolidating our Premier League status and building for the future. Surely everyone from the boardroom to the terraces, after these horrendous last weeks of fear misery and hysteria, can see that stark fact staring us in the face.

I wish Frank the best. Although clearly he is still 'serving his managerial apprenticeship'. I can think of few managers who have moulded 'has-beens' and 'also-rans' into Champions. The late great Howard Kendall, Brian Clough and more recently. to a lesser extent, Claudio Ranieri come to mind.

Lampard may astound us and do similar at Goodison, only time will tell. But the pressure on him to succeed with limited resources is an extremely daunting challenge indeed. I hope he rises to it.

Soren Moyer
122 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:13:46
Bloody hell! What was that we just witnessed!! Awful. Just awful. No pride, no nothing! Fed up with having soooo much good times! Please, somebody put an end to it!
Dave Abrahams
123 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:14:27
Just watched the highlights... [Highlights?!?]

Arsenal scored three of their goals from corners. Doesn't matter who is playing, there has to be a plan in defending. Everton have been conceding goals from corners and crosses all season.

Frank and his coaches have done nothing to sort this out, 3½ months seems a long time to me to get a defence to concentrate on marking their men. In each of Everton's victories under Lampard, every team has had good chances to change those results and Pickford was the main reason we won most of them. The four defeats at home were mainly because of slack marking and poor defensive errors.

I said in a post a couple of weeks ago that, if Frank keeps us up, he deserves the chance to see what he can do next season. I'm not so so sure of him now; he seems very naive in his selections and substitutions.

Although he got it right on Thursday at half-time, he cocked it up big time at the start of the game with his choice of Gomes – now that was really naive.

He'll have to improve massively and quickly or we'll be biting our nails again next season.

Steavey Buckley
124 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:17:11
Everton's escape from relegation was accomplished by the beating of Leeds Utd, Newcastle Utd, Man Utd, Chelsea at home and of course the heart-stopper of beating Crystal Palace at home, as well and beating Leicester City away. But sadly it must not be forgotten, Everton conceded 10 goals away at Spurs and Arsenal.

So what great job Frank Lampard and his coaching staff did, they only eclipsed Benitez's points haul by 1 single point. Yet, Benitez was unceremoniously shown the door and to close it on the way out.

So what's going to happen next season, when all teams in the Premier League besides Leeds made life difficult for Everton, including Norwich and Burnley away and Watford at home? Surely the same squad of players are not going to do better next season when they played so badly throughout this season.

Everton can't just go from 5th from bottom this season and be 4th from top next season, no matter what Frank Lampard is able to conjure up at team talks.

John Cartwright
125 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:21:10
Gary (93), mostly agree, but not sure about Keane and Dele, just so few have made the grade, and surely Delph, if retained, must have some pay-as-you-play contract. Worrying to say the least.
Tom Harvey
126 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:23:02
Phil Lewis @ 121

"Back to reality"

Your first line:

"Pickford, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin. Sad as it may seem, if we were offered somewhere in the region of £200 million for that trio..."

And further down.

£200M really?

Eddie Dunn
127 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:24:29
Andy, if you read my last post, you would have noticed that I mentioned "Get Bielsa" tongue-in-cheek.

As for Seamus, I wondered earlier in this very thread whether Seamus is the reason we ground out those results and not Frank. Perhaps Coleman will be promoted to first-team coach next season.

Derek Knox
128 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:27:14
Brent, can I have a beer too, I can always get the Train from Chester, next time they play. Let me know when that is, I'm getting thirsty ! :-)
Joe McMahon
129 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:28:06
Christy@119 of course not. But lapses in concentration and not being quick enough (anymore) has contributed to us being in that position on Thursday in the first place. Looking back its interesting that when Watford scored 5 at Goodison both Seamus and everyone's fave Digne played the entire match.

It's not all bad though as IMO Vitaliy Mykolenko will be good for us, a clever move landing him.

Mark Ryan
130 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:28:43
The Everton job was a poison chalice. The world were told we'd messed up our finances. Ancellotti ran off into the night the second an offer came in. Benitez nearly killed us off and then when the job was deemed to be a poison chalice Frank was appointed. He kept us up. Give the man some credit for galvanising the club and the fans. The fans dragged us over the line. Paul Merson said today on Gillette Soccer " the fans won it for Everton" He is right but credit Frank with that. He galvanised everyone and I hope he is given enough time to prove his doubters wrong.
Phil Lewis
131 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:35:04
Tom#126
Well wishful thinking I suppose. Perhaps with a few deadbeat cast offs in addition it wouldn't be an unrealistic figure.
Tony Abrahams
132 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:36:49
If we could just find a manager to manage all these great players, then things might finally begin to look up.
Derek Knox
133 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:43:06
While there wasn't a lot riding on today's game, apart from a better League position which could have added money to the well drained coffers, and pride, I did expect a better showing from those who were picked. From those on show today, no-one escaped with any reason to say they must be kept ! Dele Ali was the best of the bunch but his situation is a bit more complicated , hope he stays.

It will remain to be seen who we can offload, and the unlikely possibility of any Club wanting them, but wasteful acquisitions and silly contracts make that an almost impossibility. Then we have to address how much we have to spend, because on todays showing, none staked a claim for retention. Hope Richie and Pickford stay, wouldn't shed too many tears if a Calvert Lewin (decent) Offer came in.

Justin Doone
134 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:43:38
Today's result didn't matter, thank God. But the performance always matters because it shows who has the right mentality.

Winning is what matters but it you can't win, do not lose. We don't have enough players who understand that principle, who hate to lose or concede goals.

Every game we need a team of players that's give 100% all game. They should come off at half time needing a rest and some recovery time because they have given their all and are spent.

That doesn't happen nearly enough. Instead they pass on responsibility, blame others and carry on in the same manner.

Yes they are relieved to remain Premier league players but several players smirks, childish actions and comments tell me they don’t really care about the club, the team or in trying to be the very best that they can be.

Professional salaries, ametuer attitudes.

Jamie Crowley
135 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:43:39
I think the single most important person inside Everton Football Club moving forward is Kevin Thelwell.

We're at a crossroads. We've just dodged relegation. There's quite a few players out of contract who will leave, and there's more on the books that frankly need to leave. We have no money presently and have to get well within FFP parameters moving forward.

Kevin Thelwell's success or failure is directly tied to the fate of the Club. He has a monumentally difficult task in front of him.

Nick Page
136 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:46:07
Kenwright out. Along with all his acolytes and anyone that supports him. You know who you are. Or we’ll never move this football club forward.
Tony Everan
137 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:46:12
I think it’s valid to question whether Frank is up to the task to take us forward. In his favour he signed on deadline day and took over a dispirited team in terminal decline. The backdrop was our best CB was injured our goalscorer also, Allan our only ball winner banned or injured for many games, Delph our only composed midfielder almost never available. Our replacement right back injured.

He has had a positive effect on some players, revitalised Iwobi, Cole skilfully mentoring Mykolenko, Holgate has been much better under Frank. Also the small matter of him keeping us up.

On the downside there are some odd selections, formations and substitutions. Square pegs in round holes, but even that is mitigated as it’s often that is symptomatic of our injury depleted and poorly balanced squad. ie many problems that predate him.


So I think there are very good arguments that if he can sign who he realistically wants in the summer (4 or 5 first team starters) he could gradually turn the club around. It’s not going to happen in one window but Frank is young enough and motivated enough to be a progressive coach for us. We need stability and incremental progress, and I think Frank has earned his chance. Also, remember, alternatives don’t come risk free.

Danny O’Neill
138 Posted 22/05/2022 at 21:49:34
I wonder, given the circumstances, we'll seen a Martinez style loan frenzy, with him dipping into his Chelsea links, who notoriously loan players out who go onto be successful??

As well as the new DoF influence?

The important thing being they work hand in glove to a strategy and plan.

Justin Doone
139 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:06:59
I agree. This summer is all about recruitment and Kevin along with Frank and whoever else is involved will need patience and a whole heap of luck.

Crystal Palace, Brentford, Brighton, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, West Ham. Proof that there is a lot of top level, hungry, ambitious and hard working talented players available for under £10M.

