ToffeeHouse Chatroom — Matchweek 3

What a pile of crap - three games into the new season, no points, no striker and we're listening to this rubbish.

Get a bloody striker FFS!

Two games in, Mike.

Just as we were in August 1984 having been thumped 4-1 at Goodison in front of my own eyes before then being beaten by the mighty West Brom. Two games in, no points, 6 goals conceded.

We know how that season finished. So let's not go into meltdown just yet. 36 games to go. Plenty to play for.

When Saturday comes. I can't wait.

Mike,

As an FC Cincinnati season ticket holder and game-goer, Vasquez is the real deal. He would already be noticed and probably headed to the Bundesliga if that idiot Jap Staam had actually played him for more than a few minutes at the end of games last season (one of many reasons Staam was axed).

Vasquez is the real deal. He is tall enough, strong, and quick. He can control a ball at his feet, distribute, and will make run after run all day long. He can finish with his feet and his head and is fearless. Plus, he isn't a bad defender for set pieces.

Problem is, he wants to make the world cup squad so, on the eve of US National team call-ups, he won't go anywhere before the final roster is picked unless he is told he has no chance. Everton could get him for relative peanuts if he wants to come. He is dynamic and would test back lines but can also be involved in more deliberate build-up play.

One other more conventional striker, would be Rogelio Funes Mori. Not based upon his performances with a poor Mexico team, but rather with his play at Monterrey. Again he would be cheap and Monterrey is, I think, going to begin a rebuild around other players and may want to get rid of him since he is 31. He is definitely big and strong, and is always around the goal. Maybe they throw in Maxi Meza too.

Jesus, please tell me you never just said that, Frank, in your press conference. "We didn't need a striker until Calvert-Lewin's injury" ... Jesus wept.

Last season, we obviously gave him a big hall pass and loved the way he was shocked and astonished by our fans but the honeymoon is over mate, As soon as we knew Richarlison was on his way, you act like a proper professional club.

I'm sick of repeating myself over two decades. One common denominator... but hey that's the Everton we love apparently. No wonder Big Nev is banned!

Lampard looked very sheepish in his presser. Not like a manager in control of events. Any signings will go down to the wire. Desperation seems the order of the day.

Saying "Gordon is our player" but not confirming he will remain our player. We can only hope we come out of this stronger.

A very troubling press conference indeed. Let us hope that we are not about to sail into yet another shitstorm.

Mohammed Kudus of Ajax being linked now, a dubious source saying we are close to signing! Heard it all before but interesting young player. Fast and powerful with a rocket left foot.

Just loving being an Everton fan at the moment.

Sold our best player, The spine of the team absent - Mina Doucoure DCL; Playing 5 at the back and then over-run in midfield, No recognised striker available.

(I simply refuse to count Rondon who is an embarrassment and the worst I've ever seen at the club... or was that Brett Angell - who cares).

Fleetwood must fancy their chances next week.

Still hoping for a win against Forest tomorrow though with Onana starting! UTFT

Tony Hill,

It is worrying as I recall Howard trying to sign Dublin and seeming frustrated, then Royle with Tore Andre Flo. In Each case, they walked and we found out the board wouldn't back their judgment.

Maybe Bill is hanging Dele around Frank's neck as a reason to not back him. Frank also distanced himself from Dele saying he didn't know him before the cock crowed three times. The whole presser could make a great Alan Bennett Talking Heads episode.

Jon 4 - being a bit harsh on Rondon no? Admittedly he hasn't pulled up any trees so far.

Got me thinking about some fine gems we've signed in the striker/forward dept over the years;

Mikael Madar, Joe-Max Moore, Brett Angel, Sandro Ramirez, Tarashaj (did he even play?), Marcus Bent, Drenthe(!), Beckford, Billialetdinov, Beattie (fat version) some fine specimens there.

However, being fair to Rondon, I'm not sure he'd make the worst on my list. He'd give Tosun a close run (Tosun probably edges it) but I'd put him ahead of Niasse. The worst striker I've seen in an Everton shirt however, over the last 30 odd years, has to be the Strac.

I have absolutely no idea how Denis Stracqualursi (had to look up spelling!) ever made it onto any professional football scouting radar, never mind ours! He was so bad I actually used to laugh out loud when he came on. For that alone I doff my cap to him - thanks for the memories. (Niasse also made me laugh, just awful.)

Everton - comedy gold at times.

Kieran,

I don't think Tore Andre Flo was the player Royle had in mind, it was his brother, forget his name, and he was a centre-back, Tore Andre Flo was of a much higher profile who went to Chelsea for around ٤M.

As for him walking out, he went over the water thinking he was going to discuss something else like discussing the team sheet for the next day and was amazed to walk away with his comics and P45.

I remember talking to an Everton fan who was at the leaving party Joe threw the next week, he said Joe was in a world of his own, couldn't believe he wasn't Everton's manager anymore.

The Red Echo are reporting that Ollie Watkins wants to leave Villa. I would love to see him in an Everton shirt.

To be fairer to Rondon he hasn't been given a chance to prove his worth. I hope he starts tomorrow and scores because we sure as hell won't be bringing another striker in.

Gordon to Chelsea won't happen because Aubameyang won't happen and so Broja stays. Dele won't agree to Besiktas and so we are at stalemate. The stars are not aligning for us.

I hope Rondon starts and I hope he scores. We need a striker and its looking more and more likely that he's it I'm afraid

Denis

Some names in that list there mate bloody hell, but in truth quite a few of them did know where the net was.

Beckford actually scored 10 goals in his only season with us I believe?

Madar will always be remembered for the worst miss in a Merseyside derby in living memory.

You can't really say Bilyaletdinov was a bad player either, wand of a left peg just played out of position by Moyes who for some weird reason thought he was a left winger.

Beattie scored 11 one season too.

No, for me Rondon has the mobility of a tree, I thought we were getting the player he was at Newcastle but that four years has put a lot of timber in his boots since.

I have no faith in Rondon scoring a League goal this season even if he played 15-20 games.

In advanced talks with a young attacking midfielder from Ajax according to footyinsider, so it's probably a load of bollocks, just glad to see we haven't sign januzaj yet tbh.

Ed,

Watkins a more interesting proposition than Che Adams and Neil Maupay. The article says he has a strained relationship with Gerrard and wants out. I see no mention of the fee Villa would want. Would imagine around the 㿀M mark?

Joe, I was reading about Mohammad Kudus, he sounds a very interesting young player. He has been blighted by injuries since joint Ajax but looks like he is over them. A bit of a gamble but a possible bargain to be had . Our medical staff will have to be thorough.

