Premier League — Matchweek 6

That Leeds manager who kept showing us his new watch midweek is a prize prick of the highest order. Actually pleased he got sent to the stands.

As for Leeds. A team that escaped relegation later than our latest great escape last season. The team that some predicted on here were going to batter us.

Being schooled and humbled by a team we almost beat and got a decent away point against recently.

Richarlison scores for Spurs, called for offside, and he gets a card for taking his shirt off.

Tottenham fans loving Richarlison now, I wonder why? His work rate is phenomenal.

That Richarlison goal is why the VAR has to go for me, scores his first Spurs goal shirt off and extatic along with the crowd only for some faceless twat to take away everyones enjoyment.

The decision was correct but football is all about goals and celebrations which VAR takes away. Then gets booked, for fuck's sake!

I wish to god we could ditch VAR, just seen West Ham's equaliser that was disallowed, absolutely scandalous, it's becoming a non contact sport, a truly terrible decision,

Mick,

I'm coming around to the view, which I've tried to resist so far, that it is actually corrupt. If I was a West Ham fan I'd be absolutely furious.

Jesse Marsch sent off. Absolute clown. Hopefully that's the last we will ever see of him in English football.

Repeat as I put this on the Week 5 thread earlier:

That Leeds manager who kept showing us his new watch midweek is a prize prick of the highest order. Actually pleased he got sent to the stands.

As for Leeds. A team that escaped relegation later than our latest great escape last season. The team that some predicted on here were going to batter us.

Being schooled and humbled by a team we almost beat and got a decent away point against recently.

Brian, our comment on another thread about the VAR checking the badge on the shirts first was spot on, today has once again proved the VAR is ruining the game,

Us and West Ham today, no doubt Villa this evening.

Spit doing his best to big up his under pressure mate creasehead, pair of absolute gobshites.

And Haaland does it again.

10 goals already. Machine

The beast is back at it, makes finishing look easy doesn't he.

Hopefully this will also be the last we see of Gerrard in English football.

Haaland is on track to score 63 goals. Surely he can't top Dixie?

Hopefully, Haaland will score again – thereby beating Micky Quinn's record!

Kieran, I prefer him to Klopp.

Joe,

Can't argue with that. I hate that stupid cheesy grin he does on the rare occasions a call is correctly awarded against RS.

I say leave him (Gerrard) in place. No need to panic!!

Records are there to be broken. Even the longest standing ones.

The sentiment in me wouldn't want that one to go, but if it does, then respect.

There is a contradiction between goal-line technology and VAR with regards to offside. For a goal to scored, the ball has to be 100% over the goal line, offside decisions should follow suit.

For a player to be offside, none of his body should be in contact with the defender. At present, the tiniest part of a player's body can be ahead of the defender yet judged to be offside.

Steavey,

I said that a few years back and agree. Offside should adhere to a "daylight" rule. Any daylight between the attacker and second to last defender should be offside. Anything else should be onside.

Onside would be an American term. Is that used by Brits?

A team with John Stones in central defence will always give attackers encouragement.

Like Barkley, he has not really improved since 19.

as predicted earlier, Villa done by an incorrect VAR: Coutinho onside.

We trialled the daylight rule a few years back, Jamie. I liked it as it gave the onus to the attacker. Not sure why we reverted back.

Anyway see the “onside” Harry Kane goal? Compare it with Coadys. What a joke

Did anyone not think offside though straight away? I didn't celebrate it, but it was closer than I thought in real time. I'm still not sure the lines were even parallel with the byline

The Coady goal could have been given in many other games but not for Everton and certainly not against Liverpool.

That sort of break just doesn't fall Everton's way, much like the sure-fire red card that should have been given to Van Dijk by idiot Taylor.

Some weird decisions all around the Premier League today but all that matters is the worthy point we got out of our game and the fact that Frank is getting this group on the same page.

Four draws in a row shows that we are getting harder to beat but naturally we have to start winning soon.

Fair fucks to Moyes and Marsch for telling a bit of truth today too. Needs to keep going. Sky 6 all bought and paid for. Corrupt.

Danny,

I was also glad that the Leeds manager got a red card today, his behaviour on the sideline is pathetic. Hopefully Brentford gave him the entertainment value that he was asking for on Tuesday!

It's obvious when you watch the highlights of other teams that we are lacking a true centre-forward that can finish.

Ivan Toney is a clear example of a player that is coming on immensely now and I'd love to see him here.

We make so many chances but, through a lack of killer instinct, we never take them.

I also agree about Jessie "Chevy Chase" Marsch, gobshite is doing my head in with his "I know the camera is on me" antics.

Thought the Newcastle goal getting disallowed was a bit harsh also, clear push on Willock into the goalkeeper, and good on Moyes calling out that decision, seeing it again this morning it's a disgrace

Leicester 1 up after 50 seconds.

Brighton equaliser.

Brighton now 2-1. Shocking in midfield and defence by Leicester City.

Brighton 2-1. Turning into a great game. Poor by Maddison in the middle of the pitch to give Brighton a break from the halfway line.

I am sorry to state this, but Everton are making other Premier League managers' jobs more easier when they play Everton because they know we don't have any functioning strikers. So they know they can put more pressure on Everton and believe they can score more goals than Everton can. This present situation is causing Everton not to win games.

Even newly promoted Bournemouth, who took a 9-goal hammering against the Reds, have won 2 games, one of them yesterday was against Forest when they were losing 2-0, they still came back and won 3-2. I could not see in all sincerity Everton doing this except for a minor miracle.

I think Frank Lampard has put Everton in this bad attacking situation, that could get worse if Calvert-Lewin keeps getting injured, which could easily happen, while Maupay is no striker, that's why Brighton let him go so relatively cheaply.

Andy @405.

Premier League have announced a review of the VAR:

Premier league to review VAR.

I imagine they want to check that it's working okay for the Sky 6, or if it's still not punishing the rest of us enough.

Is that our Gomes who has scored for Lille at Montpellier?

Surely not.

Stephen.

I thought him and Schneiderlin had it in their contracts not to move over a 10-yard radius.

It appears a couple of VAR decisions/incidents from yesterday are now to be "Reviewed" - however that transpires. Perhaps the pressure of the spotlight is finally telling; it needs to.

Will (40), they are looking into the two disallowed goals for Newcastle and West Ham yesterday so how are they going to put them right, maybe Newcastle and West Ham will start the return games with a 1-0 lead, you never though the way they change the rules so often these days!!

Dave, as that was an away game for WHU maybe they will be given a 1-0 start for their next away game on 18th Sept.