Look at Celtic and Rangers, look at Atalanta, Real Betis, Valencia, Nottm Forest and Sheffield Utd – teams that pick up talented players for a few million.

I have preferences on players that I would keep over others but, in general, everyone is for sale for a good price and I wouldn't be sorry to see any of them sold if it meant getting better players in with the right mentality and attitude.

Will Mabon
140 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:12:34
I feel we need to acknowledge what we've been through over the past six years or so, and the entrenched and consolidated damage it's done. Absorb the many and undeniable lessons - then remember them only in order to avoid. The way now is largely indicated by what not to do.

We are a compromised, wobbling Premier League club that requires thorough, calm and studious recomposing over time, in just about all aspects. Unless we look like we did under Benitez by Christmas, with the same outlook, then the subject of who "Should" be the manager needs to be parked.

More of the same will beget more of the same.

I will add - this includes NOT selling the better players unless/until we absolutely have to... or unless they want to leave.

We have nothing here to suggest we can magically rebuild by bringing in and improving lesser players, to somehow be a better team.

Stu Darlington
141 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:13:16
Tony Hill @45
Sums the situation up perfectly for me Tony.
The depressing thought is I am not confident in Lampards ability to plot us a way out of it.I think some of his formations and tactics have displayed naivety,and that’s being kind.
Also we are not going to have mega-bucks to spend in the summer and we need a major rebuild.
If we sell our better players,we will have to replace them before we start.
Ideally we should be introducing new players into an established set up but we are so crap we won’t have that option.
So clever recruitment and loan deals are essential
Three players that fit the bill for me have already been mentioned on this thread,they are Bassey and Kent from Rangers and Gallagher from Chelsea.
Bassey in particular is one hell of a player and Gallagher is quick, direct and skillfull.
Will we get any of them? Of course not,this is Everton.
So I’m not optimistic about next season,just hoping the 3 promoted teams are worse than us.
What a dreadful forecast for a great club like Everton!
Will Mabon
142 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:24:26
"What a dreadful forecast for a great club like Everton!"

It's the cold reality, Stu... and we need to get real. 80% or more of what's happened since 2016 is a farcical lesson in what not to do. A long process lays ahead.

Graeme Beresford
143 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:25:55
Christ, honestly, everyone is entitled to their own opinions but seriously, Bielsa, Pochettino??? I mean get real some people.

People seem to forget, Frank has picked up a squad full of injuries, with players signed by 5 different managers, destroyed confidence due to Rafa Benitez, devoid of 3 of the players with the highest assists last season in Gylfi, James and Digne, even the loan player we picked up in DVB has spent most of his time on the treatment table.

All in all I think he’s done a great job, if anything he’s united Everton and got the message across to everyone if what is means to be an Evertonian once again. We can’t just keep changing managers all the time because we draw 0-0 with Watford or get beat 5-1 on the last game of the season. I think some people need to get real.

Frank has a short but decent history of making younger players better. I want him to go out and sign hungry young players next season and go out and have a real go at teams next year. First on my list would be Joao Pedro from Watford. 20 years old, now experienced enough to make the step up, dare I say it Richarlison style.

However there should be no reason we have to get rid of our best players now. That is unless they say I want to leave. Did anyone notice DCL grabbing the badge on Thursday? Did anyone notice how at home Richarlison looks and feels? They might, just might stick around. I do think unless we get 70 for Richy and 50 for DCL they aren’t going anywhere. They are worth is and are too valuable as assets to go for anything less.

Frank will already have his targets. I see the Chelsea lad on loan at Huddersfield is already being mentioned, Brennan Johnson, Conor Gallagher. All good players. I would love to see us go for Erickson who has proved he can still do it, Bissouma and or Ward Prowse. However Pedro for me from Watford is the one. Get him in.

We have to all get being Frank now. Sure today was poor but it was a nothing game and who cares. Let’s see what happens in the summer. COYB!

Jerome Shields
144 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:28:25
Danny#95

Arsenal preparation is High performance, whilst Everton is Rest and Recovery and appropriate training in that context.

High performance consists of hard training to build up resilence against injury and to perform at a high levels across various competitions. It is constantly worked at through out the season, whilst Rest and Recovery is as it says not hard or constant consistent training. At Everton Medical Services have a big input, at Arsenal they where all sacked in the tenure prior to Artetas. Replaced by high performance services responsible to the High performance Manager.

Everton are ones of the only Club to follow this regime, bar Man U, who are Everton 5 years back. Many of the promoted team are based on High Performance preparation now. Benitez did try to change to High performance, with inevitable resistence. It was him that introduced High Performance to Liverpool.

So in todays game Everton seemed to be run off the field, by a High Performance prepared Arsenal against a Rest and Recovery prepared Everton or as Frank said they where' tired ' the poor dears, after one halves exertions.

The problem I have with all this is that over 20 years Everton never where under going the proper preparation to performance to challenge for a top 5 place or mutiple competition. They may have slipped through occasionally, but it never amounted to much.

To remain in the Top 5 a team has to be able to compete week in week out at a high level and play in multiple competitions. If they are not able to compete at a high level and in multiple competition they are replaced by teams that can.

The one problem I have with Frank is his strength is mainly, is a long future with Everton. But his seeming acceptance of Rest and Recovery, which is old hat, in interviews and presser does not bode well for Evertons performance levels in a largely High Performance prepared Premiership.

By the way Rest and Recovery and High Performance are recognised methods and notbmade up by me. I can gives you sources if you require.

Ed Prytherch
146 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:39:00
Common sense posts as usual from Tony Everan and Christy Ring. What happened today has little meaning. Let's be patient and see what transpires during the summer.
Andy Crooks
147 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:42:37
Eddie @ 127, fair comment.
Anthony Jones
148 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:46:04
Today, Stevie G's Villa nearly won Mordor the league.
Coutinho scored, Digne assisted, Benitez sold them Digne...
In a remarkable 5 minutes, Man City scored 3 to wrench the title from the clutches of the Orcs.
I couldn't care less about the Everton score on this magnificent day.

Will Mabon
149 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:52:00
Anthony, when you consider it like that, one can almost hear the hum of The Matrix.
Barry Rathbone
150 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:52:55
Well, if Frank had any ideas about the squad not needing a thorough disinfecting today put that to bed.

Amidst the euphoria of escape it may have gone unnoticed that points gained have been streaky, desperate affairs amidst shameful losses. When fan energy reverts to normal, as it surely will, we'll be back to square one if the squad remains full of sick notes and ageing mentalists who can't control a ball.

Be brave Franky or you'll go the same way as others who failed to grab the bull by the horns

Jay Harris
151 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:56:24
I think and hope that Grank has learned today that only our best 11 with appropriate tactics are good enough. Our squad players are mainly championship or below level.

I also hope that the club will do all in their power to keep Richy, DCL and JP and build the squad around them.

It’s surprising but I feel really happy after losing 5-1. Could it be the sight of the kopites hanging one by one despite the best efforts of the media and officials.

Daniel A Johnson
152 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:56:38
Make no mistake this squad and this manager is fighting for survival next season.

The squads not good enough the manager too naive and we will have little money for the rebuild we require.

Will Mabon
153 Posted 22/05/2022 at 22:57:11
Jerome,

some good points, and I agree. It's awful hard though without the inhalers :)

Brent Stephens
154 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:00:12
Just watching MotD and the fake news near the end of the game at Mordor that Villa had equalised to 3-3! Don't ya just love it! Or am I a bitter blue?
Ernie Baywood
155 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:06:47
My emotions after the Arsenal game aren't too dissimilar to where I'd got to within about 36 hours of the Palace game.

"Thank God this season is over."

Looking forward to a couple of months of worrying about things other than my football club. Hopefully this is a busy time for the club in ensuring we don't go through this again.

See you all in August.

Will Mabon
156 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:07:49
Brent, yes - you are number 1,000,006.
Jamie Crowley
157 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:08:21
Brent -

Best fake news of all!!

Graeme @143 -

Couldn't agree more with your assessment of Frank and Everton's managerial landscape, really glad someone said it. Good post!