Breaking the Lines | Player Analysis: Mohammed Kudus

Rob Wakenshaw mentioned on this post! That brings back some memories, didn't he score the winner against United in the 83/84 season if memory serve's me correctly at Goodison

Awesome so I don't have to include "off topic but" in half my posts any more

Ooh, Watkins sounding out is interesting. And on cue after Frank's remark that him being here after the window is not certain, ESPN is listing Brereton Diaz, after Broja and then also possibly Gyokeres or Maupay if those fail.

Neil , Paul

It's going back nearly 40 years, I remember watching Rob Wakenshaw in the 82-83 Youth cup run when they got to the final. My mate was playing right back in the team so we went to all the games. Ian Marshall I think was the one who went the furthest in his career from those boys.

He did score against Man Utd , a 1-1 draw.

Although the "you're on ToffeeWeb too much" police might be after me, I couldn't resist Tony Everan.

When we talk about our current centre forward crisis. Ian Marshall. Centre forward or centre back? Or both?

Dave @ 12:

It was Tore Andre for certain, and the fee mentioned was £4 or 4.5 million as I remember it. I think his brother was briefly rumoured another time.

Is this going to be a permanent feature? I think the live forum being on 24/7 would be a better idea as this will clog up the comments column on the main page.

I don't really follow what's going on here but thought it a perfect place to point out that City have been charged for their pitch invasion.

Another conspiracy busted by yours truly.

Our so-called strategic review should have focused on one area: pest control. If we cancel Terminix, the woodlice can run rampant on Gomes, Gbamin and co and save us a fortune in wages.

Danny, He was a useful nuisance for a good few seasons at Oldham was it? Playing centre-forward.

Would have been better value for money than Rondon as a stand-in this last year or so.

Will (24),

I wouldn't argue too much over which Flo it was but there was little likelihood of Tore Andre coming to Everton at that time and the other brother was mentioned at the time.

What's certain is that Joe Royle never walked out of Everton because of that transfer. His time was up as far as Peter Johnson was concerned and Dave Watson helped to stave off relegation on and off the field when he was appointed player-manager after Joe left.

Kieran (28),

l'd love to have heard that conversation between Kenwright and Dr David Marsh, if there was one after the Chelsea game.

More likely it was after Kenwright was babbling on with his load of nonsense and Dr Marsh actually said “Why don't you give it a bleedin' rest?”

Dave,

I remember it similar, in that it was Flo himself that decided he didn't want to come in the end, even though it got to a stage of a fee mentioned. There was another Premier League club also interested but I can't recall now who it was.

Not the best time in our history back then – to go with the many others...

Chelsea rumoured to be bidding 㿣m next week...

Could Ollie Watkins be an option if we can't get Broja?? Story going around that he doesn't get on with Gerrard.

Calm and patience and focus on the game tomorrow.

Massive game in view of the first two games and the upcoming fixtures.

Well, it seems the Gana saga, has reached a finale, so, we move on.

Hopefully a couple of strikers with, attitude, will arrive in the next 11 days.

Will (32),

Tore Andre Flo went to Chelsea from a Norwegian club and they had been interested in him for quite a while before he eventually signed for them.

Tony Hill (#7), you say, and I agree, "A very troubling press conference - today - indeed. Let us hope that we are not about to sail into yet another shitstorm."

Let me re-assure you mate, in no way are we about to sail into another shitstorm.

That's because we've been engulfed in one for almost all of 30 years. I hope we're now at last in the eye of said shitstorm and that with Lampard and Thelwell there may be a map in their possession suggesting how we get out of it with stupidity embedded in those in charge of them, the finances, the contracts, the ground and everything else.

Maybe Frank for his sanity needs to reflect on what a recent doyen manager said of our club's standing in the football world. He said,

"I am not a magician!"

This just brought back some recall about possibly one of our better strikers prior to Lukaku, a gifted player, though he rarely played enough games per season to have a consistent impact on Everton's league position, Louis Saha.

If we had him tomorrow, this season, alas.

But patience is a virtue but the run of games this season will have a massive impact on the maths, and teams recovery plans.

The stronger squads, with or without injury should fair better, but with Everton's injury record, on tears and ligament breaks and strains, only God knows.

Hope eternal, and to the massive game in context, of Everton FC, tomorrow.

Saying a few needed prayers, after having the opening few, at the Holy Trinity, and then to the game I feel Everton must win, else don't loose.

But tomorrow, hopefully some new era can start and hopefully new hero's born for Everton.

Focusing on victory, and nothing else.

UTFT!

Message for George McKane. Can you see our new ground from where you are over the water and do you go all Kenwright when you see it!

“Whats Our Name?”

How depressing is life with Everton these days!

In such a short time we have gone from challenging for Euro spots to fears of relegation.

Today we debate whether we need to sell our best player and even if it's possible to beat newcomers to the Prem. Governance and generally 'behind the scenes' we are like amateurs and only the stadium project seems to run smoothly - probably because 'our governors' are not directly involved.

I find the Manager, like many before him, stubborn and uninspiring. We are going nowhere. Only down.

Derek. It was very hard to pass judgment on Frank last season with all that happened before him. As with Benitez, we were overrun in midfield a lot and the subs are usually too late.

No trust in youth either. Mills should be integrated somehow and even Tom Cannon as a striker if we can't get any. All sounds desperate but what's new?

Dennis @12

And Ibrahima Bakayoko. The pitch just wasn't long enough for him, head down and just run until an obstruction stopped him. Sadly Gray and to a lesser extent Gordon really remind me of him.

We've invited this upon ourselves, with the business we've done, with our conduct as a club, and the tactics that have been deployed by Lampard and Thelwell.

We are dead in the water.

Brentford and Leeds away, Liverpool and West Ham at home, Arsenal away our next five games.

Probably not far off crisis mode however lol.

Frank needs to make some big decisions this week, regarding what kind of strikers we need.

I'd get Chelsea to up the offer for Gordon to around 㿞 million because I can't see his value being so high this time next year, a non-scoring attacking player, so strike while the iron is hot now.

We need to reinvest that cash on a top striker, and somehow convince that said striker to join Everton.

Speed is now essential. Frank's got to go. The sooner the better, but it all depends on who we can get in. Frank has had them for months now and we are hopeless.

If we can get him out before the window shuts all the better. I absolutely do fucking not want him spending the Gordon money.

Thanks for keeping us up, Frank... (sort of) and you're a nice guy, but you ain't got it.