Wow, a screamer by MacAllister to put Brighton 3-2 up.

Brian, I believe that Schnides has stuck to those conditions religiously. Nil goals in two seasons.

Absolute VAR shambles at the Amex

Chalked off for offside. Games gone!

Jesus Christ, this must be one of the worst for VAR yet, the Brighton player deemed offside never even touched the ball!

And an absolutely brilliant strike ruled out. Utter madness.

Brent (42), I don't have to guess who they are playing so you could be correct, and they might fine us for that spectator running on the pitch and also an extra fine because the other fan missed Klopp with that plastic bottle, surely everyone hates that Klopp!!

Nobody knows what it's been cancelled out for?
Dangerous play? Offide ? Couldn't be cos ref asked to look at monitor, lines decide offside
Shambles.
Get rid of VAR

VAR beyond a joke. Getting to the stage where fans won't celebrate ‘goals' when they happen.

So, something must be done about the implementation of VAR after watching that BEAUTIFUL Brighton goal disallowed.

That shouldn't even be in the purview of VAR. The dude tries a bicycle kick and whiffs - didn't even touch the ball! Who gives a flying fuck if he started marginally in an offside position???

To disallow that goal - and it was gorgeous - is criminal.

Thing is, if it was disallowed for offside, why did the VAR official send the referee to the pitch side monitor? Surely the VAR official just says “Offside”, or do they think there was dangerous play involved with the attempted overhead kick?

I think it was the air kick, deemed dangerous play, ref wouldn't go to monitor to review offside, but they spent 5 minutes looking at possible offside,no conclusion … then decide there might be dangerous play, shambolic.

Continuing -

I'm a big proponent of VAR. It works here in the States in a variety of sports, including soccer.

But this Brighton situation is EXACTLY what I read all Brits say on these pages about the passion of the game and the celebration, and how the game is gone and sterilized thanks to VAR.

I don't blame any of you feeling that way. The Premier League is royally fucking up VAR - which could correct horrific incorrect decisions in your game. Instead, it's being implemented as a nit-pick tool in FAR too many circumstances.

It's really a shame, and if the EPL can't get this right, scrap it. Scraping it should never HAVE to happen! But they clearly would fuck up a one car funeral over there when it comes to VAR, and if that's the low bar you're dealing with, kill it altogether!!!

I mean, please, exactly what advantage has the Brighton player secured by being in an offside position?

Once the ball comes off the defender, it's a new phase, surely???

This shite is making me really hate everything about the Premier League.

Jeff, VAR can send a referee to the pitch side monitor to look at a potential dangerous overhead kick, which made no contact with the defender, yet they can't send a referee to the pitch side monitor to review a nasty over the top challenge by a dirty vile rat on an opponent which was a potential leg breaking challenge.

Try disallowing that one! 3-2 Brighton.

I don't feel that VAR itself is the problem, it's the interpretation (and bias for certain clubs) from the corrupt tossers that are making such huge decisions. League placings are are stake.

It works in Tennis and cricket, but nope certainly not football. I can't think why!
Villa should have won againts a SKY team
Everton (goal not given) thug liverpool player not given red (a SKY Team)
WHU goal not given for a draw against (yeap a SKY Team)
Evertons Handball v City last season, the premier league is getting more corrupt by the week.

And justice. Thank God Brighton scored.

Great point Rob! VVD's tackle on Onana was a straight red - studs up, high, through the player.

But they won't review that??? THEN, they send the ref to look at that Brighton goal???

This is EXACTLY what I mean when I say the EPL is completely fucking this up. They have no clue when and when not to utilize VAR, and no clue how to implement it.

At least something like what, 40 passes before they scored! Great goal by Brighton.

Hmmmm... wonder if Brighton let Maupay go because they have plenty of other players who seem to be able to hit the fucking ball firm and true, away from the goalkeeper, and into the fucking net.

Unlike Maupay... or anyone else we have.

Great play by Trossard to win a penalty.

Outside the area, surely!

C'mon VAR!

Have to agree with Michael, clinical striker would have put that ball top left of the net.

Ndidi has lost a step. Or maybe two. That never used to happen to him.

Jamie #59. yeah, I had hoped that the appointment of Howard Webb would signal some improvement in the use of VAR. No sign of it yet.

4-2. Is this the beginning of the end for Brendan Rodgers?

Brenda gone tomorrow.

Rob #66, maybe the end of the end.

Mike, is the fat lady gargling salt water in preparation for the song to finish Brenda?

Dave/Brent - therein lies the problem.

Even should a mistake be admitted, how can it ever be properly repaired; it can't, the chance has gone, short of replaying the game.

It's not like we're talking some deep complexity here. Obvious, stupid decisions are happening one on another, ironically in stadiums full of thousands of people, 90-odd percent of whom would get the decision right if sat in the chair at Stockley Park.

Sooner or later, "They" are going to have to decide between an accurate and fair system, and the current set-up with its opportunities for drama, operational interpretation and control of outcomes.

It now seems to be betraying itself so widely and frequently, it can't continue this way.

All Maupay had to do was "pass" that into the net either side of the keeper, Michael.

Brenda is definitely in the corner and on the ropes.

And that should have been another penalty. I'm getting the impression the Leicester players aren't playing for the manager here.

Why Leicester let Kasper go is mind boggling ex redshite Ward having a mare.

It now seems to be betraying itself so widely and frequently, it can't continue this way.

Perfectly said, Will. Exactly what I was attempting to convey above.

Rob, she's squeezing into her girdle for a Monday morning aria.

Danny, Maupay can't do that. He doesn't have that composure in his game. It's too bad, because he has pretty much everything else. He scored in buckets in the Championship, but now -- as I've said before -- he misses more sitters than a drunk in a pay toilet.

Wow 4-2.

I should have watched this one.

Jamie @54, we have become a nation of cringing nitpickers, so it's no surprise we're fucking up VAR.

He allegedly wanted a fresh challenge as he entered the final year of his contract Jeff. But I suspect something going on behind the scenes - maybe the owners tightening the purse strings?

4 - 2 with a goal of the season that never was for offside as well Will.

Cant blame the referee to much he gave a goal the problem is with the clown in the armchair ; how far back do you have to go to disallow a goal 1/2/3/ or 4 tackles or maybe fouls, or potential off sides. 7 min extra time 5 min checking for how to f--k a game up

Talking of disallowed goals, I see Richarlison was booked for taking his shirt off after scoring his first goal for spurs, only to be ruled out for offside, so shouldn't his yellow card have also been rescinded?

