Another away-day collapse ends Wembley dream

Only Coleman gets any credit, and only just.

This team is going directly to the Championship and won't even pass Go.

Different manager, same problems.

Not too bothered we have been binned out because Chelsea would have torn us a new arsehole at Wembley, no way has this Everton side got the bollox to upset a big fish in a Semi-Final at Wembley.

The galling thing is how piss-weak we are mentally, honestly, they are like Under-10 school kids, so easy knock out of rythmn, so flakey and so easily emotionally hurt.

The defence and goalkeeper have never and will never instill confidence in me. Pickford is too erratic and always seems on edge whilst I'm not even gonna bother talking about the defence.

The nonexistent midfield, the hapless Andre Gomes who is almost comedy funny these days at his pretence that he's a football player.

Doucouré, is this fella meant to bring athletism to our team? Really? Because I think even Gareth Barry at 35 was more athletic, only difference is Barry was an excellent reader of the game and passer.

If we think building a team around midfielders that can't pass or shoot is going to move the club forward, then maybe even the fans are deluded.

Anthony Gordon starts games well but I've just watched Phil Foden, a similar age to Gordon, and I see a genuinely top class player with end-product. Gordon does not have end-product and basically we need that and we need it now.

If Gordon wants to move on to the next level he'll most likely need to leave Everton FC.

Richarlison, fuck me, what a mediocre footballer. Yes, he tries, he works hard... but he is so poor with the ball for a Brazilian and he's nowhere near the player he was in his first two seasons. If a good offer comes in for him, I reckon I'd listen to it all day long.

Same with the other waste of space, Calvert-Lewin, overhyped player with limited technical abilities if ever I've seen one.

What a truly shite team we have garnered here for £460 million in a few years.

Between them, I don't think they could muster a single backbone, they shatter under the slightest setback. We're Championship-bound with these bunch of sub-par chancers.

We jumped at the chance of Moshiri and his money; he's killed us with abject performance as majority shareholder. Error followed error, chopping and changing managers, now we're lumbered with FFP and a ragtag group of several managers' players.

Dark days ahead, buckle up, it won't be pleasant.

There are a number of players at this club who shouldn't play again; they aren't good enough and simply don't care! I mean no malice but it is time we call them out:

Gomes – how is it that any of our managers feel that he is worthy of a place? It's not the injury – he just looks like he doesn't care. He's clumsy and offers very little offensively.

Holgate – Possibly the worst defender in the Premier League. Can't read a game. Regularly out of position and his distribution is pathetic.

Then there are those who are struggling massively to find any kind of form. Doucouré was awful today. Probably the worst performance I have seen from him.

Keane – I do feel he cares but is helpless to improve the situation. Surely he needs to go in the summer.

I thought Coleman was one of the few good players today but he is clearly struggling and cannot be playing next season. Why at 3-0 did Patterson not get a game?

Why are we trying to play with width when there are no crosses going into the box and we lack and real presence to put them away even if they did?

Why aren't we packing the midfield? Playing through the middle? All we do by playing with width is isolate our players and make it easy for the opposition.

I think Lampard has struggled to understand where these players are at. If you must play players like Holgate, then put him in midfield.

The fixtures left are:

Watford (A)
West Ham United (A)
Burnley (A)
Manchester United (H)
Leicester City (H)
Crystal Palace (H)
Liverpool (A)
Chelsea (H)
Leicester City (A)
Brentford (H)
Arsenal (A).

I just don't see where 1 point is coming from – never mind 11!! Been an Everton fan since the late 70s and have never seen our side capitulate so badly and so often. They truly are a disgrace. I am embarrassed to be an Everton fan!!

For the next two games, Frank needs to find a midfielder from somewhere – no Allan... and Gomes is more than a liability.

Doucouré is completely lost without Allan but, to be fair, he's often lost with him.

Holgate shocking, what a long and sad decline from a brief period when he looked like a player.

And Gomes, can't tackle, pass, shoot, create, head, mark or link up. Should be nowhere near the team.

First 20 minutes, we weren't too bad but really had to score then as there's so little fight in the team, especially away. Also so little understanding between the players.What the fuck goes on at training is anyone's guess.

Concentrate on the league now, it's going to need the 12th man of Goodison to save us.