Kevin, I'm frustrated at the results, and the tactics baffle me, but sack him?

For who?

What good manager is available to fix the situation we're in?

Who's coming in that's better?

For what it's worth, I remain of the opinion that we should have gone all out for Steve Cooper when he left Swansea, but we are where we are. I don't see, just yet, the value in sacking Lampard.

Sacking Lampard achieves nothing.

We are just working currently with a piss poor squad and have been since the likes of Lukaku, Barkley, Barry, McCarthy, Baines, Pienaar left.

I can't see what any manager can really do with this crop anymore.

Buy a fucking striker NOW you fucking useless shower of twats.

Sack Frank, says Kevin Molloy, the man who worshipped Benitez.

Why don't you take a day off from your usual stupidity?

People saying sack Lampard haven't a fucking clue.

When is the 27 Year Campaign going to start gathering pace and more people joining in the protests? This is the only way it changes.

People need to start turning the pressure on and getting nasty towards Kenwright. He needs booting out of this club and it needs to be NOW!

Thanks Steve. Yes, Benitez, that waster. He can shove his Champions League medals up his hoop, am I right? We don't want any winners around here, we've got a relegation to plan for.

Kunal. He looked half cut today. No doubt on free champagne.

I went to the last protest... the message somehow got lost with Sky and the Echo avoiding the real reason and instead trying to make it about the owner.

Most Blues put their heads down when you bring the subject up about this continuing curse. You get what you deserve in this life.

Unbelievable that Kevin and a few others want Lampard sacked.

Moshiri and Kenwright sold Richarlison, he hasn't been replaced upfront, he was our main striker last season. Is it Frank's fault we're trying to bring in players for little money upfront?

The Everton wide players can't be effective if there are no strikers to aim a pass or cross to, but Rondon is not the effective striker Everton should be playing. Why Benitez signed him and why Lampard is prepared to play him, must be one of life's guarded footballing secrets.

He's not cheap because he was given a good salary for 2 years. Yet, Simms goes to Sunderland, has scored 3 goals, and Sunderland are up to 5th in the Championship while Everton languish at the bottom of the Premier League.

I thought Frank Lampard would know a thing or two about strikers and scoring goals, but he got it all wrong when he loaned out Simms and retained Rondon. Or is Frank preparing Everton for the Championship next season with the loaned-out Simms – who may not want to leave 5th placed Sunderland if they get promoted to the Premier League.

The shite we have is not on Lampard, he needs time.

And Benitez should have never have been near our club, he was finished a long time ago.

It really is a no-win situation with Kenwright. Any – and I mean any storming fight-back gives him the oxygen and the justification in his warped mind to carry on.

I don't know him personally but I'd bet my house on that being his mentality.

Brian, very true. You get what you deserve and if Evertonians don't want to put a stop to the nonsense fed out by this fella for 20-plus years then keep eating more shit.

This clown is only concerned about sweeping up Premier League money and keeping his pals on the board sweet. No interest in Everton.

Strategic view? My ass. What happened to Tim Cahill being involved? Was he palmed off because he didn't fit into toeing the clowns' party line?

How is Kenwright still here? Fof fuck's sake, man, go and go now.

𧺬M authorised in transfers and the guy has produced a team that is struggling to stay in the Premier League. If he was a F1 Racing Team Leader and spent 𧺬m to produce a car that is back of the grid every race, he would be out on his ear.

Yet he's still there, as smug as a bug on a comfy rug. enjoying his good times.

Just wondering how things might have gone with Vitor Pereira in charge... but we'll never know as too many sheep allowed themselves to be brainwashed and whipped up by an anonymous Brummie on Twitter spaces with a Bobble emoji.

Kevin 146, I was happy for a brief moment.

☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

Ian,

Things might have been better – or worse. We could have gone down last season under Pereira – but, as you rightly say, we'll never know.

What we do know though is, you are never satisfied with our manager – no matter who he is. Even when we had the most successful manager in European football history – you thought he was useless.

Who would you like to be our manager, and how would you go about securing his services?

Or better still wait til the transfer window is over, see what strikers we have signed and then get behind the manager and the team like the end of last season, because sacking manager after manager has got us in this exact position.

I'd never have sacked Silva and I'm hoping he proves everyone wrong, I'm backing Lampard til at least the New Year.

The problem with Everton over the last 3 months over the summer is we seemed to be more concerned with what was going on in Ukraine and how we can assist them, even bringing out a merchandise range in their colours.

Somebody needs to inform the powers that be at Goodison that we haven't had a quality side at this club since the Berlin Wall came down and that should be the club's only focus and not all these charitable side shows.

Sir John Moores was a great Everton Chairman, because he ran the club to win, not just to have some good times.

Kenwright is not a good Chairman. He allowed EFC to float around the Premier League like a turd in the Mersey, whilst other Chairman turned their teams into winning machines.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea. Lately Man City.... and let's not forget Leicester City, shall we. It's not all about money – we should know, we wasted 𧺬M and sold our best players over time.

Rooney, Stones, Richarlison, Barkley, Lescott to keep us afloat in HMS Mediocrity. That little lot brought in nearly 𧶀M but what did we see for it? Yet more wasted opportunities to make progress.

Until he goes and is replaced by somebody actually competent, EFC will do nothing and continue to become an irrelevance. Lampard may not be a great manager, only time will tell on that one, but Kenwright has had his time and he's failed to raise us up to be competitive.

He has to go.

We can't sack Lampard, that would be another failure of recruitment by our madcap owner.

Looking at upcoming fixtures and expected results, I don't see him being here by mid-November however.

Jack.

My sister a few feet away in Main Stand said he looked half-cut. No doubt on free champagne but he's apparently one of us. Done more damage than any European ban and will never let go with all the fanfare of the new stadium he will if need to get wheeled in with an oxygen tank and nurses on stand-by. No way will he step down no matter what division we are in he only cares for himself.

As for Frank, well the emotions of last season, his abilities or lack of them came almost secondary. He made a big call letting two front men go even before the window shuts besides losing Richarlison. Just daft or gross negligence. Either way, 12 points or more have or will needlessly be thrown away.

Hugh,

I haven't called for Lampard to be sacked so suggesting replacements isn't appropriate.

I've said all I need to about Ancelotti. I don't care what he has done with other clubs only what he did with Everton. And he was shit.

When you go through the fixtures ahead, it is very difficult to spot a win. That's the worry, surely - the essential ineffectiveness of the team. We have now played two sides who will be hovering in and around relegation: we have lost to one and drawn with the other at home.