Danny, hope that was a genuine offside and not more desecration by VAR...

Paul(#38); It probably means that they are busy adding up all those 30K fines they might collect, or miracle of miracles, they give Frank back his money.

Leicester players arguing amongst each other not good for team moral, another fine goal from Mcallister deserved it

I've never seen the scales of justice balance quite that completely. Extraordinary from Macca.

Rob - good point! Cause and effect.

Mistakes made by the VAR in respect of goals cannot be rectified retrospectively but they can when it comes to dangerous play. IMO the refs association should review all VAR decisions plus those highlighted but seemingly not reviewed by the VAR from the latest round of matches after every round,

They should then provide an explanation as to why decisions were made or reviews not deemed necessary. Where an incident such as the St Virgil on Onana is found to have been missed or wrongly adjudged, action can at least be taken retrospectively. That wouldn't help us in this particular situation but it would at least help ensure dangerous play is punished which in itself will help eradicate it.

In addition, the reviews could result in actions being taken to reduce future mistakes. These actions should include; subtle VAR rule changes, referee and VAR reviewer training or even short term bans for repeated mistakes and consultation with the clubs in respect of how VAR can be used to improve the game without ridiculous lengthy stoppages.

I'm fantasising I know…..

Another screamer by MacAllister, and this one counts.

Looking at James Maddison, and he definitely does not want to be at Leicester.

Brighton are a delight to watch.

Bye Bye, Mister Rogers, Bye Bye

Robbie on NBC says "They're not Leicester City anymore, they should be called Lightweight City."

The Fat Lady is adjusting her microphone.

Alison had his legs wide open, Danny, imagine nutmegging the keeper to score the winner in the Merseyside derby on your debut? His first touch set himself up perfectly, but he lacked composure unfortunately, but he still put in a decent enough performance imo.

When Everton scored, I thought that Maupay had put it in off the post, and couldn't understand why the VAR was actually checking the goal. I had picked my 15-year-old godson up into my arms when we initially got the corner, simply because it used to bring us loads of goals when I used to do this to him years ago, when he was just a little boy.

The ball went in, I threw him down, and then started walking down the steps, towards the front, just so I could take the celebrations that were taking place all over the ground in. I had water in my eyes, thinking about a great Evertonian who got buried on Wednesday, and thought the scenes were matching the ones when Calvert-Lewin scored against Palace.

But it was not to be, unfortunately, well not until the next time, hopefully, and this is why it's imperative that our strikers find composure in the crucial moments. Goals win games, and players with calm heads score goals!

The problem at Leicester is obviously money – or I should say the saving of it. The now owner has god knows how many racehorses all over the country, it would seem he's on an economy drive.

The idea of the VAR is okay, the problem is the dicks officiating it. Okay, there's always going to be differing opinions on certain incidents but some decisions are downright incompetent.

Neil, you're not actually fantasizing, that's exactly how it should be.

The decisions are one thing, the arrogance and lack of explanation, correction, response etc... this just exacerbates it.

Just need Arsenal to beat Man Utd 5-0 now, so we can catch them off-guard and sneak one next Sunday.

Hands up all those who said two years ago that Potter wasn't good enough for Everton?!

Great manager. Will surely be managing a Champions League club in the next few years.

Hate to say it but that's quite a nice change strip for Man Utd.

I like it.

No danger of the Fergie Freakout from years back when they started in all grey and couldn't see each other...

Sam @95, would he have done as well with our toxic lot at the time?

Not sure. We need/needed a nasty manager and I think Lampard is just that.

Steavey@21,

I agree with you, no offside unless daylight between attacker and relevant defender.

I would also suggest that if FIFA wants to bring more goals for the entertainment of the fans and viewers, then they should consider no offside within the goal area.

Think about it, dear readers, the game is all about movement and flow and when the play is that close to the goal, everyone should be playing the ball, if close enough, not running away to create an offside.

Just my thoughts. COYB

Will @94, wily.

Will, it is so frustrating. I do not for one moment condone the lad who ran onto the pitch to confront the ref yesterday but I do fully understand his anger.

Imagine major corporations being run the way the Premier League and Refs Association conducts matters, there would be blood-letting on a major scale.

The whole thing is a farce when it could and should actually be used to improve the game. For me, the offside rules applied when looking at goals are ridiculous. How can an elbow, hand, arm be deemed as making a player offside when you can't score with that part of your body? I thought they were supposed to be giving the advantage to the attacking team this season?

Brighton's goal that was ruled out today helped quash the Sky 6 conspiracy theories but that is the most glaring of all VAR errors so far. How can a player who swung at and missed the ball be seen to be offside? And no, sorry, it wasn't dangerous play either – 4 minutes to decide, what a fucking joke!

Tony @97, you might be right. I like to think we'd have been patient if there were signs of progress.

Wish we'd got him personally but I'm warming to Frank.

I hope Maupay isn't going to become another whipping boy.

Okay, he had a great chance to become an instant hero and it didn't go in. When he got the ball, he no doubt thought "Oh fuck, I'm going to score" and panicked.

Reminds me of Johnathan Pearce – every time a striker is within 25 yards of the goals and misses, he invariably shouts 'He should have scored'.

Tony - Wily = grabbing at straws...

Mike G - I think you missed a "h" out of your sitters comment about drunks in a pay toilet!!

Yes, all that was needed from Maupay was composure. It wasn't even a good save, it just hit the keeper and made him look good. Maybe with a few games under his belt, sharpness will come? I too thought he done a good job yesterday.

Hands up, Sam, and I'll keep them up. He's done a fantastic job and Brighton are easy on the eye. But at a provincial club that is very well run. I'm convinced we'd have destroyed him and his reputation. He'd have become another managerial sacrificial lamb.

I'm probably being overly suspicious here, and I don't want this to be taken as being critical of Potter, but Mike Walker springs to mind. Roberto Martinez even? I don't know why, it's just a hunch.

Glad the lad got his screamer at the end having had his previous screamer ruled out. It was for a player coming from an offside position to interfere with play. Right decision, I think, but a damn shame as he's unlikely to score one like that again. Although he did score a beauty against us at Goodison last season in front of my own eyes!!

No messing - run, collect, score.

No messing - run, collect, score, VAR.

Another VAR call this ref took nearly 2 minutes to give the foul when it was obvious in about 30 seconds looking at a monitor

The VAR shouldn't be involved for that one – the ref was looking straight at it and made his decision, rightly or wrongly.