Teams of average ability know that if they stay patient they will create chances in open play or at set pieces against our porous defence. Equally we lack the quality to create many chances either in open play or at set pieces. Our delivery at corners is usually pathetic.

As a consequence we are now languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table. Despite the late win on Thursday, our trajectory is entirely in the wrong direction. As a unit, the players do not have the quality required to be effective at this level.

In short, we are crap.

Even on the rare occasions that we do manage to score first away, it doesn't take too long for the home team to equalise, no matter which personnel are chosen or what formation the manager uses. It's the weakest minded, least professional and least proud bunch of Everton players we've ever had.

If I was in charge, I'd rip up several contracts during the International break and tell them to sue for the monies owed; that, of course, won't happen... but the temptation for somebody to do that, must be very real.

Palace really weren't that good because they didn't have to be.

It wasn't a hiding because we weren't outplayed by a great team, we ourselves were just completely abject.

We won't get anything away to Arsenal, West Ham and Liverpool. Lose the next 3 games away, though, and we're screwed. Watford is massive. Newcastle gave us hope, but it's the hope that kills you...

More like 30% Frank! The players will believe that 70% is a good effort!

So not only was it bad losing 4-0, it got worse losing a player who is important playing from the start or during a game from the subs' bench.

Benitez spent £30 million on 2 players to replace Digne. But where are the 2 players today? Sitting on the subs bench getting no experience of playing against Premier League opposition.

It's the same with Lampard, he buys a midfield player for up to £40 million, he also starts from the subs' bench when not cup-tied. Everton managers past and present are just misusing resources that can only be spent once.

He was a free transfer. It will cost £10 million if he plays 20 matches.

I've already said I'll come off here if that happens. It won't.

However, we can't do that, can we?

So play this lot in a 4-5-1 away from home

Pickford or Begovic

Coleman, Keane Branthwaite, Kenny or Mykolenko
Gordon, Holgate, Allan, Godfrey, Richarlson,
Calvert-Lewin or Rondon whoever is fittest.

That gives us 7 defenders, Allows Allan to go hunting the ball, which is what he is best at, as Holgate and Godfrey sit. Occasionally Godfrey can go on one of his lung-bursting runs straight at the opposition and create space for others. The formation also gives us plenty of height at free-kicks. Whilst Allan is suspended, use either Van de Beek or Doucouré but not Gomes – he's finished. I know he's not the only one but we need to use what we have in some other positions.

At home 4-4-1 1

Pickford or Begovic

Coleman, Keane, Branthwaite Godfrey
Iwobi, Holgate, Allan, Richarlson
Gordon
Calvert-Lewin

With 11 games to go, we need 10 points. We can do this – can't we?

The worrying thing is, as they showed on Thursday, they do care but are either mentally shot or simply not good enough for the task at hand.

Whilst there are flaws throughout the team, it is the flaky, shaky defence that is the foundation for our demise.

They don't look good enough and frankly they certainly aren't mentally strong enough.

The problem is a lack of hard-nosed winners.

We've got Seamus Coleman as Captain but at 33 years of age he's won absolutely zero in his entire career (not his fault I know)

Imagine a Roy Keane in our team, a serial winner demanding performances?

Players we had under Moyes like Tim Cahill and Lee Carsley etc, they weren't winners in terms of trophies but they were hard competitors.

We don't even have hard competitors these days, let alone serial winners.

They have proved game after game they are mentally weak and lack any traces of footballing ability, but thanks to the morons who did the deals to sign these players, it will be near impossible thanks to the more-than-generous wages these charlatans are on.

The one thing that really fucks me is this: What happened to the team that started the season? I mean, they were on fire... then it all went to shit.

Added to the above, we have had 3 managers in the last 12 months that all play different styles of football, a different approach to training and different expectations of what players should do in and out of possession.

Given all that, there are many excuses why we are where we are. But that doesn't matter.

What does matter is making the most of what you have. Given the poor players and form over the last few years, it's about getting back to basics. Stay solid and compact at the back. Make use of the pace we now have in forward positions. Get crosses and players in the box quickly.

Frank is questioning himself and the players. That shows his inexperience and what a huge risk it is to appoint a rookie manager who wants to transform players and playing style in a few weeks.