Will Mabon
158 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:09:01
So long, Ernie. Catch you at the first whiff of transfer activity.
Brian Murray
159 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:11:13
hey we got two goal of the season contenders on motd. myko and townsend. So we must have some quality.
Denis Richardson
160 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:15:21
We were always going to lose this game and after Thursday I can imagine there were a few sore heads on Friday, so preparation was probably not ideal. The score is a bit embarrassing but the game didn't count for anything so hard to judge in the grand scheme of things.

I'm still to be convinced Lampard is the right guy but he'll be there next season so we'll see what the summer brings. As everyone knows a load of players will be leaving anyway as their contracts run out so there should be a decent wage bill to play with to get 'frees' in. I can't see us having any decent transfer kitty but we managed to get Townsend, Gray and Bergovic for £1.7m so it's possible to get half decent players for little transfer fee.

We don't actually need that many players to have a decent side. Just need the right players in the right positions with the right attitude. 4-5 that are ready to go straight into the first team.

Am hoping Patterson makes a full recovery as he will be like a new signing!

John Chambers
161 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:25:01
Lampard has a few critics on here who are already saying we need to change manager. Give the revolving door policy we have had for the last few years we already have a rag tag and bobtail squad. You can never predict in football but in my opinion now is the time to stick with the manager and give him time to build a team. I think we all have to be realistic about this and accept that next season getting an extra 10 points and finishing where Newcastle are this season is progress. Then the season after look for another few points that “might” get us challenging for Europe and we would be much more likely to attract players when moving into BMD. I know that doesn’t sound very ambitious but it is the swapping and changing of managers and unrealistic spending and expectations that has got us into the mess we are in.

Just worth noting as well when people criticise Lampard that when he took over we were 16th with 19 points after 20 games. Since then we have finished 16th picked up 20 points from 18 games. Not a great record granted but an improvement. In that period Gerard, who seems beyond criticism in the media, had Aston Villa from 11th with 26 points from 21 games to 14th and only took 19 points in the 17 games in that period, and he has had two transfer windows.

Phil Lewis
162 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:25:11
Nick#136
I completely agree. You are 100% correct.
Don Alexander
163 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:27:52
Jerome (#144) I agree 100%. For decades we have rarely matched MOST of the top flight teams in fitness, speed, heart and recovery.

The club has been seen as their personal pinnacle by way too many expensively signed nearly-men (in every sense of that term) keen only to screw us for the max in the best contract they ever dreamt of, duly delivered (and then sometimes improved) by our self-styled genius in the boardroom.

He still has his hopeless hands on our tiller, still surrounded by his chosen ones in the boardroom, none of whom have credentials of any significance at all to a trophy winning club.

And yet some of us still look elsewhere for where the fucking big hole in our ship is, causing us to sink ever lower season after desperate season.

It'd help if we didn't have the Monaco-based version of Captain Pugwash in overall charge though - he's been useless when it comes to football appointments and preserving, never mind increasing, his personal wealth.

But everyone he employs adores him - and that makes HIM feel good.

Jeez!

Ian Pilkington
164 Posted 22/05/2022 at 23:54:04
At the end of this awful season surely the first thing we must hope for is the immediate termination of Kenwright’s disastrous reign as Chairman.

The thought of the moon-faced buffoon sitting in the director’s box again next season fills me with horror and anger.

Paul Birmingham
165 Posted 23/05/2022 at 00:21:39
Reality is and this is the end of this season from hell..

Thanks to the Legions of Evertonians whom have made this happen, by giving every thing you have for the club, through out this season, from hell.

Let’s take stock and rebuild the club... Architecture, Morality and Culture, as Everton has been flirting with danger and regularly stepping in the quick sands of the Forbidden elements of football in the EPL, on and off the Park, for far too long.

Today was no surprise, in terms of the performance and result, it’s been like this for decades, a serial losing and turn up for the sake of turning up, mentality. No care, no pride in EFC, and as professional players.


A magnificent and almost ancient past, cant make up for years of mediocrity.

Let’s back Frank to the hilt and harness the Evertonian effect for the best, next season.

It’s gonna be very tough, bar some miracles in terms of money to spend and, hopefully the squad for next season, will be clear, very soon.

But good to see Isaac Price, get a game at last., and hopefully other U23s, will follow him.

He will learn, and get better, and for me this is an absolute new build project for the squad next season.

Onwards and upwards, Evertonians, there will be many bumps in the road next season, but let’s take stock on the reality of surviving in this League, this season.

True Grit, by the Evertonian supporters.

The spirit of the Palace game, 19/05/2022, can’t ever be forgotten.


UTFT!

Danny Broderick
166 Posted 23/05/2022 at 00:29:48
Arsene Wenger was right when he compared football fans telling managers what to do with passengers telling the pilot how to fly a plane! The fact is we don’t know more or better than the managers - our job as fans is to get behind them. We’ve got to trust in Lampard now. I’m impressed by what he has done. I don’t like the 5-4-1 / 3-4-3 formation we seem to be playing currently. But then our defence has been so fragile that maybe he thinks he can’t trust them fully and needs an extra defender on the pitch?

We were way too open in his first ten games or so - or shall I say the players are incapable of playing that way. Since then, we’ve gone back to basics a bit and our form has been half decent. Wins over Man U, Newcastle, Leicester, Chelsea and Palace confirm that, even if our away form is cause for concern.

Lampard has kept us up - that was his first job. His second job is to improve us now - and this is where our Director of Football model comes into question again. After the disasters of Walsh and Brands, I must admit to being dismayed when the first action in our strategic review was to appoint a third Director of Football. The more things change, the more they stay the same it seems. But this is where Thelwell has to earn his money - if he doesn’t, he will be out the door and so will Lampard.

We simply have to improve our player trading. For too long now, we have paid out top dollar and sold cheap. The result is that we are in danger of breaching FFP and we are now skint. I can’t think of too many players we sold under our DOFs that we got good money for - maybe Lukaku, Gueye and Lookman. The rest have all been loaned out, sold for bargain fees or given away on frees.

I don’t mind selling Pickford for £60-70 million, if we then buy Pope (for someone equivalent) for £30 million and then reinvest £40 million wisely in the squad. Same for Richarlison - if we get £70 million for him, and buy Connor Gallagher and a decent winger for the same money, we’d be stronger overall. Same with DCL.

What we need to avoid is giving big contracts to washed up reserves from Man U, Barça etc. that we can’t get rid of if it doesn’t work out. We also need some characters. Our away form shows we are too timid. We need some bastards with the bollocks to play away from home.

This is probably the biggest cross roads I can remember for us in the Premier League era…

Bernie Quinn
167 Posted 23/05/2022 at 01:25:59
I'm surprised anyone expected Everton to play well after the Palace Game, The players gave their all and lets be honest, the season was over. Looking ahead, the Club has to rebuild, slowly and steadily and I've no doubt the PRESENT Manager and DoF have it all in hand. We will probably have to sell in order to buy, but there will be plenty of decent players available at reasonable cost. In Frank I have always had complete trust. and the way he pulled that team together and gained the support of the Fans, I still think he is the man we should back.
Lester Yip
168 Posted 23/05/2022 at 01:51:50
Even if we field the strongest team against Arsenal away, the chance of getting a result would be slim. So I actually don't mind to see Frank giving Branthwaite, Davies, Price and Dele a go to further assess them in realy game.

With the FFP, we need to follow Southapton's model. Hope Frank get us a few loan with purchase rights deal next year.