Either get rid of refs completely or let them do their job. VARs are ruining football.

Much as I hate Man Utd, the VAR got that one right.

But Bill, yes, agree, it's an obvious call that took way too long.

Michael, true. it could theoretically get to a point where everything's challenged and checked.

Brenda last season did a rant and said he was going to replace all their players but had no money to do so which doesn't create a good dressing room environment.

Secondly, he can't set them up to defend corners.

Thirdly, he's obsessed with overhyping preppy white boys like Barnes and Dewsbury-Hall who aren't that good. While he publicly hammered Sterling at Liverpool and Inehnacio.

Lastly, he hasn't noticed Vardy is old and past it.

Why the ref didn't give a foul in the first place?

He gave the same foul push in the back against McTominay 5 minutes earlier.

You see a foul, Mike.

I just sadly see a game that is now bordering on the ridiculous. I've been thinking that football should now have a sin bin, for contentious decisions.

But looking at the sport, if this came to fruition, then maybe this should also apply to these officials who are constantly making it up as they go along.

Big Six footballgasm - commentator about blew the front of his pants out.

Tony, I don't argue any of that, but the VAR itself isn't the problem, it's how the system is implemented and how it naturally makes the officials indecisive. What Webb needs to do is tell the refs to CALL THE FUCKING GAME and use the AR as a backup, not the initial decision-maker.

That's the crux of the problem, Tony. VAR or not, it always has been and continues to be about the standard and competence of the officials. Take away the VAR and the underlying problem continues to exist.

I like the idea of a Rugby style sin bin. It's like being sent to the cooler to calm down. They get a lot of things right, including use of video technology.

Watching College football here in the US last night, very similar. The officials could be heard talking through their decision with the replay on the screen.

And the clock stops when the game stops and was visible. None of this one person (the Ref) holding the keys and subjectively determining when time is up to allow Liverpool one last chance to score even though the 96 minutes was up.

Sorry. I'm off.

I think a large part of the problem is the arrogance of the Premier League and the Refs. It reminds of England's refusal to take part in the early World Cups in the 1930s because England were the best team in the world anyway. Look what happened when they did decide to show the world, England lost 1-0 against a team everyone expected them to trounce at least 10-0.

That same level of arrogance is rearing its head again, it's some time since we had the best officials in the world.

In addition, and as already mentioned above, the refs need to make an on-field decision and quickly but to do that they need to be competent……perhaps the Premier League should start using officials from other countries?

The VAR is certainly the problem for anyone watching inside the ground. It kills the spontaneous reaction to a goal and remains entirely subjective. Who'd have guessed that when human judgement is involved?

I've never come across a match-going supporter who seeks this supposed level of perfection and objectivity at the expense of the flow and excitement of the game. It's a shockingly poor system poorly implemented. There can be no excuses for it, its a shit solution looking for a problem.

Jimmy Floyd, spot on, looking at it again. It's not a foul. You are allowed to make contact with another player without it being foul play, otherwise the game would stop every three seconds.

Ref was right to give the goal, and a complete coward to allow the VAR to dictate to him.

I've got no time for most of these modern referees but being honest I've less time for these cheating, diving, play acting footballers who make it even harder for the incompetent men who referee the matches and every club has got them, they are the most annoying part of watching football today.

That was my opinion, Michael, because he saw the initial play close up and decided to carry on, so for him to change his mind just shows complete incompetence IMO.

I was reading that Michael Oliver refused to look at the screen after awarding Forest a penalty yesterday. I don't know if this was after being advised to look by the VAR, but it's very intriguing to wonder why he didn't want to look at the decision again.

Maybe it's because of what Mike G says, and Oliver, has already had enough of the way that the VAR is currently being used? He's an arrogant bastard either way, but surely he should have been asked for his views?

Agree with that Dave, especially when you hear Roy Keane say it was a foul, but wouldn't have been in his day, but it's now something loads of players do, when they have lost the ball or haven't been strong enough in the first place.

But then the flip side Pete is the times that teams are on the flip side of decisions.

And that's my point. Competency of decision making by the officials, technology or no technology.

Arsenal are playing some lovely football. Hope they have an off day next week.

Deserved equaliser

Michael yes, Arsenal so good.

...and then United score.

The obsequious commentary is off the charts.

Just came out of church and guessed it would be 2-1 to Utd with Rashford, Varane and Saka having scored at this point.

I need to find a church by a bookies for next week.

Michael, 64, If you think that was a miss by Maupay, you've got another thing coming lol.

He misses sitters even with no goalie in between the posts! He is well known for that.

OK, we have a job on next Sunday.

I hope Arsenal play that high a line next week.

Trying to play offside from the half way line?

Pickford or Coady over the top. Gordon and Gray Ole.

Herman Munster.

Danny, I doubt we'll get that lucky unless they're chasing the game,

Just one of those days for Arsenal, but maybe it will unsettle them a little and we can surprise them next week.

Danny, not gonna happen (as much as I want it to). I feel we need another 12 months, and get at least 2 more goalscoring strikers.

HI Dave [120],

I am on your side when it comes to players feigning injury, and that includes Everton players. I believe that the law-making authorities are to blame, they have [in my opinion] allowed players to take advantage of what has become a non-contact sport. Anyone who attempts a sliding tackle is in danger of a red card.

I don't think we'll ever see another Alex Parker or Jimmy Gabriel and I'm glad to have seen football when it was a man's game.

Mike (115) - Exactly.

Tony @121,

I thought Oliver looked at the screen as requested but decided to stick with his first decision. Rather refreshing I thought.

Thanks Ray, I must have read it wrong, but yes it's like these referees haven't always got a mind of their own anymore, so that is refreshing.

Taylor had his hand pointing at his watch to indicate he wouldn't be having Pickford wasting time, but had to wait until the 96th minute to book the Everton goalkeeper, which made me think he had a pre-conceived idea, because of what had happened in Liverpool's previous game, although this had nothing whatsoever to do with yesterday's fixture.

Everton will be very competitive when they play against Arsenal next week, and will fight for every ball.

But that's about it, because, unfortunately, Everton still don't have strikers who can worry a defence, especially away from home.

First weekend I have watched much football since the season began, and what has been noticeable, is how many chances have been created by teams on the counter-attack.

I see that Sasa Kalajdzic has done his ACL on his Wolves debut. Poor bugger.

The unraveling of Leicester City is fascinating. Going into last season they were coming off back-to-back 5th place finishes and were being held up as the model for everything Everton aspires to.