Frank talked about how well Newcastle setup and their good tactics. It shows how naive he is. His team got outplayed by Newcastle twice. It shows he learnt nothing about how to set-up and counter from the first game.

I hate losing but getting beat by the top teams, the 'Top 6' happens. If we get beat but show some fight and continue to create chances and carry a goal threat, I can accept a loss against any team.

Getting outplayed, conceding all manner of goals without a fight, without scoring, without creating chances is not acceptable.

From an attacking sense, we don't create many chances and fewer 'good' chances against average Premier League teams. We struggled to create against a non-league team!

The Rafa choice was always wrong. But in Gray and Townsend, he brought in two very good players. We were creating chances and looked dangerous going forward. Defensively, we were a shambles.

Frank hasn't solved the defensive frailties but more worryingly has blunted our attacks.

It's like we are trying to sail the Titanic to its original destination when it's obvious a change of priorities is long overdue.

I don't believe he asked for any of these players, and it just shows how much Everton have been getting mismanaged in the transfer market since we first appointed a DOF.

You could argue we have been sleepwalking towards relegation, such has been our gross negligence in the transfer market, especially the January window, when we never really signed one player for the here and now.

I also think Mykolenko was a panic buy after the fallout with Lucas Digne.

Patterson is probably one for the future; after seeing Seamus Coleman these days, let us hope that future is quite soon, however.

I think we need to put all of them up for sale this summer and see if there are any realistic offers. Perhaps some maniac club will pay £7 million for Keane or Holgate. A few million from Porto for Gomes?

At the moment, I think we'll struggle to get much more than the £50 million we paid for Richarlison four years ago, has he considerably pushed on since 2018? I think the answer is no.

I'm looking at fans rave about Richarlison, saying he's this and that, but contrast him to players at top sides, he's nowhere near for example as good as Son at Tottenham.

Calvert-Lewin, I'd listen to anything around £35 million, again another player that doesn't possess irreplaceable talents, we could have got more in the last year from a battering ram like Mitrovic than watching Calvert-Lewin fail to control a ball and fluff chances.

It's time to stop being sentimental with these players now, look at the table, look at the results, they aren't good enough and aren't hard enough to fight.

Do you expect Dele Alli to be sitting on the subs' bench for the next 4 years, still attracting payments to Spurs for up to £40 million, because he will be on a 4-year contract whether he plays or not?

I'm not sure any of us quite know how the Dele Alli deal works. But, if he's a flop, it does seem as though we'd have to pay his wages (as I think you're saying) even if we don't pay Spurs much of a fee.

So it was basically Spurs foregoing a fee to get his wages off their books (not unlike what Real Madrid did with Rodriguez).

So it's sort of a good deal for us, but it's also a hefty wage to pay for many years if it goes wrong.

It's currently not looking promising but you never know.

I wish I could say the same for any other player we have but I can't – quite the opposite, their slide into oblivion is bringing the fear of relegation into a very unwelcome reality.

I said a couple of times in her eI would cheer the team and encourage, as unity of support is vital to get us over the line. Against Newcastle, the supporters were superb; again against Palace, 4,000 raucous in voice, supported the team with everything they could. In return, they got a disgraceful lack of effort, of caring, of what it means to every single blue.

In short, the vast majority don't deserve to wear the shirt. They don't trust fellow players in the team, give up too easily but apart from that they are just not good enough. Their only consistency has been to give up rather than fight. There are resigned to going down. That is simply disgraceful.

I said a couple of months ago, that the whole back four should be dropped, We have badly missed Mina, we have over-played Coleman, wanted to play the younger, hungry players. Midfield is a disaster, on a good day, how few there are, Allan and Doucoure can be very good but separated they are woeful.

Calvert-Lewin either gets fit or gets out of the way. Christ, at this point in time, I would rather the effort of Rondon!

I will give credit to Lampard, not his fault this group have no moral fibre, but how much buttering up will there be left before he swings around and plays the kids? Can it be much worse?

Unfortunately,, at the moment, it feels like the latter. Is that the players' fault? It seems like we've managed to assemble a team full of misfits if you ask me – that and one glaring anomaly, namely our defence.

The modern game is dictated by full-backs, both in attack and defence and ours are useless. We play Coleman who is too old and can't get up & down anymore, then we play a right-back at left-back so he's wrong-footed and messes up the balance. I pretty firmly believe this is the crux of our problems.