Kieran Kinsella
169 Posted 23/05/2022 at 02:47:53
We need creative transfers like in the NBA where they trade one good player and throw in a load of rubbish ones. Let Richarlison go to PSG but throw in Gomes, Holgate, Davies and Lonergan. Then PSG in turn send on Neymar Davies and Holgate to Juve and so on and so forth until we end up with five good players
Christine Foster
170 Posted 23/05/2022 at 03:59:26
Lets be honest, I think 6 or 7 of the players on the pitch have played their last game for the blues. That was an exercise in saying thank you and goodbye..look at DCL, he ran and chased everything, most probably trying to impress prospective buyers. But for DVB, Kenny, Davies, Keane, Tosun, Siggy and Doucoure, Allan, Rondon and El G, possibly even Coleman, I suspect they have all played their last games.
Just saying too, after watching Pickford of late, Begovic looked really poor. At least two of the goals Pickford would have got, but all in all it was a very poor performance, on that showing (admittedly I only saw the last hour as I fell asleep!) Not sure if Deli Alli is worth it but it was a nothing game.
On Lampard.. if Everton drew we would have gone above Southampton, but whatever plan he had disappeared with the team selection, I thought Lampard had already written it off before he made team selections. Why no Pickford? Richarlison had an ice pack on his thigh or groin after the game against Palace, but no Allan, Gordon on bench.. etc..
Should we stick or twist?
We had to stick I think because we need stability and a rebuild..but...
Sean Roe
171 Posted 23/05/2022 at 04:36:02
BREAKING NEWS!

Everton fans hired an open top bus to welcome home their heroes, lined the streets, and then partied hard into the early hours to celebrate their stunning 5-1 loss to Arsenal.

Delighted Bill Kenwright commented: ''We knew after the celebrations on Thursday night that the fans had finally accepted our vision for this great little club. In some ways, today was even better as there were six wonderful goals instead of five and Liverpool didn't win the Premier League.

"With the fans now firmly behind us, we just know we can achieve the same next year, no mean feat for a club of this size. The players can now go away and have a well-deserved break after turning up for at least 10 games this season.''

Chris Corn
172 Posted 23/05/2022 at 06:04:15
5 games in 14 days, half the squad injured, some playing through knocks in a dead rubber. Certainly for Everton. Then you get Sean at 171 digging the fans out.

Did you just walk out Thursday once the final whistle went ?

Sean Roe
173 Posted 23/05/2022 at 06:53:09
Chris @ 172

I didn't celebrate, Chris, no. I felt relieved and slightly grateful that the players turned up for half a game, just as they have for the odd occasion for the entire season.

Actually I think it was the fans who got the team over the line and the support shown before and during the final few games was second to none and shamed the players into making an effort.

But, for me personally, celebrating a complete failure of a season after the final whistle wasn't something I was prepared to do. If it was just a case that the players weren't good enough but had tried hard all season long, then I would have been willing to celebrate. You can't ask for more than somebody's best, after all. The lack of effort is unforgivable.

Alan J Thompson
174 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:04:26
I'd agree that it seems Frank has made a few errors of judgement in team selection and tactics for the playing staff at his disposal but nothing that says they are grounds for dismissal at this time.

I also wonder if our DoF has that much work cut out to find newer, better players or if he has to renegotiate contracts. Would we keep say, Delph and Allan on basic weekly wage of say 10K with that much again for every full game played and would it be worth it. It does seem that the loan market has to be used but that, I think, only allows for two incoming players.

Unfortunately, of any transfer fees received it would appear at least half would have to go to reducing operating costs and debt in line with P&S regulations and as that Arsenal game showed, it should not be our better players leaving but it was interesting, without knowing what if any truth there is in it, that part of the claimed COVID induced financial losses was the inability to transfer players out at that time.

And as much as I hate to say it as some years ago on Team Talk I berated another for saying the same, perhaps mid-table mediocrity might be seen, at best, as a stepping stone.

Jonathan Tasker
175 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:15:50
Until the supreme narcissist Kenwright is removed, nothing will change
Derek Thomas
176 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:19:26
Do you know what, after Thursday I just didn't care, with a 2am my time KO, I went to bed and forget all about it until I clicked on the news. 5-1 - meh, not the world's biggest surprise, especially when I saw the team.

It was the deadest of dead rubbers.

What happens from now on is the big deal, the Ins, the Outs and sadly FFP shite too.
But whatever happens - we have to make sure we don't get a repeat

Alan McGuffog
177 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:21:05
Bernie if we don't expect the team to play to their best EVERY game then shouldn"t we get shut of the Nil Satis Nisi Optimum motto ?
Tony Abrahams
178 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:34:17
Lampard has made loads of mistakes, with possibly the biggest being in taking the Everton job in the first place.

He could have just accepted that a lot of the players were simply not good enough, (and laid the blame elsewhere) just like a lot of the fans have known for years. He alluded to this, when he questioned if the players have got enough bottle, something most Evertonians have also been saying for years. (This incredibly didn’t stop quite a few people criticizing him)

Look at the run Benitez was on, Lampard came into a football club, when the players had no confidence and were actually on their knees, and also became the sixth manager in five seasons for many of these players.

Until the club is sold, we are stuck with Bill Kenwright, and Bill can’t go on saving us from oblivion forever.


Trevor Peers
179 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:44:34
Very shrewd recruitment, is our only salvation for the rebuilding job required for next season. The deadwood needs to be harvested, shipped out and quickly. We only have three or four players with the right attitude. Playing the the likes of Davies and Kenny is premiership suicide.

I've heard lots about giving youngsters a chance over the past few months but apart from Gordon, who incidentally finds it hard to hit the net, but at least has something to offer. I don't see any other youngster on our books who looks capable of making a valid impact next season.

Therefore we will need to recruit the best part of half a team to even get us in the middle of the table. To finance this we will need to sell, it will be a massive balancing act to say the least. Failure to land the right type of players will end in yet another relegation scrap, that much is painfully obvious.

Brian Murray
180 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:49:41
sean post 171. I get your frustration and i’ve said many a time the latin logo should be removed from the badge because we have no interest or no clue how to adhere to it. To the boardroom it’s job well done and allows another nine months jolly up and down from london all season.
David Bromwell
181 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:54:40
In the old days the end of the season meant the end of the season and football was put to bed so we could all enjoy cricket or tennis. That was a welcome relief and good for the sole. I am certainly exhausted by all things Everton and would just like to enjoy the summer. Sadly I fear we will have no free time as our famous old club copes with more bad press, the pressing need to sort out our finances, and the rebuilding of a squad of players to one who look capable of maintaining our premier league status.

Essentially the whole sorry mess will take more than just one close season to sort out. We can only hope that common sense will prevail and the whole process of rebuilding begins from Board level down. For sure it's going to take more than one close season I just hope that by August we will be able to see some tangible progress.

Peter Mills
182 Posted 23/05/2022 at 07:56:09
In the 13 league games prior to Frank Lampard’s appointment we took 5 points and were on a steep slide into the Championship.

We were a shambles under Benitez, still have been at times since then, but the manager has done very well to steady things. He got the team into some sort of shape, and wrung something out of a number of players who had been under-performing.

He has also, wisely, tapped into the emotions of the fans in a way that the previous incumbent could never begin to understand.

Lampard and his team have done well, completing their first objective of keeping us up. Many changes will be needed before next season, and beyond, Lampard has done more than enough to be given the opportunity to be part of that process.

Danny O’Neill
183 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:03:15
I think Jerome has summarised quite well. This squad for a few seasons now hasn't been prepared or capable of playing with intensity. Not consistently. Carlo tried but realised that you can't play expansive, pressing football with what we have. Unfortunately, because I don't like sitting deep. For me, it invites the inevitable and you are gambling with the laws of average.

The manager needs to wait until he has the right players until he can change that. Do not play 3 at the back with this squad Frank. Arsenal deliberately targeted our channels, particularly the right hand side. On that count, that's where he's been naive in my opinion.

It's hard to pick anything from a 5 - 1 defeat, but here goes. From what I witnessed, Iwobi looked knackered. Calvert-Lewin cut a lone, isolated figure so couldn't really have an impact despite his effort. Alli disappointed but there is ability there for sure. I thought Kenny and the defenders done as good as can be expected in a match where you are continuously under the cosh (Defender's Union coming out in me).

Although I thought Branthwaite showed his inexperience a few times. Be patient with him and don't expect too much too soon. I am by no means comparing and they are different positions, but if you want a perfect example of how to manage a young player with potential despite the clamour for him to play constantly, look at how Guardiola managed Foden's development. And that was with the English national media bearing down on him.

But that requires consistency of management structure and a plan. A strategy, be that spending or development or both. A lot of our young players haven't had that. In that respect, Anthony Gordon deserves a lot of respect for how he's come through this season, now under his 3rd manager in little over 12 months.