I don't blame Lampard, though I am unconvinced that he has Premier League nous. The blame lies squarely, over time, with our toxic shambles of a Board and its consistently inept performance. The presiding spirit of our failure is still sitting fatly in his place, taking the piss.

Kevin,

I don't think Moshiri will sack him as he will argue that he was the fan's choice ...and he has the bed sheets to prove it, lol.

This is the team I would play at Brentford in a 4-4-2. Presuming Gordon has gone and we can get Simms back.

Pickford

Patterson Tarkowski Coady Mykolenko

McNeill Onana Iwobi Gray

Rondon Simms.

Looks like Frank is another dud.

Ian, and you have the gall to slag managers off!

Love you to Jeff 😂. Forwards always play better with another around them. Rondon was isolated.

Christy, I don't want Lampard sacked. At this stage, sacking him would be pointless.

But I still say we should have brought Cooper in, when he was let go by Swansea, bafflingly, after getting their crappy squad to the playoffs, two years in a row, despite a board who were ruthlessly economising on him. He then took a bang average Forest team, who were rock bottom, into the Premier League, through the playoffs.

Knocking them for spending money on improving is ridiculous, by the way, given that they appear to have been far shrewder than we have in their outlay.

I've never said,' Sack Lampard' because changing managers every season is ridiculous and just indicates the football ignorance of those who appointed him.

Most of us believe that Frank got the job on the merits of his playing ability and because some ex-Sky pundit bent Moshiri's ear. He was a TalkSport appointment and Kenwright, for all his misgivings, wanted to keep his sinecure role as chairman.

Personally, I want Frank to learn from his year at Goodison and stop being so formalistic. He won't, of course, but all too soon, will get riches for life from our Club – just as have his half dozen predecessors.

Derek.

Regarding his football abilities isn't the why we gave Koeman the job. Very patchy and average as a manager in Holland etc.

Same reason even the World Cup 66 winners didn't really make it as managers, even our Bally. Great players don't make great managers, as Aston Villa are about to find out.

Brian. Besides the names below, I agree with you.

Zidane, Ancelotti, Ferguson, Kendall, Dalgleish, Conte, Pep, Cruyff, Clough, Mancini, Beckenbauer, There are probably a few more.

Derek,

Lampard wasn't hired because someone at Sky whispered in Moshri's ear. He was hired because Everton fans protested the alternative and wrote his name on the stadium.

I didn't want him, but he's grown on me, but let's not try and rewrite history to feed your latest narrative.

You've got to love some of the stuff on here.

Sack Lampard? And bring in who? To do what? With what?

Select from a nearly relegated squad that lost its best player that hasn't been replaced?

Rely on an injury prone front man that will miss more games than he plays?

We have a DoF that apparently shapes the 5-3-2 ethos,he's had all close season to bring in three, yes three forwards with the loss of Richarlison that we need but he's failed miserably.

The season started two weeks ago and Thelwell should have had everything in place to enable Lampard to coach the team.

But hey ho let's change the manager again.

Rob, Yes a slight oversight there on my part ha ha.

Joeseph Yes likewise I seen that comment by the chairman. I think we all can gage he loves the limelight maybe because of his theatrical background or just a plain narcissistic very crafty leech who as I say is determined to be here no matter what state the club is in he jokingly says he loves. Our gullible idiot owner doesn't see it and yes maybe Tim cahill would of so keep him at arms length.are you listening sharpy. Grow a pair mate

Rob, At what part of my comment did I knock Forest for spending and improving their squad, it's you who's ridiculous, saying they appear to be far shrewder than us in their outlay, they spent nearly 𧵎M on 13 players, we couldn't lace there boots.

Jack Canvery - Kenwright is the turd that won't flush, you need to poke it down with a big stick.

Stating the obvious that we need to bring in 2 strikers that can score goals - we let three go -

Simms will score a few more goals in the Championship and I hope he's rubbing it in everyone's face at Everton who let him go - they could have waited until end of the month.

The only way to get shut of Kenwright is to hound the bastard out even if it means staying away from games but the way the fans are it's never going to happen so the campaigns need to up their game as much as Frank and the players 🤷

Andrew; You mean Kenwright chose him not Moshiri ? My contact said he wanted Howe or Fergie but 'word came down' !

Interesting poll on Reddit as to the root of our problems. 800 responses only 30 point at the manager which was probably Ian Kevin Darren and their families.

About 300 votes for the squad, slightly less the board, and in third place with 175 votes: a curse. I'd say that latter should count as board votes as the curse has a name.

Bit of news, Sarr is going to Villa. I personally didn't want him at Everton, but yes we need 2 strikers asap.

The only transfers we are going to see is Calvert-Lewin transfering his makeup from one handbag to another.

People, do know we have only played 3 games this season. 3, what's the bloody panic?

We will NOT be bottom 3. Nowhere near.

Now being linked with Tom Rogic. Probably nonsense knowing us, though he's a very interesting player. An Aussie, a free agent (I think) and talented. He's 30 in December but he might fit us well.

Complete Fucking shambles,. What a complete disaster. Sad to see. Lampard nowhere near good enough. God help us. Pathetic. I've had enough .All that money spent and we're proper shite.

Simon et al; here the thing; It's not the manager!

Don;

Not too sure there mate Moshiri is dealing... via his minions... with events out of his control and, at the moment, nobody seems to have much of a clue.

And that's the whole point – even if you do have a clue, there are some things you can't fix. But they don't have a clue – Catch 22.

Lampard seems as fixated on 5 across the back as Benitez was on Zonal Marking, Martinez on The Philosophy and Moyes was on not being adventurous.

How hard is it? Stop signing fucking gash wingers, more midfielders.
But a striker or 2... if you have to take 㿙-50 Mill for Gordon, well tough shit.

Ditch 5 at the back, sign a striker or 2.

Kenwright has killed Everton. Shame on everyone who claps him - they are not Blues. Shame.

Nick Page.

When I asked fellow Blues, "Are you going to the 27 Year Campaign protest?" – all I got was "What's the point?"

Therin lies the problem: with the exception of ToffeeWeb, most Blues are happy with the way the club is run. If I'm wrong, how come less than 200 joined the march?

After Dr David Marsh's death, Kenwright says he hopes to carry on for years. Fans can stop this... fucking grow a pair and act like you care!!!

Squeeze 㿞 million out of Chelsea for Gordon, try and get buyers for Gomes, Gbamin and Moise Kean, get them off the wage bill.