Now look at them. I gather they have financial issues, though I haven't really followed the situation closely. They still have a fair amount of talent in that side, but it seems like they all want out.

I know there might be a separate thread, but if anyone is meeting around Euston and King's Cross on the way to the Emirates next Sunday, let me know and I'll join.

Does anyone have a spare ticket for Arsenal away please? If so, 07740 786325. Thank you

Bill&142

Apparently their owners money comes from Duty Free shops and airport outlets. Consequently they've been stuffed by Covid and can't put money into Leicester.

Tony (121) yes and Arteta was one of the worst when he lost the ball and threw himself on the floor by the way he had been fouled, refs got wise to him and ignored him like they did with Richarlison even when they had been fouled, victims of their own making, both of them made me sick with their phoney antics.

John (135), those feigning injuries are even worse, rolling over umpteen times like they have been shot, sometimes they result in the opposition being booked or even sent off, should be a sin bin for these when it is obvious they are “at it” and made to sit it out for 10 minutes sucking a dummy, might put a stop to it.

The game now is to win at all costs no matter how much dignity they lose by their pathetic antics,their egos won't let them show any shame.

That's why rare exceptions like Seamus Colman stand out, just honest genuine human beings.

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, Everton scored a goal and I didn't go crazy celebrating.

One reason: the VAR. I just knew it would be disallowed. Yes, it was probably offside by the letter of the law but I find now that unless someone scores a screamer from outside the box, and nobody has made a tackle in the previous minute of play, my first thought is not, "What a great goal" but "Wll it be allowed to stand?"

Same goes for games Everton are not playing in. The VAR has destroyed the game. It has taken the raw emotion out of it. I can live with refs making genuine mistakes as was the case before the VAR, but not this rubbish we are now watching.

The only reason I pay for a Sky subscription is to watch the game 100% live and not on a delay from the links to (illegal) streams.

For what it's worth, I shall be calling Sky tomorrow to cancel my subscription and asking them to take note of my reason for cancelling – the VAR.

At least by the time the goal goes in on my illegal stream, the clan on ToffeeWeb will have already told me if the goal is real or not.

"...and what has been noticeable, is how many chances have been created by teams on the counter-attack"

Tony, you're right - and though I'd like to unsee it, the whole way teams are playing is becoming more and more homogeneous, more standardized. It's not so bad yet but it will be eventually.

Dave @ 146,

I agree. I have for years been spouting off to anyone who would listen, that a third card (orange) be awarded to such charlatans giving them 10 minutes in a sin bin for their troubles. Plenty of time for them to rest and recover from their unfortunate battering, not! COYB.

Squeezing the pitch, means you have got to play a high line; otherwise, this tactic maybe isn't so successful, Will?

I agree with you on your thoughts, and anyone who watches academy football will have seen how much some coaches are strangling a lot of natural talent out of some very talented young kids.

I think that, now the high line is maybe beginning to get exploited a lot more, that another change might be around the corner, because a lot of systems do seem to be fads. We will see.

Steavey (146),

If Arsenal defend like they did today, then that will suit us on the counter at speed. Gray and Gordon can get in behind them. Whether they can finish any changes we create is the question…

There could indeed be another fad ahead, Tony. The thing now is, how quickly and widely that fad might take hold across the game, which is almost an inevitability.

Sad to see flair and individual talent being pared and shaped to fit more into systems, along with the need for a certain minimum level of athleticism as an element. Those with the very best of natural ability get something of a pass to use their skills and are sought, but not at the expense of too much individuality.

No more McKenzie and Le Tissier!

Man Utd looked good today especially on the break. Arsenal looked great early on too.

Both are probably a step or so up the ladder for us but are what we should be aiming at.

Dave 145,

Great post... also add Digne and Mina into that as well. Much prefer Mykolenko as a player than Digne as he has a tougher mentality and is a better defender.

Also prefer Tarkowski to Mina who was another softie trying to get other players carded for his play-acting.

I thought Man Utd were quite physical today which Arsenal couldn't handle. Hopefully Frank has observed and will apply it next Sunday.

Also, they have a midweek game against PSV so I'm sure they won't have their first choice 11 out against us.

IMO, I don't know why the VAR can't make an instant decision.

If it takes 5 minutes to review and a big debate, it shouldn't be overturned anyway.

As for the offside, I think it's nonsense to include shoulders and elbow and agree with those who say there should be clear daylight between the defender and the attacker.

I'm for daylight Jay, but it should at least be about the feet. At the very least. Leaning forward is part of the attackers' natural momentum.

I'm going to shut up as I'm a scratched record on the subject. But the VAR should actually make it clear and do away with the Clive Thomas style decisions.

But football, unlike other sports, is somehow suspicious when presented with the obvious that all can see and has made its implementation complicated.

Doing pundits out of a job? Exposing incompetent officials for what they are regardless of technology?

Take your pick. I take my scratched record off. The VAR is not the problem. We've had it for years before the VAR.

Jay, spot on. There should be a time limit of say 30 seconds or perhaps 1 minute maximum. Anything taking longer is not a clear and obvious error.

It is an absolute joke and should either be scrapped altogether (very unlikely) or be altered to make it as clear as possible with full transparency regarding the decisions made.

I am astounded that the clubs continue to put up with shocking decisions. Surely they can get together and force a change?

What a waste of time the VAR is becoming.

Lee Mason was unable to make a call as the VAR for the obvious foul on Eriksen so he just throws it back to Tierney on the field who was just as incompetent in not calling it the first time.

What on earth are these officials getting paid for? It's all gone crazy.

After the Van Dijk possible leg-breaker yesterday, I just give up on ever expecting officiating to improve,

I said I'd shut up, but I won't.

The VAR should be the answer.

The problem we've had since I can remember remains. Incompetent officials.

Even when they now have video evidence right in front of them, which should make it clear, they can't make the right decision.

Okay, nothing is ever going to be 100%, but when it's there to see on a replay in clear, it should at least be 90%.

And stop just using it to rule goals out. Maybe use it for a lot more. Perhaps for what should be a clear red card for example? Or whether it's a corner or a goal kick?

It shouldn't take long. As long as those assessing know what they're looking at.

Danny, perhaps we should bring in officials from countries where the VAR works okay (USA?) to teach our officials how to use it properly? Or maybe just train them in how to referee games?

Something that has become more noticeable to me is the amount of times that the linesman don't make any decision at all. Even relatively straight-forward ones regarding throw-ins are left for the ref to decide. It happened a number of times yesterday with the bloke running the line on the Main Stand side of the pitch.