Keane done well (again circumstances), but I'd say Holgate was our best player. A mention for Tom Davies; considering he's been out for a prolonged period, he was tenacious and committed.

And yes, the support was fantastic. Despite everything and the result, they mostly enjoyed their day in the sun. And I don't know if they designed it deliberately, but that away corner is one hell of a sun trap. Some may like the sun. I was willing the clouds on as were many around me.

Once again, it struck me how many young faces there were belting out spirit of the blues, seemingly endlessly, even as defeat looked inevitable. For most of them, that was released way before they were born. As was Goodison Guys/Gang (which is it?) - it was for me. But they were singing in gusto despite having nothing to play for. Absolute pride. They will have their time.

Over the line. Now time for reset.

I wouldn't even call that a bad day at the office. A hangover performance after Thursday. We were the runner, that having gotten over the line and finished the race, simply sat down and breathed.

Benjamin Dyke
184 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:10:36
This match shows how far we have fallen and how far we have to go to become competitive at the top end of the table. Yes, I konw that Thursday night has an influence but the top teams can pretty much change the first 11 and still win these games. And we need to some right confident, mean defensive players to cut this conceding from set pieces we excel at!
Ian Bennett
187 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:19:44
A big summer in recruitment, and a big summer sorting out fitness issues and shocking set pieces in both attack and defence.
Michael Lynch
188 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:24:27
The reality of the situation is depressing, as we come down from Thursday's incredible events. Of course, you can't read too much into yesterday's performance, as we fielded a side cobbled together from whoever was able to play one more game. Five matches in two weeks is quite an ask at the end of the season.

But it was a reminder of how weak our squad is. Even at full strength, we'd probably have shipped goals to an energetic Arsenal side. Our defence needs a major overhaul.

I don't think Branthwaite is anywhere near ready for PL football. He's very young for a centre-back, and needs at least a full season of Championship football to help his development. Holgate has improved over the season but I still have serious doubts about him long term. Mina is made of glass. Keane is a great stopper of shots but probably Burnley was about his level. Godfrey is probably our only central defender worthy of a place in a top half PL squad, because of his pace if nothing else.

Kenny should go now, probably dropping a division. Seamus is a great club captain, but should only be playing the odd game at this stage. Mykolenko has improved over the past couple of months but, again, I'm not sure he's a top half PL defender yet. Time should improve him. Patterson is a kid - nobody knows how he'll turn out.

So, before he even looks at midfield and attack - where we may well lose some of our best players - I think Frank needs to completely re-think our defence. If we start next season with anything like the squad of defenders currently at Everton, we're doomed to another relegation battle.

Joe McMahon
189 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:31:21
The squad would have managed better with Lookman, Vlasic and possibly Moise Kean, but too many were writing them off with no patience from some of the fanbase after a couple of games. There was even moans about not being impressed after 2 appearances from Myko.

JJK and Tom Davies have both been at the club far too long and offer nothing. Overseas and not local players need to be given a run in the team and patience from the fans. I remember some Arsenal fans whinging about Dennis Bergkamp as it was a few games before he started scoring, yes Dennis Bergkamp!

Bernie Quinn
190 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:32:07
Alan @ 177 - Its only opinion of course and I am just a pensioner with not much spare cash; but if I was a travelling supporter I would have been very happy with the Palace result and knowing that the Arsenal game was a dead rubber, and the players we have, my commonsense would tell me we would get thrashed, so I would call the season over and use my money for food or summat not being rich like some folk. As I say though, that is just my opinion.
Danny O’Neill
191 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:38:01
I don't think you were having a go at the supporters at all Sean. You are one yourself, as big a one as any of us.

Your hidden message is to where the real problems lie at this club that we all love.

They have brought a generation of supporters to the point where we feed off scraps.

We need change. What happened to the 27 Year campaign?

Eddie Dunn
192 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:38:12
From our perspective it is very difficult to be objective. We can point to how poor a run Benitez had before the chop, but he actually amassed plenty of early points with a few good shows.
I wouldn't say Frank has tapped into the fans, I think the fans have decided to save us from oblivion.
Frank at least responds to the support. I think he has been surprised at the passion.
For me, he seems a nice bloke, a hard-working professional.
It is hard to dislike such an affable guy.
Whether this makes him the man to improve us next season is quite another thing.
So far he has picked strange teams, he has shown that he had little knowledge of our players before coming here.
The Gomes inclusion, Kenny at leftback. The injuries only excuse so much.
Looking back at some of the key games we can thank Pickford for saving us from relegation, and Richarlison and latterly DCL for digging us out of the mire.
Frank did of course switch Gomes for Dele against Palace, but HE picked the Portuguese ahead of Dele in the first place.
For me there are still serious misgivings on his tactical nouse.
Perhaps his man-management is good. The players could tell us how the dressing room has got happier.(it looks that way).
The acid test is recruitment.
Money is tight, but if we sell Pickford, DCL or Richarlison then their replacements will need to be very good.
I would try to keep Pickford and Richie and cash -in on our fashionista.
One thng is for sure, there is only so much that a few smoke bombs and singing in Goodison road can inspire.
I do think that our wonderfull fans gave the club a good shaking.
For too long the amateur, club-tie comfyness of the Kenwright kingdom has cocooned the squad and staff with mediocrity as the standard.
Now the Londoners are running the team. I hope Frank keeps his distance from our resident luvvie and keeps everyone on their toes. Hopefully his work ethic will help him.
I would think most of us would be exctatic with 10th next season.
Mark Murphy
193 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:38:43
Anyone else read 171 and thought we had a Koppite troll taking the piss?

There's been lots of negative comments about the after-match scenes on Thursday, all written with a sneer or by lizards or Mr Spock – emotions are irrational.

Thursday was an outpouring of relief mixed with no little joy that the seemingly inevitable had been avoided. It wasn't a celebration like we'd won a trophy on penalties – it was different.

Yesterday was a shambles but, in all likelihood, would have been completely different if Thursday hadn't happened and we had needed a result. I was at the 0-7 and was disgusted, even though we had qualified for the Champions League – that team could've and should've done better in that last match. Yesterday's team probably got the result it deserved.

On saying that, no hiding now for Frank and the board - they must turn this ship around. Happy summer Blues - UTFT!

Brian Murray
194 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:38:51
Hold my hands up over Branthwaite I thought he was well further down the line and ready to step up now. That’s comes from desperation as our other centre halves let us down time and time again. Might be the same me banging the drum for Dobbin although we may have to find out sooner if we don’t get a gallagher quality in.
Alan McGuffog
195 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:52:36
Can't fault your logic at all Bernie but I suggest that the club needs to instill a winning attitude. whereby every point, every game, is fought for.
I hate to reference the crowd across the park but they do seem to have that mind set.
I remember hammering Fulham (?) a few nights after the heartbreak of Wembley in 1968. None of us were in the mood...it was a true dead rubber, I think Fulham were down. But the side picked itself up and went for it. That's what I believe we all want
Sean Roe
196 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:54:28
Mark @ 193

''Anyone else read 171 and thought we had a Koppite troll taking the piss? There's been lots of negative comments about the after match scenes on Thursday, all written with a sneer or by lizards or Mr Spock - emotions are irrational.''

Or possibly by people that have a differing opinion to you, which of course is perfectly allowed on a forum. Most people can hold a reasonable intelligent conversation to discuss their differences of opinion without the need to resort to childish name calling, have a pleasant day.

Danny O’Neill
197 Posted 23/05/2022 at 08:55:24
Now we've got that out of the way, 6th and Europe for me Eddie.

Yes, I am an optimistic fool and I'm constantly reminded of it by those closest to me.