Go and spend the proceeds on TWO strikers and stop pretending all will be right when Calvert-Lewin returns in October, November or is it December..

Calvert-Lewin has been injured for the best part of 12 months, basically he's becoming injury prone, not his fault, but it's no help to us.

I'd be surprised if he plays 15 games this season let alone scores the 15 goals that some predict.

Get business done this week and stop this nonsense now.

Next game and Fleetwood will be a very tough game, so I hope Everton play a strong team and can boost confidence with an away victory. And then to Brentford, which will be in view of what lies ahead a 6 pointer.

Nothing can betaken for granted.

But praying for a pair of strikers and some consistency across the team.

Away to the Land of The Titans, to derive some further hope and inspiration for EFC.

Does anyone know if there will be a DVD released celebrating the day we scored a goal?

Maybe with an intro from our man in the green tights comparing it to the type Dave Hickson would score.

Fear not. The Red Echo reports us having an interest in McTominay. Never mind a centre-forward – we're well overdue employing another mediocre cast-off from the famous Man Utd.

Jim on another thread just reminded me, any news or rumours on Ferguson's and Unsworth's pursuit of managerial careers? I can't recall seeing anything. Maybe they are sat by the phone waiting for the call?!

A couple of quality strikers and Everton are back in business. But no Rondon, please.

Danny @101, I think you are correct, I can see Duncan getting the call in October, after Frank has walked. Duncan won't be managing anywhere else, and I can only see Unsworth being an assistant somewhere in the lower divisions.

I was seen as being pessimistic when I stated Everton will not win any of their 5 opening games, That's not looking unrealistic now.

We will go down this season, the result of many years of mismanagement and never prioritising a squad with goalscorers.

Day dreaming I know but, Ivan Toney and/or Ollie Watkins would be great acquisitions. Big, mobile, hardworking, score goals etc….

Both want to leave current clubs. What are we waiting for?

Alan Mc, I said yesterday that we'll probably end up with Man Utd rejects, McFred.

We definitely have to get a striker in before our next game, and hopefully Gueye or/and another midfielder if hopefully Alli leaves.

All this speculation that Alli was supposed to be in Turkey, and Ajax are saying there's no bid for Kudus, and he's not for sale, where we thought on Friday it's a done deal, the same with Gueye, all this journalist bullshit.

But the bottom line, Moshiri and Kenwright are the problem, but have to support and bring in a striker and a couple of midfielders that Lampard and our DOF need before the window closes, or else it's another relegation battle.

I also hope, if Lampard can make the signings, he has to ditch five at the back, having two in midfield has us overrun, and totally lacking offensively. When he changed to four at the back against Villa, we looked a far better team.

Colin, good choice of strikers there, the next few days are crucial, there's no time for a last-minute cast-away special from Europe and the Premier League.

Interesting to see if loan deals, only or split loan and cash for at least x2 strikers.

Hopefully the business is done this week, and drive positivity and belief in the Everton squad and can play with a balanced team.

Said it on another thread we should go all out for Moussa Dembélé from Lyon. Averages a goal every other game is in the last months of his contract, and wants to play in the Premier League.

㾶million should secure him. Give him a call, Frank.

Please no McTominay, we need strikers!

Seems that Lampard has decided that Keane is surplus to requirements and would probably be open to offers for Mina as well. But seeing he will still be injured when the window closes, then that won't happen.

We also have Gbamin and Allan and Gomes who Lampard has decided are surplus to requirements, not sure why Allan hasn't been used as, for me, he is the best defensive midfield player on the books.

The problem is that we have put all these players on top salaries, and the clubs that may take them just couldn't afford their wages, so I guess these guys will keep drawing their 㿲,000 - 𧴦,000 a week till their contracts are in the last few months.

Similar position with Alli – rumours Besiktas want a loan with a possibility to buy. I wonder if during the loan period they will be paying all of Alli's 𧴜,000 + a week wages or will we be contributing?

Also, if they find he doesn't suit and send him back, how do you expect anyone else to take him? Then we are left with a player nobody wants on massive wages and, if we play him, then we have to keep giving Spurs their 㾶 miilion every time he plays so many games.

Toney is Premier League price. Dembélé is not. No brainer... go get him, Frank.

Many interesting comments that many of us will agree on.

We have taken so much crap in the last 20 years with so many incoming crap players and now the emphasis is on the new stadium and nothing else, so it seems.

Three games, no wins, two goals in the dying minutes (only one by an Everton player).

They sold Richarlison with absolutely no contingency plan.

All of the media rumours can't be taken seriously but this always happens before the window closes and of course Everton are being linked to everyone other than a class striker.

It's tough being a Blue these days!

Not being flippant, but I watched Gordon going to the fans at the end of the game applauding them, it felt like he was saying goodbye and it was really hurting...

Christine, if that's true then the mindset of Gordon intrigues me.

If he's upset then the inference is he doesn't want to go. Then don't go Anthony.

What's this report about EFC having to raise 㿼m before they can buy another player? Is it true? If it is, we're screwed.

Even if we got 㿞M for Gordon, we're still 㿊M short.

Why have we suddenly decided to start contract talks with Pickford? Are we sussing him out to see if he wants to leave?

Getting better every day... NOT!

Joe 86, Sarr going to Villa.

The Ollie Watkins rumours will be ramped up now. I can see them asking for more than we are prepared or capable of paying though.

Makes you wonder, Shane, if Lampard has been told Gordon is going, which is why he looks so bloody miserable... then you would have to ask the reason:

1. The club need the money so are actually promoting an offer?

2. Gordon's head has been turned and he wants to go? (I just find that too hard to believe.)

3. Lampard has been told "No more transfers until we sell Gordon; your choice!"

I can't help think it's the latter, Hobson's Choice for Lampard, pressure on Gordon as he knows Everton need him to go to improve, Lampard cruelly stuck between the lesser of two evils...

I just wish someone had the balls to tell us the truth.

I didn't know what to make of it, Christine. I'm not sure if the cameras caught it, but he stood on the half-way line on his own for quite a while whilst the rest of the team were more down towards the Park End.

It was Mykolenko and Gray (I think) who were first to come towards the Bullens Road corner with the Gwladys Street. He didn't join them whereas last season he was always one of the first to face the music. He eventually made his way around and was joined by the team.

You'll have to excuse my accuracy - I had one eye on observing him and the team and one looking at the exit as I had 45 minutes to get out of the ground and to the coach station to get back home!!

Either way, he was reflecting. Frustration at the result or that it might be his last game at Goodison in an Everton shirt? I don't know.

