FA Cup – 3rd Round

Scrape a draw, lose on penalties and once again paper over the cracks.

Of which we now have zero interest in as usual.

Oh well I suppose they can all go on another hot weather trip on 4th round weekend eh and beat the Saltwater Crocodile Club 10-0 or something like that.

Tell you what, that Brighton team is pretty good, you know.

That player Mac Allister is making a name for himself Tony.

Southampton get a confidence boosting win at Palace. Just in time for the toffees game. That’s all we need.

Blackpool vs Notts Forest
Forest dominated the first half and Blackpool scored from their only shot on target but everything changed in the second half after their second goal from MOM Poveda, on loan from Chelsea, I think. C J. Hamilton scored with an angled shot has he cut in from the left and Gerry Yates hit a half volley in from a corner. Pool's static defence conceded a consolation goal in injury time. Great result for the seasiders with the technical areas patrolled by Van Gogh and the trout.

Bill

I'm totally expecting in typical Everton fashion us to get beaten next week.

Southampton will probably run more than us and we'll have the usual half arsed attitude as it's only Southampton.

Danny @4, we were terrible on Tuesday but we didn't give enough credit to Brighton who, on current form, will batter many teams. They were rather unlucky against Arsenal.

That's what we need to aim for and I believe we will get there with Lampard - though I know you (and many others) disagree on that, quite understandably.

Just preparing my dinner of steak and eggs and settling down to watch Sheff Weds v Newcastle. IF I had a second team it would probably be Wednesday. I don’t usually watch other teams on TV unless they’re playing us so hoping to enjoy this as a neutral who hopes the Geordies get fucking battered!

Brighton are a very well run club Tony.

They were homeless in 1997 but set a vision and plan.

Now others look to them as a model.

Although Bill might suggest otherwise.

Nothing against Lampard. As I keep saying, I've given up blaming managers for the situation we're in.

Mark @9, I feel the same about Sheffield Wednesday. A fine club in history but they are also a warning for us.

They are Tony, they are! I think I’m DNA stamped to follow such clubs - I’ve a soft spot for Sunnerlan as well. (Though I hate Leeds)
My Spanish team is Real Betis ( I lived in Spain for years)

Mark, agreed on Sunderland; my Spanish preference is Bilbao and, in Italy, Sampdoria because of family in Genoa. My only real "second team", though, would be Celtic. I remember still their fabulous victory over the vile Leeds in 1970.

Tony I’m “obviously” a buoy and I love Saints RL as I’m an Irish Wool but nothing will ever compare to the absolute love I have for Everton. No-one else affects me in the same way. My wife is jealous but she’ll never understand.

Indeed, Mark, and therein lies our hope.

Well done to Fleetwood and Lewis Warrington today on beating QPR and progressing to the fourth round. It would be interesting to hear how he played. When I watched him in the previous round he was very tidy in his play, finding just enough space in midfield, keeping it simple and effective.

So Jerry Yates did a Coady today,at least he knows where the goals are!

We could do a lot worse as we have no money it seems,but Diaz is wanted by the board still according to reports.

2-0 Wednesday - Windass (where have I heard that name before??) but tbf his first would have been cancelled out for offside IF VAR was at Hillsborough Where’s the fairness in that??

Chris woods there ladies and gentlemen - rumoured to be our target for CF….

Mark, if that’s the standard of his attempts at goal, then Newcastle can keep him. I actually thought Newcastle’s goal was also offside, but never mind, everyone’s annual second favourite team make their annual 3rd round exit from the FA Cup.

It was Rob - miles off!
But my God - Josh Windass! No need for a paternity test there is there??

Wolves ring the changes, they've got their priorities right.

We could have a new manager bounce, we just need to replace the manager. I can't believe it looks like Frank will be at the helm for Southampton.

Mark, I don’t know who the commentator was, but he said it was ok because even though Guimares was offside when the flicked header came in, it was ok because the goalkeeper parried the ball out to him. It just shows, these commentators know absolutely naff all about the offside rule.

How can you have a competition that has different standards?

Well done Wednesday, but that first is offside.

VAR picks it up.

No VAR and we equalised last night.

Not that I'm against VAR but shouldn't we have a common standard.

Danny, as I’m sure you know, but it’s only cup games at premier league grounds that have VAR, why I don’t know, maybe there’s in-sufficient room in the little box room at Stockley park. If there had been VAR when we played Millwall a few years back it would have disallowed one of Millwall’s goals, can’t remember if it was the second or third, but there was definitely a handball and offside in the build up to one of them.

Danny #24

Pretty sure it's a financial thing. However it's still a level playing field for the teams playing against each other so I don't think the VAR/non-Var thing matters.

Don’t people ever, ever criticise Pickford again, after the almighty horrendous error by the bearded lady to gift wolves the lead.

Give Wolves credit here, they don't look like a terrible team, infact they have about half a team that would walk into our side.