Ian Pilkington
198 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:01:34
Tony@178
Why should we continue to be stuck with Kenwright and when has he ever saved us from oblivion? He is the root cause of our continued decline over the last 22 years.
Eddie Dunn
199 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:05:35
Danny- love your otimism -let's enjoy these next 6 weeks or so!
Stu Darlington
200 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:11:08
We are all saying the same thing although perhaps in different ways.
The incomings and out goings over the summer are absolutely crucial
It’s the opportunity for Lampard to stamp his influence on the squad,getting them to play his way making it his team,rather than bits and pieces inherited from former managers.
It is only then that we will be able to fairly judge his true mettle and whether he has the ability to take us to the next level.
It will take more than one window I have no doubt,but it will at least give us an indication of whether we are on the right road or not.
I really hope he can do it. He’s got at least one constant factor in his favour-the supporters!
.
Bernie Quinn
201 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:13:01
Alan - The funny thing is, I agree with your logic as well! If only we had the players to put up a decent show.
Dave Carruthers
202 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:16:15
Graeme Beresford 143. Still to read rest of posts but definitely the best and most sensible post up to then ( sack Frank, bring in Bielsa - really!). Give Frank credit where its due. Everything was aligned against him when he took over, and even if the only thing he did was to galvanise the fans leading to the euphoria of Thursday then, given where we all where end Jan, what a performance. We all know massive change is to come, get rid of the deadwood just as soon as we can and then start a proper recruitment plan within a strategic structure mutually agreed with the new DOF ( and keep the Board as far away from that strategy as possible). One of the biggest issues we have had is this interminable changing of managers. Lets give Frank the time he needs. Oh, and what a pleasure to finally see the passion on the touchline, rather than gum chewing, coffee drinking, note taking passivity.
Lets embrace what Frank has done and not throw stones. Let him move onto the next steps this summer with 100% support ( i’m letting him off starting Gomes on Thurs!!) - and recognise that time will be needed
Jerome Shields
203 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:20:14
Don#163 and Danny #183

Another team that is dominated by Medical Services is AC Milan. It is a long time since they dominated Europe. After that period they adopted Medical Services approach with a rest and recovery regime.

The thinking was they sign cheaply older injury prone players and Medical Services could turn the tide of nature. They have been also rans for seasons ever since. As a matter of fact I have Italian friends south of Milan and they now eat up any news on Everton with their fellow fans , discussing the failings and comparisons with AC as only Italians can do. There was even a documentary made exploring the virtue of the AC Milan method.

So the two results and a loss pattern that kept Everton midtable, following a Rest and Recovery pattern, , has now slipped further as more injury prone players have been taken in on the advice of Medical Services.

Medical Services is in great demand at Everton keeping them all in their jobs with Recovery. Naturally there are some lazy players who prefer the couch rather than the training ground. Hence a increase in soft tissue injuries. That in itself perpetuating injuries and poor rehabitation, often with recovery setbacks. On top of that is the slow turnaround recovery on injured players.

Mina is injury prone for a reason. He avoids hard training , resting at every opportunity. His rehabitation is alway poor with setbacks. Has alot of hamstring setbacks which shows a lack of strength and resilience training. He really gets on with the Medical Services staff and was a great mate of Douchie, the sacked Head of Medical Services.

Sean Roe
204 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:23:39
I thought there was more money involved for every place higher that a team finishes in the league? We could've finished 15th had we won instead of 16th if that is the case and earned a bit more money for the pot.

Also, and feel free to correct me as I don't really follow Arsenal or Spurs, but didn't both have a chance of finishing 4th?

It may have been a dead rubber for us but, for the integrity of the league, if one team still has something to play for, surely the other team is obliged to field the strongest team possible.

Peter Carpenter
205 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:31:30
We've swum away from the shipwreck and got on to the liferaft. Now we need to paddle it to dry land.
Kunal Desai
206 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:31:54
Total reset for the club, and if those that are allowed to do there jobs within there remits with some form of structure in place we might be back in Europa Conference in a couple of seasons time.
For the immediate future it will be mid table stability. Lampard will have to build this team back up over the next 3 to 4 transfer windows. Lots of patience required as no doubt it will be bumpy.
Ian Mack
207 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:33:11
We have a squad with a few premier league standard players, several who are not premier league standard and a number who unfortunately are just happy to turn up every week to pick up their obscene salaries. Going into next season with the majority of these still in place will result in another catastrophic year battling relegation. We might despise the RS but challenging for 4 trophies in one season is not luck - it’s being well run from the top down, with a manager who has a style of play and players who fit that style and who are willing to give their all in every game. Everton have not had that situation since the mid 80s.
Brian Murray
208 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:46:26
peter post 205., problem is a billionaire captain pugwash keeps wanting to hand over another boat to a buffoon.
Brian Harrison
209 Posted 23/05/2022 at 09:47:43
I thought that Frank would have ditched his 5 at the back for this last game, but he still persisted with it. He changed from that awful system in the 2nd half against Palace and look at the difference it made, 5 at the back concedes huge amounts of territory and possession to the opposition. When you give good teams that much possession and territory it will only end one way as yesterdays game highlighted.

I understand that many have ran themselves into the ground during the last 6 weeks or so, but yesterday just showed how woeful this squad is without certain key players, notably Richarlison who has carried this club for months.

After escaping relegation nobody was to bothered over the result but what worries me is Frank firmly entrenched into this back 5 strategy. Because if he is he will quickly realize that the fans may put up with this defensive system to get out of being relegated, but if he starts next season with this system, he will see a very different reaction to this system. Yesterday exposed the lack of quality in this squad, I have heard some posters suggesting some weeks back that Branthwaite should have been used, I know he is young but for me he is miles off being a Premier league CB. Same goes for Davies, I know he is a local lad but having played over 100 times he just hasn't progressed. Kenny likewise another local lad who just hasn't enough quality.

So Frank and Thelwell have got a busy 10 weeks before we start the new season, as if we start next season with this team and playing 5 at the back, I fear all we will have done is postponed relegation for a year. Sorry to be so pessimistic but if we think we can start next season with the same squad and the same system and hope for a different outcome we are kidding ourselves. I hope Frank and his coaches will go away and come back and play a more aggressive approach as we did 2nd half against Palace, Frank you have united the whole club please don't jeopardise that by lacking the courage to play a more open and attacking style next season.

Tony Everan
210 Posted 23/05/2022 at 10:02:23
Brian, I don’t think you are being pessimistic, to me what your saying is more realistic. We all want this aggressive open attacking style, to me it is Everton’s identity to play this way.

To achieve that it’s going to be all down to recruitment. Frank will ultimately succeed or fail because the players he signs. Starting this summer.

I can’t wait for Robert and or Sam start a thread on our potential summer targets. Successful recruitment over the next ten weeks is of monumental importance. With contracts ending and possibly some players being sold for big money, this summer transfer business is going to shape the club for better or worse for the next few seasons.

Tony Abrahams
211 Posted 23/05/2022 at 10:24:23
Sorry Ian@198, it was just me being sarcastic. Many people argue that Bill Kenwright, that two-pence actor actually saved Everton. Saved us from what?

I don't know, but he's played the best trick since Kevin Spacey convinced everyone about Keyser Söze… with the obvious difference being that one of them was only a movie.

Gary Jones
212 Posted 23/05/2022 at 10:32:32
Brian # 209 - agree with your concerns about back 5 entirely.

I am still hoping that it is out of a mistaken belief it somehow fits available players best, not because it’s what he wants to play it as a default. According to some basic research he apparently favours a 4-3-3.

Think it’s really important you know your preferred system, and get the players to fit it, ideally with backup/competition in each area. Klopp has done this very well at Mordor, and he’s not the only one. Sure, there will be an occasional switch up, but that’s an exception not a rule.

I hope too that Frank decides quickly it’s a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 and gets the right players for it. The former needs 3 goal scoring front men with pace, and 3 very strong midfielders. The latter would suit our ‘less prolific’ wingers, but needs a fabulous midfield 2 behind it. The last time we cracked that was McCarthy and Barry, albeit Gaye brought us close at times too.

Watching the next 10 weeks is going to be interesting. There’s a lot of work to do, and you are 100% right that the patience and support won’t last past the first 25% of the season if the last 3.5 months are repeated.

Peter Carpenter
213 Posted 23/05/2022 at 10:32:40
Whilst Captain Lampard has got the crew finally rowing in the same direction, Commodore Kenwright can't see past the days of steam - 'We've had some good times on the Queen Moysie' - whilst Admiral Moshiri (aka Pugwash) wastes millions on busted secondhand superyachts.
Len Hawkins
214 Posted 23/05/2022 at 10:53:41
Questioning Why Frank keeps playing some of our better underperformers – it could well be that he can't believe that some of them were actually bought for fees they can't justify and wages that some good players at other clubs would bite your hand off for.