Christine @112

Holgate and Mykolenko also went to applaud the fans Christine, not just Gordon. Holgate actually went to all four sides of the ground. I don't think anyone was saying “goodbye “.

That was it Ray. It was Holgate who went across first with Mykolenko, who lost another shirt.

Ray, I know that, wasn't just him, but I saw the total bit on YouTube, he wasn't "with" teammates, just slowly drinking it in alone and applauding all the time... not a go to the fans and acknowledge the support.. bit drawn out for that I though... anyway, that's what came into my head.

If we do take the dosh for Gordon and Villa or Brentford want to screw us over Watkins or Toney, then look to Europe.

Porto have a very interesting centre-foward – Evanilson. Age 22 – Brazilian, two-footed, quick, scores all kinds of goals, headers, 6-yard box tap-ins, shots and his stats are good and getting better each season. Since he signed for them in 2020, he has played 74 games, 28 goals and 7 assists.

TransferMarkt, value him at 㾿M. His contract runs until 2025 so will probably cost nearer 㿅M to 㿊M. We could offer them 㿀M plus Gomes and get him. Got to be worth a punt, aged 22, he can only get better and increase in value.

Christine, nobody has balls at Goodison. Kenwright insists they are removed before signing a contract.

Where is this talk of Watkins coming from?

I thought it was a joke but is it a genuine rumour?

Jack, that must have been why we bought so many lawnmowers then...

Christine, Indeed.

Jack@114

That's the first time that I've heard about an £80m deficit Jack. Where did that come from?

My wife has a new saying about me: when I get miserable after building myself up for a game, she says I have Evertonitis, I hope it's not communicable.

I mentioned that about Gordon yesterday, on the source I was watching it on, they showed it for about 10 seconds, and I thought "I wonder what he is thinking...??"

Better than having incurable Kenwrightitis.

You're cure will come, Brian.

I'm afraid their is no cure for Evertonitis, Bill. It's one of those conditions we are blessed to live with.

It is probably just me being a thicko, but anybody have any idea where the log out button is please?

Sean - Hotel California.

You can NEVER leave.

Sean - see your name above the comment typing box (bottom of this page)? Written small below, it says "Log out here" - try that.

Will, I suppose the benefit is that, when I make stupid predictions like my ''Everton 2 v 0 Forest'' prediction, I can pretend it wasn't me!

Ha!

Cheers Will.

Ray 127 : here's the link.

https://www.goodisonnews.com/2022/08/20/everton-must-make-80m-in-sales-before-they-can-sign-more-players/

Remember Allans red card versus the bar codes last season. Same tackle by Trippier on De Bruyne, given as a red by Ref but overturned by VAR,, Allans tackle was exactly the same = ref gave a yellow. Overturned to a red after VAR intervened. Money talks.

My prediction is Frank will walk away in October or possibly next month. Bill will be crying as Duncan gets the call, we are going down this season guys.

Calvert-Lewin isn't hot property as Darren claimed (even if and when fully fit). Look at Leeds now, Bielsa was sacked just a few months ago. Brentford, Brighton all left Everton standing.

It's a result of years of mismanagement from the top. I look at Newcastle's takeover and then the Kenwrigh - Moshiri combo. IMO Bill is staying so it means the club is living in the past and has cost Everton's future.

Frank, the blue smoke has gone and we loved the way with your name you put us on the map as close to being noticed plus how your comments saying you have never seen or experienced fans like it.

This is now and these obvious 12 or 15 points you have to dismiss is worse than the last idiot's doings. We need stability, I know, and I like your backroom team.

But why can't they point out these 3 centre-halves are not working because we don't have wingbacks like Liverpool or Chelsea? All very basic stuff.

I might be wrong but I didn't see a post from George McKane before the Forest game, he usually gives a good rallying post before he heads to The Dark House to meet his friends, hope you are okay George.

Far too early to be making predictions as to how the season will pan out. Arsenal were bottom after 3 games last year and they turned things around.

Let's see where things are striker-wise in 10 days time and what the table looks like at the break for the World Cup.

I for one think we have improved at the back and in midfield. We need a striker who can challenge Calvert-Lewin as given his recent injury record we can neither afford to rush him back or depend on him to stay fit when he does return.

He needs to put a run of 8 plus games together to get himself back to where he was under Carlo.

Danny.

Everton are not going to qualify for Europe this season. We look like a team that hasn't got goals in it. And we all know the old adage.

I'm starting to believe now that we won't sign a striker, and he'll continue with what we've got until Calvert-Lewin is fit. I sincerely hope I'm wrong but imo that would be absolute madness.

Being linked with the likes of Maupay, God almighty. We could do better than surely. 2 tough games coming up and with our powder puff strike force I can't see us winning either of them.

I think most of us knew we wouldn't automatically turn into top 6 contenders just consolidate and build from there. Given time Frank will turn us around but the key word is time.

Action must be taken this week on the player front; otherwise, I fear we could be in trouble by the time the World Cup is here.

I see Danny O's latest travel odyssey took him on a journey with National Express coaches... Dan, did the experience match the Divine Comedy song???

I have three wishes for this season: firstly, that we don't go down, secondly that the RS don't win the Premier or Champions League, thirdly that Newcastle don't become a force.

The first wish is the one that concerns me the most of course. Yes, only three games into the season, but the teams that I expected to be competing with us at the bottom have all started okay/well, and we look worse than last season. The transfer window closes next week and we're still being linked with different "targets" every day, while nothing happens. To call the club a shambles makes us sound better than we are.

I love the idea of us qualifying for Europe. About as much chance as Bournemouth in reality.

Qualifying for Europe is long gone for this club. Everton are back to the days of Walter Smith and Kendall Mk 2 and 3.

We'll do well to finish 16th again.

Those 2-3 points from the first games I thought we might get are looking rather generous. I'll be surprised if we pick up anything at Brentford and Leeds.

Danny, I have to agree that as we are now we are not good enough to escape relegation.

It's the first time for many a season when I have felt that we desperately need at least two top quality players, but how do we get them!

As I understand it, we can't buy unless we sell. Also, can we get two players now that are quality, because very many have already been signed elsewhere? It's worrying.

Lampard must know that we are very average from the midfield forward, we lack creativity and skill required to score enough goals. You can't win if you cant score.

The last thing Frank needs is supporters getting on his back, that does no good at all.

Micheal,

I was considered too negative and pessimistic by some for stating there is a good chance we won't win any of the 5 opening games this season. It's fair to say I'll stick by that.