The problem is now that the VAR is simply making things worse because now we have otherwise correct decisions being overturned due to more incompetence.

The use of the VAR is sucking the life out of the game, whether that is the technology itself or the application and interpretation of the technology or both, it needs to be sorted and quickly.

And yes, absolutely it should be applied regarding incidents of dangerous play – surely that cannot be so difficult to achieve some consistency?

Totally Neil.

If the game has stopped and there is doubt, have a look and use the technology. Other sports seem to manage to do it without the dramatic over-reaction that football seems to have adopted. Maybe that's what the media providers and pundits want? I just want a correct decision most of the time as I've seen many wrong ones given pre-VAR and it is equally mind-numbing.

I have long been frustrated by linesmen / assistant officials. Long gone are the days when they tell the man in the middle which way a throw in goes. More often than not now, they look for the discreet point of the hand from the Ref before raising their flag. So they are almost irrelevant; they do what they are told.

The amount of throw ins and corners that went the wrong way yesterday was stark. And in the spirit of the game, that was both ways. It's the same most weeks.

All I want is the correct decision most of the time. That's all we ask.

Simple answer to the VAR debate… take a few lads off the street who have played the game, and stick them in the square box at Stockley park, and we will soon get it right.

Every man and his dog can see some of the ludicrous decisions these VAR idiots make are wrong. We'd have to be honest though, we couldn't, for example call an RS goal as being offside, even though it was from within their own half!!

Hi Danny [159] ,

You will be aware of my stance on the VAR but if not I'll state it now, I have been against it from the start, in fact the only things I have no problem with are the goal-line technology and the referee's shaving cream, which appears to have a psychological effect at free-kicks.

You say that it 'might be used for a clear red card offence', I thought that was exactly what is expected of it already. You also say that it might be used to confirm goal-kicks or corners, you might as well add throw-ins because an incorrect decision could lead to a goal.

I'm sure that it's something we can discuss at the Bramley Moore get-together, God willing.

Don't start me on throw-ins, John Senior. The amount of foul throws that go unpunished.

See you at the next one. I don't care what the doctor says. It's Guinness for you!

I know it would be a bit difficult as Linesmen only operate in one half of the pitch on their side but I'd like to see them stand 2 or 3 yards (metres) down the line from the throw-in to stop the taker pinching ground.

I can't remember one being taken from the right place… but then that has been going on for almost as long as there's been a Leeds Utd.

And somebody mentioned bringing the VAR officials from USA where they don't seem to have too many problems, albeit their game is a more stop-start nature, but until then, I would like to see an adoption of their system of putting a flag down to indicate there may be a problem but without stopping play.

David #153, I have never seen Mina do that.

So Arsenal got a goal disallowed yesterday because the ref decided he should have given a foul to Eriksen when told to have a look at the monitor. Next it'll be, that corner that they have just scored from, should have been a goal kick.

Football has created an appalling monster with the VAR, but the biggest monster is the cheating, which is what I personally thought Eriksen did yesterday, after getting everything a good midfielder should do right, wrong, imo.

Celtic outplaying Real. Wouldn't mind the Celtic manager at Everton.

We've already got a manager.

I don't mean at the moment.

Paul @ 169 no more managerial changes please, let Frank bed in.

I believe the VAR was brought in for more of the obvious offsides that were missed, not for a person being offside for the tip of his boot.

It should be changed to at least 2 parts of his body are offside. The lines that take 2/3 min to try and determine the offside, that still bring controversy, are slowly ruining a game of instant emotions.

Offside should be measured from the back of the heel of the foot nearest to the goal, as in a no-ball in cricket. If the heel or any part of the attacker's most forward foot is in line, it's not offside.

Hi Jack [174],

If they're going to continue with the present ridiculous system, your idea would be the best way to determine off-side or not, but I'd like to know what happened to the daylight between players?

Like many on this site I'm old enough to remember players being ruled off-side when they were 50 yards away from the action, and I can't see any improvement in the current situation.

I know I'm in danger of being considered a 'stick in the mud' but it's my opinion that the VAR is probably the worst thing to have happened to football. It may be exciting to the TV followers but, to the matchgoers, it's absolute agony. I feel that, if it was possible to run a vote of the match-going supporters, the VAR would be opposed by the majority.

John Senior, I think the key is transparency. That's what football doesn't have in its implementation of the VAR. As Tony says, they've made a monster. They've cocked it up.

Other sports have it but it's transparent. Officials live on TV and in the ground audible in explaining their discussion and decisions as the replays are shown to the entire stadium.

In football, we have a closed shop of a couple of people in Stockley Park speaking on a closed communications link to the official who might go and get asked to look at a screen that only he views.

Clandestine and secretive. Given all the wrongs of the past, it could have been the answer, but the main issue remains. The competency of the officials.

Jack (174)

Offside should be measured from the back of the heel of the foot nearest to the goal, as in a no-ball in cricket. If the heel or any part of the attackers most forward foot is in line it's not offside.

My version would be something similar to what pro ice hockey has for off-side:

A team is offside when any member of the attacking team precedes the puck over the defending team's blueline. The position of the player's skate — and not that of his stick — is the determining factor. If both skates are over the blueline before the puck, the player is offside.

Naturally, footy doesn't have a blue line. But the VAR official uses a red and green line on a screen. My take is that if either foot of the attacking player is behind either foot of the last defender, he's onside.

This business of a nose, forehead or elbow determining offside is embarrassing.

Hi Danny [176],

I think that you and I are too firmly entrenched in our personal opinions of the VAR to be likely to change. My take on it is that I may dispute the decision of a referee, but I prefer to accept it there and then, rather than wait for the decision of someone who may take X number of minutes to view a "plain and obvious error"?

Although I'm only stating an opinion, I'm quite sure that the majority of match-going supporters would agree with my point of view. I'm prepared to be proved wrong, but I've no doubt that it will be on the agenda at The Bramley Moore get-together on the 18th.

Kudus, who we are allegedly interested in, is having a great game tonight.

My, Liverpool only played for 16 min and gave away 2 penalties, the first was scored with Milner booked for the foul, the second was given for VVD inadvertently stamping on a player (heard that one before) but was saved.

Bill, why are you the only one celebrating the demise of the Plopp?

Napoli 3-0 Shite! Good stuff!

And is that the same Anguissa that was at Fulham?

i said the other day that widemouth would be sacked and he will be - Tuchel to take over around January!

Bill (179),

Napoli are breaking quickly out of defence wth some brilliant passing movements and should have scored five with missed penalty and then missing an open goal with the ‘keeper out of the picture.