Losing Digne has been a huge loss for us. Huge.

I agree, but that's exactly why I don't want this keep changing managers every 6 months.

I don't want a new fella coming in thinking it's worth "taking a look at the current squad" because honestly there's no need, he would take 2 months to realise he's working with shitbag players.

We then go to Burnley for the 6-pointer on the Wednesday, and need to dominate them. Burnley have more winnable games than us in the run-in, so we have to get something there.

Finally, on the Saturday early afternoon, it should be another low block against Man Utd, and hit them on the break.

I expect us to lose all three, to be honest, but if we can hold the Hammers – bearing in mind they'll have the Europa quarter-final first leg on their minds – beat Burnley, and take a point from the Man Utd home game, I'd be ecstatic.

I'm not sure how our threadbare squad can cope with three big games in less than a week though.

I tend to fall into the second analysis, anyone who thinks Kenny might do a job at left wing-back, falls into the completely useless category.

Not fair on Kenny either.

Let's see if he can change things, after calling the players out. Even if he can just avoid relegation that will be sufficient, and get rid of some of these lazy players. But that will be difficult in itself as who will buy them for what the club will want.

Palace were the better team in the area that counted and that was the midfield (again!) as Gallagher controlled it, as he does in most games. They must be sick they were drawn against Chelsea as he will be ineligible.

Some people on here have often questioned why we don't have a sports psychiatrist. I don't know if we do, but somehow we have to get it out of the players' heads that we are defeated as soon as the opposition scores.

I can answer that for you, Frank: No, they haven't, mate.

About time a coach called these for what they are. Just don't expect to be Everton manager for much longer though. Bill and Dunc will see to that.

They should be agreeing with him and back him 100%. Fuck 'em, Frank, and play the kids until the end, pal.

Tony, we're so short pf reasonably decent players that I don't find it easy to say with certainty who should play elsewhere in the team - but I agree entirely with you about Richie.

I saw Richie winning nothing in the air against the CP centre back (same old story); it was easy pickings for that guy. Get DCL up there to win knock-downs for Richie to chase.

And no more three-at-the-back.

Frank isn't blameless in the poor results he's had so far, but I'm a little surprised that the media seem to be after him so early in his Everton career.

I genuinely think if we played seven at the back, we would still be defending way to deep and still conceding the middle of the park. (Because not enough of our defenders are prepared to play higher) It's very, very painful to watch Everton getting overrun in the midfield every single game, and hard to fathom considering Frank Lampard played a lot of his very successful Chelsea career in a five man midfield?

Going back to having so few good players, I wonder if the manager is pandering to our Brazilian because of this? But that's what happens when things get this bad, we begin to become a bit desperate and clutch at straws, but that's probably because some of us probably feel we could make this Everton team a lot more competitive? There I go again…

It'll take more than a couple of dropped players to salvage the season. The club is so badly run with total nepotism throughout. Even the kits are shite and have been for years. No answers just anger and frustration.

I know a lot tend to think he goes down too easily. I would counter that in saying quick players often only need to feel the slightest of touches to knock them off-balance and, because they are moving at pace, the fall looks all that more spectacular, in my opinion. Andy Johnson suffered from it, and once opposition managers (Mourinho) spoke out about it, the officials were convinced he was a diver who went down too easy. He wasn't. He was a lightweight quick player, but an honest one. Just like Richarlison.

The only other position I feel he can play is Number 10, but agree, he is wasted and ineffective as the main striker. We'd have given Palace more problems and had more shape with Rondon. Big shout, I know.

Changes have been forced on us because of injuries and suspensions – but perhaps all the more reason to keep to a settled shape, so the players can train to that, play to that, and not have to continually adjust to shifting shapes.

Peter #50, Richarlison's slowness in getting back onside infuriates me. Playing wide of Calvert-Lewin or Rondon would, I think, mean that he's more likely to be positioned in a slightly less advanced position than the striker, ready for the knock-down.

Had breakfast in 'Spoons, Croydon, on Sunday, surrounded by Palace fans. I felt so isolated, especially when they took the other 3 chairs from my table, and then the tables around me. I felt as isolated as our lone striker.