Every season Everton score so few goals, and it's never addressed. The warning to the DoF was last season, that our goal difference was even worse than Burnley's, and we had Richarlison then.

Joe,

I think you're being optimistic to just say we won't win any of the first five. I'd be amazed if we win any of the first seven, probably eight games.

Coming up, Brentford, Leeds and Arsenal away, Liverpool at home – I can't see us getting more than 2 points from those, possibly no points, then West Ham at home who may be slow out of the blocks this time, but still have a far better squad then we do.

Eight games, we'll most likely be on between 1 and 4 points and bottom of the league. I see the important games being in the run up to the World Cup break, when we face Palace and Leicester at home, and Fulham and Bournemouth away. We need to hit some form then and pick up 10-12 points.

I would love to have been a fly on the wall listening to the discussions going on between Lampard, Thelwell and the board.

We have spent 㿞 million on players yet no striker among them. I have banged on about getting in a striker or two since Richarlison was sold and, for some strange reason, the one position we haven't strengthened is finding a striker.

Not only was Richarlison our leading scorer by some way, he was also our best player and without him we would undoubtedly have been relegated. There was only one priority once he decided he wanted to leave and it wasn't a defender or a midfield player.

Once he left, we had a 33-year-old past his best and a striker coming back from a long injury, and just to show the ineptness of our manager and our DoF they sent all of our young strikers out on loan, and still, with 9 days of the window open, still haven't signed a striker.

I just hope that, if we have been hanging on in the hope that Chelsea let Broja go, that we actually get him. I see he was left out of the Chelsea squad yesterday, let's hope it's because they are allowing him to come to Everton on loan. I don't know if he is the answer but I get the distinct impression that Lampard thinks so.

I actually quite like Brendan Rogers and agree with Robert that he should have got the Man Utd job.

As for Everton, IMO our only hope is to accept 㿞 million for Gordon (it's still madness that's more than Liverpool paid for Sadio Mane) and go get 2 proper strikers (not ones doing photo shoots who can only score around the 6-yard box).

With regards to managerial changes I think Lampard has until December. The Board and Chairman wanted Roberto Martinez before Frank and would have appointed him if they could. If Frank doesn't get us up and running, he'll be out and like it or not Martinez will walk in after the World Cup finishes.

I still think there is every chance Frank can get us playing if he gets two or three quality players in over this next week or so. We need goals. If they fall short of that, he will struggle and it won't be all his fault.

Also, Frank and Kevin will have to demonstrate that the back five wingback system is viable. The new players may assist their plan. The jury is well and truly still out but it's all still to play for.

I am sincerely hoping for Frank to succeed and be here long term. I like him, he seems determined, committed, professional and personally invested in Everton. There is a genuine love for the club. He deserves full support from our DoF and Board.

My take is quite simple. While Kenwright has anything to do with transfers, nothing much will change.

During Moyes's years, it didn't matter too much if we signed duds as they generally didn't cost much as we had no money and we got the odd gem. Now with money, it's unbelievable how we spray it around, massively overpaying on fees and wages for hugely average or below-average players.

We then can't get rid of them for love nor money as no-one will pay the wages. (I'd also run my contract down if my employer stupidly overpaid me.)

Onana looks like he could (tbc) become good, but 㿍M on a very raw 20-year-old with no experience of English football? He needs to be good just to get our money back.

㿀M for McNeil – was anyone else in for him? Did we really need another winger? Again, time will tell. Main point however being not just prices paid and for who but with the striker dept obviously being what we most lack, we spend 㿡M on two midfielders, neither of which even hit the ground running.

10 days left to the end of the window and 3 games in, still no striker….

This club just doesn't seem to do priorities.

I still think if we can get Gueye in and maybe Gilmour, we'll be a lot more competitive in midfield, and with Onana getting up to speed as well, we should definitely forget about 5 at the back, as we're lacking an attacking threat, a striker essential also.

I hope not Gilmour, Christy, way too lightweight and bombed completely at Norwich (unfortunately like Steven Naismith did).

Everton at Fleetwood tomorrow. I see their fans are called The Cod Army. Do I hear a fish pun?

Send in the clowns! Oh, they are already there. The silence from on high is deafening!!! We are tied by FFP, why?

The clowns as an analogy, is like the lunatics running the asylum. Mark my words, we are in for (yet) another deadline day scramble.

I've been an Evertonian since 1964 and, despite the ups and downs over the years, I can't recall a more bleak period. Frank has to stay, Kenwright has to go, we are a total joke. I hope we survive this season.

Brent, are you standing or sitting tomorrow?

Same stand as you, Rob. Block F, Row 3, 141. You can bring a beer to my seat! What seats are you lot?

Not far from you mate. Row 11 seat 134. I can throw things at you. 😀😀😀

What are the chances of getting in at the turnstile tomorrow night?

Fish joke alert: if we lose tomorrow, the whiting will be on the wall for Lampard

Ray, looks like no chance of getting in. You need "previous purchase history and also proof of local postcode".

With Begofish in goal and Gray (Mullet) up front the cod army are going to get battered. Probably 1-0.

Anyone out there heard about Keita Balde.

According to Transfer Market he's a CF who can play left wing. He the Senegal National team CF. He was released by Calgirai in after they were relegated from Serie A last season. He was once signed by Monaco for 㿇m. He has spent time at Lazio, Inter and Sampdoria. At 27 he seems a bit young to be available on a free.

In 300 games he's scored 78 goals with 44 assists.

Something about him may be amiss but given his experience he may be worth a punt on a 12 month contract. If you know why he's not being snapped up, I'd be interested to know.

Totally off topic and football, but woke to the news about the 9-year-old girl shot dead in Knotty Ash. God bless.

I love my home city. I'm proud to say I come from Liverpool. I live in London and know every city has scum that put a stain on the majority of respectful citizens.

But why do we seem to have these high-profile incidents? Thinking back to Rhys Jones even though we don't know the details yet.

I hope the community don't close ranks and rise above the "don't grass" culture that put Rhys's family through torture even though the perpetrator was well known.

I get the "don't grass" thing. That's fine in certain circumstances. But when you kill a kid, you've more than crossed a red line.

Sorry, that made me sad waking up to that news.

Danny, you're a good guy. It is off topic but sometimes there are more important things than football and this is one of them. I live in Adelaide Australia (coming up 36 years now) but I keep in touch daily with comings and goings in Liverpool.

The news of the 9-year-old being shot and dying put me on a downer for the whole day. I sincerely hope the murderer is found and imprisoned for a lifetime so that he/she cannot take another life.

