The Everton Knot: how to get through this day

They've given us hope in the Chelsea, Man Utd, and Leicester games, only to fuck things up in true Everton style by failing where we should have succeeded.

I've got – what any "normal" person would say – several much more important issues going on in my life at the moment but the ridiculousness of it, the insanity of it, is that Everton's plight makes those issues (and they are serious) just fade into the background until we are safe!

I sometimes wish it wasn't so important, I really do, because then I would be able to care less and get on with life. But I can't, and won't be able to until that final whistle goes tonight and we've beaten Palace.

Then I'll sleep the sleep of the contented and face those other issues with not a care in the world.

Does that make me insane, I wonder?

Of course I'm desperate for us to stay up, but if we do something has to change. We've been run like a non-league club owned by a lottery winner. So whether we stay up, or face a spell in the Championship, if the ownership and board don't make some massive changes - and have an honest look at their failings - we're doomed to mediocrity at best for the forseeable future.

I did say I wasn't going to come up for this game - the Brentford game nearly killed me off - but I've come this far, so I'm seeing it through to the bitter end.

I travel in hope more than expectation but, whatever happens, UTFT!

Get this one over the line then it has to be about off the pitch.

Give us ecstasy tonight, Everton.

But then the post mortem must begin.

But right now, I just want 3 points.

The problem being it will probably be Bill carrying out the post mortem.

We have never met; however, like many others on here who dream of Everton, I dreamt the other night that me and you were dressed as blue gnomes outside the Old Lady. We refused to move until the boys had won. Make of it what you will.

But I know I won't be able to stop checking the score. Why did I sign up for this torture? Please Everton get the job done for us fans and put an end to this misery.

Your surname is actually what he deserves.

Just like he did after the Wimbledon game. Or was it the Coventry game? Or was it one of the many times we've been let down as fans?

Whatever happens, finger-pointing and recriminations start on Monday.

Don't forget that the deadline for nominations for the Fan Advisory Board closes tonight. Already nominated my guy, but given the timing and the 10-day window to get it sorted can only be yet another smokescreen and it would not surprise me if 'he' already knows who is going to be elected.

It is worrying having some key players missing but we should have Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison firing again so hopefully we will get the goals we need.

I think a clean sheet is nigh-on impossible but we can but hope.

Sure, the sending off cost us dear – but it only happened, for fuck's sake, because we made Brentford look like Barcelona in their prime. Eriksen could have waltzed around the midfield all day and not a blue shirt got near him.

So it's nowt to do with referees or a dastardly plot. Moshiri and Kenwright might be thick but they cannot be responsible for the least motivated and organised team in the league. That falls on the coaching – and it has been the same thru at least 7 managers.

If we escape, the risk is that, after a summer on the beach they will repeat. Either clear out Finch Farm or we will be back here next year.

I know that these words are not popular, but millions of words are spent here ignoring the obvious truth. It is not the money. It is not the players – it is the complete lack of an effective coaching system and it's time we wised up.