God knows, maybe it's akin to thinking there's a midfield player in Gomes? Both defy all empirical evidence.

I don't and never can understand why at corners we don't have a man on each post. Their first goal would not have gone in had we done that. I have been a full time youth coach for over 25 years and all my teams defend every corner with a player on both posts.

Regarding Everton that should be a given as we are weak at defending set-pieces; we would also have got a 0-0 at home to Villa.

We need Calvert-Lewin on the front post as Richarlison hasn't headed clear for the last 2 goals conceded from crosses.

Just for the record, the ref on Thursday was the same one who was the VAR for Palace v Liverpool – their first goal should have been disallowed for offside, and that joke of a pen when Jota fouled the goalie.

Assuming you were there, what was the atmosphere like in the away section yesterday? Difficult to tell on TV.

I usually look for Rob Halligan's thoughts on this, but I've not spotted him on the forum today. Hope he's okay (after yesterday's tiring round trip) and preparing for the trip to West Ham.

David Moyes made a team. None of his successors have done the same, IMO.

Sorry, Everton do not have the skillful players like Brazil, Everton are playing you on the wing as you are more effective on the wing in their team than as an out-and-out #9.

The away section was full of anticipation at first, especially after the decent start.

Once we'd gone two behind, and apart from two guys behind me who gave it non-stop criticism, the fans were pretty much resigned to our fate, relatively meekly.

Why do we not leave someone up front when defending corners?

Why do we rush our own free-kicks and do nothing with the ball except go backwards?

Why, when we have possession, do we knock it about a bit across the back, give it back to Pickford, who then either kicks it out, or launches it so our possession then becomes a 50/50 lottery ball... that we never win?

Why don't we do the coaching basics, with so many coaches at Finch Farm?

Going off those two games, the defence did seem a little more relaxed, even when we went down to 10 men in one of the games. So food for thought if the defenders are indeed more relaxed without Pickford behind them.

No doubt we need the defence sorted and new additions there, but you could be on to something regarding the backline.

Another thing I mentioned a few seasons ago is, with every new manager, the players have performed for the honeymoon period, so we know they have the ability there. So is it down to being in their heads, a psychological problem? Or they just cannot be arsed, "I'm still picking up a wage each week" attitude? If it is psychological, no amount of coaching, one-to-ones, is going to fix the issue.

On a different matter, I have been very impressed with Anthony Gordon, we all have. He gives everything on the pitch; however, in the last few games, he has started to fall into the Richarlison mode, going down and making it look like he has a bad injury. We need to nip this in the bud early doors, he is better than that.

Going forward, I think the home games will just about save us. That then leaves the question: Will the same happen next season? Will we be as lucky next time round of not needing anywhere near 40 points?

Once our season has been decided, then and only then, we all need to join together and send a strong message to the board: we cannot sit back and allow this to happen again.

I'm worried about him getting burnt out, and they always seem to target him in the first half of games, Shelvey's tackle was a straight red and an example of targeting a young talent.

We are lacking creativity and would like to see him in the Number 10 role; he has a shot on him too, I think he is wasted on the wing.

Home support required for this team as against Newcastle. After 55 years of going to Goodison, this team needs all the help it can get.

I would argue that Richarlison and now Gordon take a battering each and every game, from some really brutal challenges, so if they do make the most of a challenge, there is good reason for it.

I'm not in favour of doing a Mane or a Salah and going down as soon as somebody breathes on them, but it has become an acceptable dark art of the modern game and it earns plenty of points.

It's up to the officials to eradicate the brutal challenges and when they've done that, they can start to enforce a more rigorous attempt to cut out the fake foul claims by booking more players more often and not giving some teams lots of penalties and others none for similar offences.

Whoever's left at Finch Farm in this break needs to be coached into battle ready shape for the war ahead. God help us but it looks like we could be down.

There were plenty of happy memories back in the early '50s. The semi-final against Bolton when Dave Hickson, with his head bandaged up, played a hero's game. The last game in the 2nd Division, travelling to Bury and seeing Evertonians driving a tractor along the East Lancs road, determined to get to the match - and once we realised we were back in the 1st Division, seeing the Dark Side pass us as they were relegated! Always Look on the Bright Side...!