Rest in peace, little girl.

Danny @ 165

This follows a 9 year old girl being stabbed to death in Boston, Lincolnshire and an 87 year old man being stabbed to death in London.

The human race has hit rock bottom. They seriously need to bring back the death penalty. In this day and age it can be proved without a doubt who the perpetrator is.

Danny @ 165

This follows a 9 year old girl being stabbed to death in Boston, Lincolnshire and an 87 year old man being stabbed to death in London.

The human race has hit rock bottom. They seriously need to bring back the death penalty. In this day and age it can be proved without a doubt who the perpetrator is.

Danny @ 165

This follows a 9 year old girl being stabbed to death in Boston, Lincolnshire and an 87 year old man being stabbed to death in London.

The human race has hit rock bottom. They seriously need to bring back the death penalty. In this day and age it can be proved without a doubt who the perpetrator is.

Danny @ 165,

This follows a 9-year-old girl being stabbed to death in Boston, Lincolnshire and an 87-year-old man being stabbed to death in London.

The human race has hit rock bottom. They seriously need to bring back the death penalty. In this day and age, it can be proved without a doubt who the perpetrator is.

Christy,

㾻M gets you Maupay or Adams, not Rondon. We still need to sort out a playmaker, which is where I think the bulk of our kitty needs to go.

Apparently we've matched Newcastles offer for Joao Pedro at Watford. Very talented young player. Though not sure he'd pick us!

Clive,

If true, we can't spend a dime in this window, we are as good as down.

Martin Samuels of the Mail says we can't spend anymore because of FFP.

This is alarming if true.

Sell our two best players without players lined up to replace them. Chairmen says he wants to hang in there until he's 90 plus. Big chance our manager may walk with his reputation at stake or even untenable.

Yep, good to be back, Blues.

Decent article here on "tapping up" and the ways around it. As ever Brian Clough has the best quote, "we tapped more players in our time than the Severn-Trent Water Authority".

Tapping up is now an everyday part of the transfer circus despite rules against it

Didn't Kenwright say the stadium money is ring-fenced?

Or was that another one of his projects?

Jim Lloyd.

I'm edging to the Christine view that it's a waste of time not accepting the way we are and him pulling the strings because no one can or wants to listen or change anything...

8 days to keep us afloat and forget about back-up strikers because Calvert-Lewin, even if he did stay fit won't even be here soon.

I think Thelwell bit off more than he could chew coming here, to be honest. Ask renowned fire fighter,r Trevor Birch. Albeit different role same problems same dinosaur to deal with.

I know that full well Brian. Though some think the sun shines out of his arse'we're stuck with him, I know that.

However, I think that Moshiri finally understands that if we slip down a division, then his money will have gone up the spout on a team going downwards.

I sympathise with your view of him but in this instance, I'll wait until the end of this window before saying we're up the spout. I think Thelwell, wouldn't have come without certain undertakings from the club.

I also think this is likely to be the longest seven days that I've experienced watching our club. Because if we don't get at least two more players, one forward of class and one midfielder of class, then it's going to be a very dodgy season indeed.

Our goals for tally, for years has been a disgrace and that's got to change or we're goosed.

I remember Kenwright onSky being asked what the new ground (at King's Dock) was going to be called? He replied, "Goodison on the Water".

More like "Goodison on the brink". Endless failures... but Pugwash on his yacht seemingly oblivious to it all, even when he goes to the hole on the wall and sees a big dent.

Scrambling around for a signing on deadline day reminds me of the Moyes years. We called him Dithering Davey.

But Moyes isn't here any more and hasn't been for nearly 10 years.

But someone else is. Who is the real interfering ditherer because it's an all too familiar "strategy"? Discuss.

Danny.

Our Chairman is on the ball he's just matching Nottingham Forest ٟ million bid for Trevor Francis.

Danny,

I'd say our dithering reflects our lack of finance rather than the personalities involved. We didn't dither too much in the early Moshiri years when we had money to spend or should I say squander?

Brendan, we're like Danny O'Neill from a council estate who won the lottery, blew it and is now back to square one.

Ha ha Danny #180

You might even say you've had some good times!

What is PSG's beef with EFC? Has it got something to do with Moise Kean wanting to go on loan to Juve rather than them? I don't know what else they could be pissed about.

As regards Sir Bill, could it be that Moshiri has made a deal with him? “If I get you a knighthood, will you finally fuck off?”

Sean @169 - You brought back a nightmare for me.

Back in the 1960s, I was in the CID in Stretford, Manchester and we had to deal with the murder of an 11-year-old girl on a canal towpath. She had been stabbed over 50 times with a jack-knife, part of a blade broken off in her body. We arrested a 15-year-old boy a few days later with the penknife still in his pocket' He was a neighbour of the girl.

That was shortly before the Moors Murders, also horrifying, in which I had a small role; but I still think of that poor girl.

Sean

I get the emotive argument, but unfortunately we still have miscarriages of justice. There have been some folks recently over here in the US who were released because, in spite of modern science etc, they were stitched up because of corrupt or lazy cops or attorneys.

The other thing is, surprisingly that deterrent doesn't statistically reduce crime. In the 1700s and 1800s, we had the bloody code whereby there were 200 capital offences. They ended up having to commute the vast majority because convictions kept rising and they lacked the infrastructure and manpower to execute so many people.

In the US too they've done studies indicating people facing the ultimate sanction are more likely to commit more violent crime simply to silence witnesses and avoid arrest with that fate on the table.

A different solution in my view would be taking steps to restore moral fabric which would be bad for business for the likes of Facebook and Rupert Murdoch who make money of scaring people and turning everyone into paranoid amoral lunatics.

Pete (176),

I was sitting in the Nottm Forest players lounge with Alan Hill, the Forest young players development officer, after the game at Forest in 1985, when he told me that Brian Clough had just given Howard Kendall a playful tap across the cheek and told him “Stop tapping up my players”.

He was referring to Peter Davenport, the Forest striker who later signed for Man Ud I think.

Michael, Lyndon, How about a permanent loanee thread, to get updates from anyone who has watched our boys ?

Lewis Dobbin played his first full match in league football on Saturday. Derby we're getting beat, their opponents defending a 1-0 lead and down to ten men, a late equaliser.

Then right at the death our boy gets the ball on the left side of the penalty area, goes past two defenders and crosses it on a plate for the CF to strike the ball home. Crowd delirious. Well done to Lewis, keep up the good work.

I would've thought it's a personal moment for people affected or in grief of this news. Very much a private feeling and moment for parts of the nation.