I hope now he can believe how bad the squad is and peddle them around the lower leagues where they belong.

He was on a loser from day one but the knives were brought out and some wanting yet another manager, the question is: who in their right mind besides Neil Warnock would covet the Everton job.

In the last great Everton team, I hate saying this, but Kendall brought in some gold nuggets from Liverpool (Sheedy, Harper, to name but two) and two crocks in Reid and Gray who led the team with bags of experience.

In desperation, we could ask each player to write down their wife's, girlfriend's, or boyfriend's name and mobile number and bring in John Terry as defensive coach.

Don't expect big-name signings as our card is marked as far as FFP is concerned and we will have to pick some bargain-basement lower-league prospects, like Vardy and Kane, after selling the family silver.

Ian Pilkington
215 Posted 23/05/2022 at 11:02:03
Tony @211

My return apologies by taking your comments at face value. You are certainly not one of the usual suspects who still believe that Kenwright saved us.

I posted earlier that he has to go immediately. Let's hope that Moshiri will quickly find a prospective buyer for the club.

Steve Brown
216 Posted 23/05/2022 at 11:54:32
Sean @ 204, the integrity of the Premier Lleague is of no interest. Nor is the sentiment of other clubs.

We have had 10+ abysmal refereeing and VAR decisions that have cost us games, two Premier League rivals who are threatening to sue us, and opposition fans relishing the fact that we might get relegated.

Yesterday was a chance for a few players to get a last game in as Everton players (Kenny, Van de Beek), give some youngsters a try-out (Branthwaite, Price) and allow players with little game time lately to play (Davies, Begovic and Alli). It probably made sense to stick with a back 5 lately as we have with games against Top 6 opposition, but he switched it as soon as we went 2 goals down.

There is the big squad revamp due this summer to restructure a squad assembled by 5 previous managers in 6 years. Should be interesting!

Justin Doone
217 Posted 23/05/2022 at 12:02:29
I hate losing, but some losses are easier to accept if the performance was good.

No excuses – we were second-best. Some of the goals conceded against Arsenal showed the lack of concentration and general giving their all to deal with their responsibilities as team players.

I think the phrase "There's no such thing as a friendly" is the right mentality to have. We have too many players looking for Easy Street and finding a comfortable home for life.

I accept some players are not and may never be top-level players. But having a squad with a couple having the attitude and commitment of Davies and Gordon is preferable to buying and keeping a Gomes, Kean or Tosun.

Our youth team isn't full of world beaters but there's a couple of players who can put in more of a shift and set a higher bar for attitude and effort.

John McFarlane Snr
218 Posted 23/05/2022 at 12:23:16
Hi all, I am struggling to transfer the words that spring to mind, but here goes…

In the boyhood, youth, and early adult years of my life, my world revolved around Everton FC but things that occurred later forced me to recognise the fact that, although football plays a part in my life, that's exactly what it is – a part.

Like every football fan, I revel in the highs of the game, and gnash my teeth in the lows. I was tempted to write 'despair', but my desperate days are behind me.

I still attend games and will attempt to do so until the Grim Reaper calls time, I can understand the feelings of every Everton supporter, I share their 'highs and lows' – but obviously not to the same degree.

Hugh Jenkins
219 Posted 23/05/2022 at 12:38:36
Brian (194).

After the improvements seen in Holgate's attitude and performances since the new coaching staff took over, I wouldn't be surprised to see a centre-back pairing of Holgate and Godfrey next season.

Bill Watson
220 Posted 23/05/2022 at 12:39:24
I've never been so happy coming home from a 5-1 drubbing. Good that City fans invaded the pitch, too, as it removes any faint hope the RS and Talksport had of us being docked points for Thursday night.
The only downside was Leeds escaping.

We're already being sanctioned by the Prem League; that's why we only spent £1:8m in the close season and the Digne money in the January window. So, no need to unduly worry about threatened legal action.

Going forward the plus is that some expensive, non productive contracts, end next month so reducing the wages to income ratio to more sustainable levels.

I'm not completely sold on Lampard; some of his selections (Gomes on Thursday!!) and setups are bizarre but he must be given a chance to take the club forward. Part of the reason we are where we are is the constant churn of managers.

Finally, the RS must be really pissed off having to abort too early celebrations of 0-2 scorelines!

Martin Mason
221 Posted 23/05/2022 at 13:56:09
The depressing thing is that Thursday was just am emotion-filled over-performance and that Sunday was the depressing reality?

I wish that I could "stop" Everton as I stopped smoking... but, once it has you, it's worse than heroin addiction.

Christopher Timmins
222 Posted 23/05/2022 at 14:17:06
That well-known refrain "the table does not lie at the end a 38-game season" is so true. We didn't even hit the 40-point mark, the norm for survival, and stayed up because of the weaknesses of others.

Yesterday's result may be a blessing as it shines a light on our weaknesses and lack of quality.

Our manager is a work in progress, he deserves to be at the helm come August but, like others, I have been more than surprised with some of his selections during the past 18 games; if we are struggling 10 games into the new season, he will come under pressure.

It's time for Bill and Co to move on.

One final point, I hope Seamus if afforded the same treatment as that given to Noble in his final 2 years at West Ham. It was shameful, given his age, that he had to play so much since last August. Hopefully, he will start no more than 10 to 15 games in total next year. With a much-reduced workload, he can still contribute in his final year, both on and off the pitch.

Colin Malone
223 Posted 23/05/2022 at 14:32:11
Sorry, Frankie. Only for Pickford and the fans, we were down.

Okay, you inherited these players but it's been horrible to watch, most can't pass a ball or keep possession. Against Brentford and Crystal Palace, substitutions should've been made sooner.

The coaching structure, from the academy right through to the first team, needs to change now.

IMHO, there are too many cooks in the dugout. I've seen you giving out instructions… next minute, Paul Clement is up from the dugout, on his own, giving out instructions. Give Joe Edwards his due, he is always conferring with yourself when on the touchline.

In my opinion, Paul Clement is not good enough to be at Everton Football Club.

John McFarlane Snr
224 Posted 23/05/2022 at 14:34:24
Hi Bill [220]

Like yourself, I took pleasure from some of yesterday's results and the manner in which they were attained, especially that of Manchester City.

Our illegitimate cousins from across the park will not have taken it kindly, that both Everton and Man City had obtained victories in extraordinary circumstances, in the space of three days.

Regarding the Everton result, it wasn't unexpected but I had hoped for a better performance; on reflection, it was unfair to think that the worst Everton team in recent years (in the opinion of some) could beat a side battling for a 4th place.

The plus side to me is that it was the last game of the season, and hopefully efforts have already been made for the coming season.

Peter Dodds
225 Posted 23/05/2022 at 14:37:44
To all those expecting a big rebuild this summer, I would say - don't get your hopes too high. To the year ending in June 2022, we are still likely to have lost c £100M. We no longer have Covid as an excuse for reduced revenues or the inability to sell the players we wish. The Premier League will still have a big say in what we can spend for some time yet.

Furthermore, Kieran Maguire published a report yesterday that showed our wages last season – 8th or 9th in the league – were £50M pa more than the clubs in the next 6 or 7 slots – including West Ham, Newcastle, Wolves, Palace – all clubs that have comfortably out-performed us this season.

Our figure will have come down somewhat since Rodriguez left but, even losing some big wages this summer - Tosun, Sigurdsson and others - we might still only be half-way to where we need to be. And some of these players need replacing.

Don't forget that, if we lose Calvert-Lewin for £60M, say, and buy several replacements for the same amount, we're storing up problems for the next few seasons because their fees will be amortized over the period of their contracts - i.e. our accounts would show that we're "losing" £15M pa for the next 4 years. That's a lot more than the amortization we're suffering on Calvert-Lewin (or Richarlison).