I get your point but any sentence mentioning Bury FC doesn't exactly fill one with hope. On the plus side, as a “big club” the last time three of the self-proclaimed “Big 6” got relegated (Man Utd, Spurs and Chelsea) they all bounced back the next season. The last “big” club to go down and stay down longer was Liverpool.

After we stay up I expect Richarlson and DCL to ask for a transfer. The price must be £100m plus for the pair of them. No cheap deals no performance related shite - £100m plus or no deal.

Goalkeepers.
Pickford - if we get a decent offer ie £30m plus let him go. We should replace him with Sam Johnstone from WBA, who will be out of contract in June. No fee, just wages etc. Robin Olsen will have a year left on his contract at Roma if Villa don't take up the option to buy. He may be an option too. Nominal fee as his contract ends in June 2023.
Begovic stays. Renew contract.
Lonergan - released.
Virginia - out of contract. Release. ( Has played just 7 games in Portugal ).
Seamus Coleman - retirement.
Yerry Mina - he's too injury prone and despite him being our best defender he will have to go. £20m plus.
Mason Holgate - his contract runs until June 2025, Given his wages I can't see him leaving.
Michael Keane - his contract runs until June 2025. Given his wages I can't see him leaving.
Ben Godfrey - likewise, his contract runs until June 2025. Given his wages I can't see him leaving.
JJ Kenny - out of contract. Would likely stay if we are relegated.
Nkounkou - will have a year left on his contract. Offer a 1 year extension.
Branthwaite, Mylolenko and Patterson will stay.

Midfield.
Allan - he will have a year on his contract. Sell. £15m plus.
Doucoure - he will have a year on his contract. Sell £18m plus.
Davies - Sell. £12m plus.
Gomes - his contract ends in June 2024. If he can't be sold. Loan out.
Gbamin - his contract ends in June 2024. If he can't be sold. Loan out.
Delph - out of contract. ( I want his agent to represent me ). release.
Townsend - contract ends June 2023, Given his likely injury he will be staying, whatever happens.
El Ghazi - goes back to Villa.
Iwobi.- contract runs until 2024. Can't see him going anywhere.
Van de Beek - back to Manu.
Deli Ali - contract runs until 2024. I doubt he will leave. I doubt he will get 20 games either, unless he has an amazing change of attitude. ( Which I doubt ).
His contract runs until 2024. Joke.
Onyango - stays.
Strikers
Tosun - released.
Gray - stays
Gordon - stays.
Rondon - contract runs until 2023 with an option for a further year. Sell for a nominal fee.
Kean - sell. Scored 5 goals in 32 appearances for Juventus. £20m

So thats approx £180m - £200m ( or am I being too optimistic? ) in, with maybe another £20m if we can flog Gomes / Gbamin and that's a big IF.

The squad left is, without in comings and on the proviso we stay up

Goalkeeper
Begovic

Defence
Holgate
Keane
Godfey
Mylenko
Branthwaite
Patterson
Nkounkou
add Kenny stays if we are relegated.
Would Holgate, Keane and Godfrey go if we go down ? On those wages ? Possibly Godfrey would as the Bar Codes can afford to pay him more then we do. The other two ? I can't see them leaving as who will pay them more ?

Midfield
Townsend
Iwobi
Onyango
Davies to stay if we are relegated.

Attack
Gray
Gordon
Rondon to stay if we are relegated.

Others
Tyrer, GK.
Welch, D.
Astley, D.
Whitaker,M.
Price, M.
Dobbin, A.

So thats 13 first teamers to stay plus 6 kids. If we stay up.
If we go down 15 first teamers plus the 6 kids.
Whichever way you look at it. We will need at least 5 new signings and some of those kids to come good asap.

Our first pre season line up could look like this
Begovic,
Patterson Keane Branthwaite Nkounkou
Iwobi, Onyango, Whitaker, Gordon
Gray, Dobbin.

Subs Tyrer, Keane, Mylolenko, Price, Deli Alli.

Just think, which ever division we are in, we are likely to start next season with Holgate and / or Keane in defence. Will this nightmare ever end ?

After we stay up I expect Richarlson and DCL to ask for a transfer. The price must be £100m plus for the pair of them. No cheap deals no performance related shite - £100m plus or no deal.