Neves, Ait Nouri, Traore, Jiminez just a few that are impressive players.

Unfortunately if you switch off for a minute against the top sides you get punished.

Brucie balls up territory from Allison.

That equaliser was classic Klopp Liverpool. Full back, diagonal straight to forward.

Well, Wolves have returned the favour and gifted Liverpool two goals.

Well Wolves have returned the favour and gifted the RS two goals.

when was the rules changed Sala was offside when the ball was kicked to him

Technically he was Bill, but he made no movement to go for the ball, and was then played onside by the very poor header by the wolves defender.

Coady goal in the Derby was ruled out offside as Milner didn't deliberately play the ball, but for salah it's ruled onside.

Me thinks they make it up as they're going along to suit the particular club as required...

Another fuck up by the bearded lady. He should have saved that. VAR trying to save his blushes by trying to find any offside they can, but goal stands.

Shows the depth of wolves squad with that triple sub

On: Matheus Cunha, Hwang Hee-chan, Matheus Nunes.

Off: Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, Goncalo Guedes.

Read that……and then tell me we are not in a relegation fight we can’t win.

Don't think this game will be going on his highlight reel Rob

Gary, agreed, just changed both their full backs as well, their manager manages to use all their subs well although ait-nouri injured would have possibly been replaced anyway

Wouldn't have anything to do with VAR Ref being Mike Dean I suppose?

Draw and a replay would be a good result here

That's never offside

Unbelievable

Fucking disgrace. That should have stood, as never offside. The first ball in was exactly the same as Salads goal, never reached the goalscorer, then the second ball in he was clearly onside. VAR finding a way to help the RS.

And they say they are not looking after their favorites / never offside

Corrupt

No way that is offside. You are having a laugh Dean.

Football is bent!!

Football dying a slow death through dodgy VAR decisions, is there nothing straight in the world anymore?

Waiting for the LiVARpool penalty in the last minute.

phone call just made to VAR operatives you usual will be in the mail

Very impressive Wolves, no way that side is going to be relegated, their manager also looks like he has his head screwed on.

VAR killing football when it no longer benefits the attacking team we know the game is dead in the water.

Wolves should have won that, I'm backing them to finish the job at Molineux.

Commentator saying the corner taker was offside when it came back out to him. Doesn’t seem to have been any camera that caught that, and if that’s the case, how can Mike Dean have said he was offside? They’re just guessing again. Down the other end that goal stands. Happy to be corrected if indeed any camera did capture the corner taker as being offside.

Did Mike Dean train it all the way down to Heathrow to do VAR on his neighbour's match? Or did they just rig it up in his spare bedroom in Heswall? The back one, where he can gaze out towards the bright lights of Mordor? Still,at least Jurgen's got his sought after replay!

Well done Wrexham ( Wrexham 4 vs Coventry 3

They are saying there is no camera footage to show the wolves player who took the corner was offside. Unbelievable.

It is increasingly difficult to give football any credibility with VAR. It was always going to be a disaster and so it is proving, indeed has proved.

Why should we bother with a bent or, at best, tediously ambiguous and protracted version of the game? Disgraceful.

Its no wonder managers get upset there seems no time or reason that the Var can call for offside, it should take no more than sec to determine an offside it is the scorer who is supposed to be offside,

If they can’t prove the corner taker was offside, and they clearly couldn’t, then the goal should have stood. The only person who could have seen anything was the linesman so it seems VAR took his word for it, but who’s to say he was right?

Well, wtfdwc, in context of referees inconsistency and VAR, offside, and home prejudice as seen at OT, last night and tonight at our old ground.

For me there’s loads of positives to take on to the Soton match, and further repeat lessons learnt, from the game, but Everton turned up, and to keep the same formation, and shape, I reckon is key to the next game.

Back to today’s games and superb efforts by Blackpool, Burnley, Borehamwood, Sheffield Wed, Wrexham, and Wolves amongst others.

Wolves were in my view, were set up by Dean to not win, and it’s another massive disconnection, in terms of setting expectations for the crowd and the media audiences.

The most fekkn obtuse poxy offside in modern times, almost made up.

What’s the point in VAR that’s not capable of full pitch, camera coverage?

Did the RS, tap the officials headsets, not for the first time, in the last few years?

Anyway been off piste this week, as my Ma, has been in for a long awaited new knee operation, took place yesterday, and Everton matters, have been LP, this week.

So far, all good.

Now to reset and prepare for the game of the season so far, v Soton, memories of Highbury, memories of The Dell, Hampshire Cricket Club, good, and some decent from St Marys, but to make the best memory of this season, so far.

And to focus on the Everton Crusade, to stay up and make sure the Board, know, “ It’s, Time, to go, repeat..” on the grounds of annual dereliction of core duties, consistently poor for nigh on 25 years.

The Battle for survival is real, but this Everton squad with 3-4, additions, - x2 strikers/ forwards, who know where the onion bag is, a fearless box to box midfielder, and potentially, depending if Coady and Holgate, stay or go, a versatile defender.