Given all the above, I fear we will see little "expensive" activity this summer - mostly loans, one or two players out of contract, and others plucked from the Championship or other similarly "cheap" overseas leagues.

Rob Hooton
226 Posted 23/05/2022 at 14:53:09
I was fortunate enough to miss the match yesterday as it was my wedding anniversary- managed to avoid all football scores until match of the day last night!

I’m just glad the season is over, but don’t feel confident about next season at all.

Some clubs have squads of athletes and others go for pure footballers, we seem to have neither as most of our squad seemingly can’t run, pass, tackle or shoot! If we sell Pickford and have Begovic as our main keeper for next season I predict more of the same as Begovic is weak and pretty poor in my opinion.

We’ve got our work cut out to assemble a squad that can at least reach mid table and I imagine we will likely lose our 2 or 3 best players. At least we get a break from it all.

Best wishes to all, hope you have a great summer.

Joe McMahon
227 Posted 23/05/2022 at 14:57:37
Colin, I have wondered about Clement myself. However RE too many in the dugout, what about Duncan? Many out there still want him to be permanent manager.
Tony Abrahams
228 Posted 23/05/2022 at 15:00:29
Your post is why I believe that Everton FC Co Ltd will be sold under market value, Peter, and hopefully to people who will know how to make us both competitive and viable, whilst also taking away our jinx.
Sean Roe
229 Posted 23/05/2022 at 15:36:36
Steve @ 216

Fair comment but I'm sure I remember Blackpool being pulled up about playing what was considered a weak team the last time they were in the Premier League. I can't remember if they were fined or whether Holloway was fined for arguing.

I hope we get it right with recruitment, I can't see us having much to spend.

Colin Malone
230 Posted 23/05/2022 at 16:53:48
Joe # 227.
You can have as many in the dug out as you want. But You don't see, another coach with Klopp, Pep, Arteta, all premiership managers, they would told in no uncertain terms to shut up and sit back down. Hence too many cooks. If one of the coaches sees a problem, they put they're view to the manager and if he or she deems it positive, the manger will relay it to the players on the pitch. Seen it too many times when Clement decides to take it upon himself to coach from the sideline.
Imagine a coach doing that to Pep?
Eddie Ng
231 Posted 23/05/2022 at 17:02:31
Steavey @124. yes, it is possible, 2003-04 we were 4th from bottom and 2004-05 we were 4th from top ;-)
Bill Rodgers
232 Posted 23/05/2022 at 17:22:44
There is no time to waste. Lampard needs to clear out Finch Farm before the break not after it. This escape was lucky and we cannot afford to be here again. We want players who give everything every game - not only when they are facing the abyss. We want players who are committed to the team not their own profile.
Tom Harvey
233 Posted 23/05/2022 at 17:58:29
Sean Roe @ 173

Hello Sean,

Well said.

I was the same, just relief, we should not be partying because we exist down at the bottom and just about survived.

"Nil Satis, Nisi Optimum"

I wonder what that really means to many who support the club, because of it I couldn't party.

Danny O’Neill
234 Posted 23/05/2022 at 18:18:14
It was relief Tom. And a sheer outpouring of emotion and passion based on that relief.

It was incredible support. As was yesterday in the Emirates sun.

We all know what it means and we all want it. I keep saying it, but imagine when we win something. The Richter scale is going to cause alarm amongst the world's scientists.

Then we can celebrate.

Paul Birmingham
235 Posted 23/05/2022 at 21:03:31
I've never been so glad to see the end of the most wretched season in decades. Time to take stock, relax and recharge the batteries.

I recall Everton the 1979-80 season, it was dire and I think Everton scrapped 35 points to stay up in the old Division 1, when the bottom 2 teams got relegated.

Last Thursday was the most joyous event in decades in terms of Everton, better than Bayern, in the sense that the bigger long-term future of the club was at stake.

But the lesson of this season must be taken on board and the scale of the challenges that Everton face on and off the park, are massive.

Are they challenges that can be faced and resolved effectively? In one season, no; in my view, three seasons, but this is a huge expectation. Time will judge.

I don't know, but regardless Evertonians must continue to stand firm by the club, and carry on the most partisan support in the Premier League. Untouchable!

But the coaching culture and mentality must instil a winning mentality for every game, home and away, in season and pre-season.

So a fine day yesterday, in that other results happened, in context, and I hope, next Saturday, I can get the other half of my double bet up, please Real Madrid.

All enjoy the pre-season and we live in hope eternal for all matters Everton.

UTFT!

Mark Murphy
236 Posted 23/05/2022 at 23:28:04
My apologies to Sean for my post 194 - I have been irked since Thursday by fans of the other lot accusing us of over celebrating and the “breaking news” about the open top bus poured vinegar on a festering sore. But I shouldn’t call any fellow blue a Koppite and I’m sorry, Sean. In addition, I agree with your post in general - just sensitive to the opening of it. UTFT
Sean Roe
237 Posted 24/05/2022 at 06:49:37
Mark,

Absolutely no need to apologise but much respect for the gesture. We have all suffered this season and I guess my post was insensitive as we all react differently to different situations, and I did know that the celebrations were more out of relief than anything.

I just hate people viewing us as a small club with no ambition and I just felt we were playing into their hands, and I include the Everton hierachy in that.

Anyway, let's hope we get the recruitment right this summer and make some much-needed progress next season.

Mark Murphy
238 Posted 24/05/2022 at 08:03:37
That’s very magnanimous of you Sean. Let’s look forward to a good summer of positive and sweeping changes throughout our great club. Hopefully we will indeed have that open top bus for genuine reasons sometime soon and that Frank turns us around - UTFT and Hala Madrid!!
Tony Abrahams
239 Posted 24/05/2022 at 08:17:52
Mark@236, when Liverpudlians accuse Everton of anything, learn to smile mate. Klopp was begging them to stay until the end not so long ago, he had his team run to the kop all together, because they got a late equalizer at home to West Brom. Don’t you understand that the team that were “going for everything” (how they love the media now those kopites) were absolutely fuming when Everton came from two goals down the other night?

We hate each, with the only difference being that Evertonians are just more open about the fact, and every Evertonian knows that Thursday night’s celebration was about absolute relief, plus they also think they own the rights to having the best supporters, which was also disproved the other night!

Brian Williams
240 Posted 24/05/2022 at 08:42:56
I'd challenge ANY set of supporters (not fans) not to react as we did on Thursday night if they'd had the season we've had, and were in exactly the same position as we were.
I celebrated alright, and shed a tear too, not because I was proud of the season we'd had but because I was so deliriously happy that that we didn't suffer the alternative to survival.
With regard to the other lot you have to try to ignore them because lots of them are vile, spiteful, and hate us as they hate any club that might take the limelight away from them, even for a short time, and get some positive media coverage.
You only have to visit the Everton threads on the online Echo to see how many of them post their hatred on them.
Success isn't enough for them they need to see us suffer as well.
No time for 99.9% of them.
Dave Abrahams
241 Posted 24/05/2022 at 09:15:58
Tony (239) and Brian (240) Amen to that, great posts, Brian understood your feelings after the game perfectly.
John McFarlane Snr
242 Posted 24/05/2022 at 10:00:19
HI Tony [239] & Brian {240] excellent posts from both of you, it was the release of pressure, giving way to a wonderful feeling of pleasure. I too would have been on the pitch, but age and ailment prevented that, my Grandson Josh did the honours for me.
Peter Carpenter
243 Posted 24/05/2022 at 10:21:50
Pity the poor Kopites, don't hate them. They can't help it.

They haven't been in a relegation battle for decades so they don't know what they are talking about (shock/horror). Personally, I planned, assuming we won, to politely applaud the players as they went round the pitch at the end and go home – but certainly not to be seen celebrating anything after this season of torture.

As it turned out, I was still there 45 mins after the final whistle, having sung till I was hoarse – and I haven't done that at the match since the 1980s. This was the boring old Top Balcony too – another shock/horror!

I have been lucky enough to witness Championship, FA Cup and European trophy victories and I really hope the young fans get to see something of that soon. But the feeling of those victories is nothing like the feeling on Thursday night. The relief is hard to describe and totally different.

They will never understand this, so sod 'em all.


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