How is Milner still on the field, already booked as you say and made three more poor tackles with fouls given but no second yellow card. He's walking a tightrope here if he comes back for the second half.

Good shot, Oliver. There have been some that mentioned how the Dortmund debacle played out and this is rhyming.

Danny, James, John Snr. I think that is the very reason that the VAR call is decided in secret. If it was open and all were allowed to hear, their incompetence would be regularly fully exposed.

Only when we get that openness will there be an improvement. Only that will force them to be more consistent and achieve better decision-making. At the moment, it is lazy, amateur and unaccountable. Totally unacceptable and not fit for purpose for a multi-billion level industry. Even worse for millions of disillusioned fans.

I go on about the choice of freeze frame all the time on offsides. The person who chooses it is playing god and often deciding match outcomes. This process also needs to be fully open, recorded and accessible for retrospective analysis. If not, it is a way of allowing a route in for bias and corruption.

Sky Sports must be panicking and wondering how they will explain that one of their favourites is falling, they can start with sacking some of their know-nothing ex-Red pundits.

And make that 4-0, oh dear….,

Tony #174, spot on.

Until there is transparency, the corruption accusations will only get worse and with some justification.

Yeah, good point, Tony.

My thing is the choice of the freeze frame as well. It is where the player positioned at the point the ball is kicked for the pass. There is some time that the ball is on the passer's foot.

What is the rule there? When the ball leaves the foot or when contact is first made? Maybe this is already accounted for and I'm just an idiot but the VAR has been shit so there.

That the VAR is occasionally wrong is no reason to look at scrapping it. A check on ref decisions based on very complicated situations and rules and the potential for corruption is absolutely essential.

It needs to be improved, that's all. That it is biased towards the Top 6 is unsubstantiated nonsense.

St Virgil only half the player he was. Let them hate and obsess over us even more and blame our goalie. Fuck em.

I'm not so sure, Martin, look at Allan's yellow getting changed to a red but not Dirty Van Dijk's? Maybe it's sour grapes but the Top 6 seem to get more leeway than the likes of us.

Richarlison scores for Spurs.

Sorry, it's my fault. I came on here to gloat about our lovely neighbours and found this. Now Richarlison has scored twice for Spurs and I feel sick.

Congrats to Richarlison.

First Champions League appearance. Scores both goals.

Simple answer to VAR offsides: If they have to draw a line, attacker advantage – no offside.

I try not to watch RS after-match interviews usually, but Robertson and Klopp tonight - oh my aching sides!

Klopp looked like he needed his mummy.

James 191.

I wouldn't give Richarlison the time of day, let alone congratulate him.

I'll guarantee you this —if he scores against us home or away he'll celebrate. He did it to Watford fans when he scored for us.

He's got no allegiance to Everton and I hope he fails miserably.

Andy Meighan,

Personally, I hate the old "I won't celebrate if I score" routine. It's fake and it's insulting to the club who are paying your wages and supporting you. So if he does score versus us I would expect him to celebrate.

At the same time, though, I don't wish him ill. He did as well as he could for us for several years so why wish him anything negative?

Andy,

Yes, he means nothing now and all this wishing him well is nonsense. Bigger and better players have left and, once they are gone, they are gone.

Kiran 195. Because I'm like that.

Yes, you're right, he did as well as he could for us, but spent a lot of the time rolling about and whingeing. The original boy who cried "Wolf!"

But call me bitter, in fact, call me anything you want, but I don't want to see any player do well when they leave Everton, no matter who they play for.

On another note, I see that Kudus of Ajax scored a cracker earlier against Rangers, looked an absolute unit and pacey with it. You can see what they saw in him.

I remember reading some nonsense on here about Richarlison being consigned to the Spurs bench and returning to us in January on loan. That's not going to happen.

He was a fantastic player for us. I wish we still had him but owing to our financial mismanagement we had no alternative other than to sell him for what I think will prove to be a bargain fee from a Spurs viewpoint.

Andy,

I understand your perspective, but I see it differently. He was a guy who earned our respect, loved the fans and the club, nothing negative.

So he's gone but the respect we have for a player shouldn't disappear as well. I expect him to celebrate every goal he scores; I hope he has a good career and glad he spent some of it with us. But he has gone... as every player does.

Andy (194) - Well, alrighty then.

Fortunately I don't give a shit what you think.

Everybody wins!!

And, Andy, that second header of his was fantastic.

I had to watch it to see how I felt about it. I'm happy for him and I hate Spurs.

To be honest, we just did not have the support for him and would have continued our one-dimensional attack had he stayed. One door closes another opens. You were good, Richy, but don't be too good for that lot.

I watched the Napoli-shite game until it quietened down at 4-1 and I switched to the Spurs game just in time to see Richarlison score his first and then 5 minutes later his second. Both very good headers. I like him and, while I don't like Spurs, I enjoyed his goals.

Klopp hooked Gomez at half time after a dreadful performance. Michael Keane has never played as bad as that for us. It was great entertainment.

Just woke up to that lovely news about our neighbours, and after reading a couple of posts, it got me thinking about Saturday's game. I'm not sure which chance we created with our breakaway, but when Onana, calmly took another touch in our area, then decided to run forward before passing the ball left, his calmness, and awareness was something I hadn't seen from an Everton midfielder for a very long time.

Tony E, bang on the money imo mate. I've long said that the VAR is an illusion and, until there is transparency, they are either cheating us or protecting some very incompetent referees. My own opinion right now is that it's a bit of both.

Klopp out! Gerrard in!

Tony Everan @184. You make the point I've been trying to make but make it better. Transparency and more importantly, what you say, accountability. But that's what they're afraid of, so hide behind the screen; literally.

On Richarlison, I thought he done everything he could for Everton and gave everything. You can argue that from a career perspective, he's made a progressive decision. He's already scored 2 goals in the Champions League. It hurts me to say it, but that wasn't happening anytime soon with Everton.

Kudus. What a finish. Let's hope the rumours of him wanting the Everton move were true and a January move is on the cards.

St Virgil penailsed for a late stamp. Milner penalised for a handball. Can we have that Ref for the next Derby? Forza Napoli!!

Richarlison has gone, but he stood up strong when we needed him the most. Five points behind Burnley, and firmly entrenched in that final relegation spot, the kid worked his socks off against Chelsea, with his aggressive running, and aggressive closing down, not to mention his very calm finish. For a club that hasn't won a sausage in 27 very long years, that picture of Richarlison, then holding the flare, is genuinely the most iconic picture of any Everton player, since Waggy Watson, picked up the FA Cup, a very long lifetime ago.