Goalkeepers.
Pickford - if we get a decent offer ie £30m plus let him go. We should replace him with Sam Johnstone from WBA, who will be out of contract in June. No fee, just wages etc. Robin Olsen will have a year left on his contract at Roma if Villa don't take up the option to buy. He may be an option too. Nominal fee as his contract ends in June 2023.
Begovic stays. Renew contract.
Lonergan - released.
Virginia - out of contract. Release. ( Has played just 7 games in Portugal ).
Seamus Coleman - retirement.
Yerry Mina - he's too injury prone and despite him being our best defender he will have to go. £20m plus.
Mason Holgate - his contract runs until June 2025, Given his wages I can't see him leaving.
Michael Keane - his contract runs until June 2025. Given his wages I can't see him leaving.
Ben Godfrey - likewise, his contract runs until June 2025. Given his wages I can't see him leaving.
JJ Kenny - out of contract. Would likely stay if we are relegated.
Nkounkou - will have a year left on his contract. Offer a 1 year extension.
Branthwaite, Mylolenko and Patterson will stay.

Midfield.
Allan - he will have a year on his contract. Sell. £15m plus.
Doucoure - he will have a year on his contract. Sell £18m plus.
Davies - Sell. £12m plus.
Gomes - his contract ends in June 2024. If he can't be sold. Loan out.
Gbamin - his contract ends in June 2024. If he can't be sold. Loan out.
Delph - out of contract. ( I want his agent to represent me ). release.
Townsend - contract ends June 2023, Given his likely injury he will be staying, whatever happens.
El Ghazi - goes back to Villa.
Iwobi.- contract runs until 2024. Can't see him going anywhere.
Van de Beek - back to Manu.
Deli Ali - contract runs until 2024. I doubt he will leave. I doubt he will get 20 games either, unless he has an amazing change of attitude. ( Which I doubt ).
His contract runs until 2024. Joke.
Onyango - stays.
Strikers
Tosun - released.
Gray - stays
Gordon - stays.
Rondon - contract runs until 2023 with an option for a further year. Sell for a nominal fee.
Kean - sell. Scored 5 goals in 32 appearances for Juventus. £20m

So thats approx £180m - £200m ( or am I being too optimistic? ) in, with maybe another £20m if we can flog Gomes / Gbamin and that's a big IF.

The squad left is, without in comings and on the proviso we stay up

Goalkeeper
Begovic

Defence
Holgate
Keane
Godfey
Mylenko
Branthwaite
Patterson
Nkounkou
add Kenny stays if we are relegated.
Would Holgate, Keane and Godfrey go if we go down ? On those wages ? Possibly Godfrey would as the Bar Codes can afford to pay him more then we do. The other two ? I can't see them leaving as who will pay them more ?

Midfield
Townsend
Iwobi
Onyango
Davies to stay if we are relegated.

Attack
Gray
Gordon
Rondon to stay if we are relegated.

Others
Tyrer, GK.
Welch, D.
Astley, D.
Whitaker,M.
Price, M.
Dobbin, A.

So thats 13 first teamers to stay plus 6 kids. If we stay up.
If we go down 15 first teamers plus the 6 kids.
Whichever way you look at it. We will need at least 5 new signings and some of those kids to come good asap.

Our first pre season line up could look like this
Begovic,
Patterson Keane Branthwaite Nkounkou
Iwobi, Onyango, Whitaker, Gordon
Gray, Dobbin.

Subs Tyrer, Keane, Mylolenko, Price, Deli Alli.

Just think, which ever division we are in, we are likely to start next season with Holgate and / or Keane in defence. Will this nightmare ever end ?

He had one shot of note but never got into the game or pressed and harried the Palace players.

Does he only know how to play on the left? Maybe Frank should have switched him but Frank made some poor decisions all game.

Definitely dreaming mate lol.

This club rewards failure better than any of them,it wouldn't shock me if new contracts are dished out to the likes of Holgate, Keane and Gomes.

The fact that we all thought Sigurdsson was bad last season and bemoaned James Rodriguez lack of hunger... deary me, we have missed their creativity and goals this season.

When do we get goals from central midfielder's these days?

Everton must be the only team in the league that don't possess a central midfielder that can, to coin an old phrase "twat a ball".

Townsend has gone now too cutting in from the wing, it's gonna get even worse.