He's gone, but I'm sure he will always be an Evertonian, he even got a tattoo on his neck, of the opening line to his very own Everton song. I wish Richarlison all the luck in the world, because his goal against Chelsea, was absolutely priceless, and definitely helped keep us in the big league. Maybe we will play Spurs in the champions league in a couple of seasons? Who knows!

Tony (209), Tony, Richarlison's goal against Chelsea was as priceless as Iwob's goal versus Newcastle and Dominic's against Crystal Pal, as was Holgate's versus Leicester and Gordon's deflected shot versus Man. Unt, along with the many saves Pickford made in all those games they all helped to keep Everton in the premier league but the biggest contribution came from you, me and 36,000 Evertonians willing those players to fight for the team.

That flare picture was iconic. That season for all the wrong reasons will live in the memories. It will mine.

If you wanted to capture and bottle what being an Evertonian means, and how much our club means to the supporters, last season done that more than when I've seen us win titles in my opinion. The emotion in those closing weeks was just unbelievable.

Less obvious, probably more un-noticed and less iconic but more discreet was both Gray and Richarlison face planted on the Goodison turf after Calvert-Lewin's diving header. Absorbed and drained in the electric atmosphere.

I used discreet versus discrete. Standing by for Michael K to jump all over me!!!

Dave @210,

You are right that the fans were probably the biggest contributing factor to helping Everton stay up last season. And you are right that there were others who contributed to guiding us to safety, but none of them come close to the contribution that Richarlison made to this team.

I can only think of 3 players in all the time I have been watching Everton who singlehandedly had the same impact as Richarlison did last season. They were Dave Hickson, Bobby Collins and Alan Ball.

Now I not saying he was as good as Collins or Ball but he was someone who, like Dave, gave 100% in every game, and the fans really identified with his passion for this club and its fans.

I know you werent all that impressed, and yes, sometimes he frustrated me with him going down and staying down when not injured, but I can forgive all that for helping keeping Everton in the Premier League.

Seems that owners in the Premier League have the biggest knee-jerk approach to running football clubs that I can ever remember. We have seen that with Farhad Moshiri, hiring and sacking managers every 18 months, and having invested the best part of 𧺬 million.

Seems Chelsea's new owner Todd Boehly has adopted the same approach sacking Tuchel only days after letting him spend in excess of 𧶀 million in the latest transfer window.

I read Klopp's after-match interview where he was asked following his team's poor start to the season did he think FSG might sack him. He said he thought his owners were calmer than the Chelsea owners, but also said who knows.

I know Abramovich changed managers a lot but he always hired proven winners and backed them heavily in the market, but he seemed the exception of being able to sack managers yet still maintain a very successful team.

So, with Tuchel being sacked and Klopp being questioned, then I guess nobody managing especially in the Premier League is safe, including our manager.

Brian (212),

Sorry, we will never agree over Richarlison's contribution to Everton.

I know many Everton fans who see him the same way as I do: good on his day but nothing special. And that work rate you mention, he lost the ball very easily as many times as he won it, and put the opposition on the attack.

He has gone now and good luck to him with his career except when he plays against us. But I honestly don't miss him anywhere as much as the three players you mention, along with Peter Farrell, Brian Labone, Roy Vernon, Colin Harvey, Tommy Wright, Neville Southall etc, etc, who all played for, gave their all and loved the Blues much more than Richarlison ever did.

In fact… I don't really miss him at all.

You forgot Kevin Sheedy!

Surely he can't be an etc, Dave?!!!!

Danny (215),

Definitely, exceptional passer of the ball with skill to match, not to mention his free-kicks. Another player who just got on with the game, no titty lips or childish sulking!!

RS fans on twitter last night saying the CL draw was rigged to put them in the hardest group?!!! They are absolutely deluded, They we're lucky it was only 4, Napoli destroyed them, St Virgil was run ragged, Trent got torn a new one, and Milner lucky to stay on the pitch,Salah stunk the yard out, it was great viewing, 🤣🤣

Henderson, Van Dijk and Salah look done and they don't have the cash to replace them. It's a crying shame I tell ya.

Andrew. They are drowning and there's a big blue tsunami rising over Bramley-Moore Dock

Believe it, Brian. I do

I've no doubt that Van Dijk's decline will regularly be apportioned to Pickford-Gate. And they backed the wrong pony when they sold Mane but kept Salad.

The bird is blue. The city is blue. Paint the town blue.

Klipperty is done at Anfield - he'll be gone soon. He knows it too.

I was having this conversation with a red colleague a couple of weeks ago, Anthony, and he was terrified about who would come in.

There is no depth of top-drawer coaching talent out there right now.

Andrew @222, maybe they will make a move for the Dunc and Unsworth combo.

Joe, I hope they do. Not sure Dunc would be up for it. He would probably be struck by lightning as he tried to cross the threshold.

That's a tricky one, Danny @211. And one I would have missed had you not flagged it up.

But I think you called it right. Although being discreet on an open pitch in front of 38,987 fans all gawping at you might be quite a challenge.

Hi Dave [214]

I agree with you, there were times when Richarlison was careless with the ball, and as you say quite often set the opposition up.

I can't fault him for his application, especially in the last few weeks, but there are many ex-Evertonians who gave their all for the cause. I would like to nominate Mick Lyons to join the players you have highlighted.

What I don't understand is the sudden rush to criticise him because he had the cheek to leave Everton and play for Tottenham. If he scores a goal against Everton, he can celebrate any way he chooses, after all goals are meant to be celebrated.

I just watched the footage again Danny, and never found what I was looking for mate. It still brings a tear to my eye though, and it was heartwarming to hear our new Belgium midfielder say, that he watched the game, and it was one of the main reasons why he wanted to join Everton.

I know we are a pair of lunatics when it comes to Everton, but I was thinking about the Palace game today whilst driving, and it dawned on me that if history could repeat itself, (2-0 down to a London team) we will be running around Wembley with the cup next may, and the scenes will be absolutely incredible!🤞

John (226), yes John Mick Lyons the fan who became a player and never ever gave less than one hundred per cent for the Blues, lovely genuine man Mick always ready to talk to the fans with no side to to him whatsoever.

As for Richarlison yes he was perfectly entitled to join another club he had no affinity to Everton and in fact did us a favour in leaving because without the money we received for him we might not have done as well in the transfer window that we did, as for not celebrating that's up to Richie, it would upset me that he scored, like any goal against us, but not because he scored it.