Branthwaite is in the wings, and he could be a ready made squad filler for CB positions.

Calm, and resolve, belief, easier said than done, but this is the game of the Century, so far in context of the stage of this season, and the real time stakes.

UTFTs!

“Whats Our Name?”

It’s a complete shambles. Week after week the decisions get worse and worse.

NB on a separate note, I'm gutted about Gianfranco Vialli, passing, a great footballer, and human being.

I met him on the pitch after the 1992 European Cup Final, in my days of stewarding England games for the purpose of getting picked for this final.

Ironic the Klogg, had scored that free kick, ironic, how years later, he’d manage Everton.

A few years later, and the Battle of Feyenoord, away.

One of the great days, under the tunnels at Wembley, to rope in the pressmen, after the game was over, after extra time.

During the game, keeping the peace, in a section, where there was no barrier between the Spanish & Italian fans.

That night and the finds on the terraces, and the give backs to the authorities, was some thing else.

I did get to keep Pietro Vierchowods, shin pads, he gave them to me to keep, in the centre circle, he and Vialli were disconsolate, as were most of the Sampdoria squad, but the track suits, I’d gathered, and was told by Sampdoria staff, to keep, I did give back to Italian, fans, who were also hysterical, but I was made up with the shin pads, a few scarves, and I gave in a couple of wallets, to Wembley head of security, but making sure I had a copper to check and testify, within in the police control area.

Great memories of Wembley, doing the Sunday gate in 1995, Charity Shield, was a life time best, as it proved at the time an old football by law, still applied.

About 45, Everton fans, got in the neutral section, in the old Wembley.

A Point, was proved, that on Sunday’s, in those days, you could legitimately get into an FA, football game free.

RIP Gianfranco Vialli, you were blessed and have graced football and sport, in a manner few other footballers have, and will be remembered by the World of Football for Eternity.

Now for Soton, and a must win game.

UTFTs!

Thank God Southampton won today!!! You just knew what would have happened if they'd lost 6 on the bounce then come to Goodison...you just know.

Lee, breaks the curse, hopefully.

It’s the game of this Century, for Everton, in terms of relativity, v Soton.

Matters change, but form change, in football, to be successful, must be instant, or gradual, but a consistent change.

I’ve harpered back to the 1983, season, but the fledgling signs of a proper football team and spirit, were being made.

In the post 69/70, seasons, such a class of football to maintain, at Everton, was a big ask., but a reasonable ask.

To this day, the decline for me, in terms of club ambitions, stratagem, culture, ethos, ethics, etc, etc, started, with the sale of Alan Ball, which took, me a couple of days to take in, at the time, as he was the best by any level., in UK football, played for EFC, but the Catt,.

Total football warrior, genius, and sublime.

Alan Ball, was the best footballer, to play for Everton in the last 60 years, by miles, with Colin Harvey, Steven, Kendall, Reid, Sheeds, Bracewell, Sharp, Heath, but not forgetting Neville, as without doubt, he was Everton, mid 80s, and was the very best GK, in the world.

I remember, Holland v Wales, 1996 and Ruud Guillet, endorsed,, Neville as the best Gk, in the world.

But as you all know, continuity, succession, bond building, is not Evertons strongest point.

This week, regardless of personal, views, EFC,

“Whats Our Name?”

Any competition should have a level playing ground. VAR across the board or no VAR.

Someone better educated tell me otherwise, but why does it matter what ground it's at? Surely those with their feet up on the desktops drinking coffee at Stockley Park are watching the same screens as us? I can use the rewind, pause and play forward on my Sky TV control. Okay, maybe they have some technology to draw lines, but other than that I don't see it being that complicated.

But why should it apply to certain matches and not others?

I'm an advocate of VAR. I actually think it should be used for more than what it is mostly used for now, which tends to be offside and penalty decisions.

On a separate not and with reference to the Gianluca Vialli mention. Great player, likeable person. This isn't word for word, but I heard a nice comment on something he once said yesterday. There are no losers in football. Just winners and learners.

What an attitude.No wonder he was a winner.

Danny @77
I would have agreed with you that VAR should be a tool to correct mistaken decisions by officials, but from this weekends controversies I see no value in the technology whatsoever, it is merely being used as a rubber stamp to compound mistakes and is giving the officials a get-out-of-jail card, which is leading to a poorer standard of officiating across the board.

Bin VAR now! it's not helping fairness, it's not righting wrongs and most of all those who attend the stadiums are being short-changed by having to guess what has gone on, despite them being in attendance.

ITV has just glossed over the events in the Wolves game, I wonder had a wrongly awarded goal been given to Wolves would they have done the same? I very much doubt it.

I heard earlier in the week that Harold Webb doesn't want VAR to re-referree matches, in which case unplug the bloody thing.

What a fabulous goal that third one was for Man City.

If Frank does leave, it looks like potentially sacked managers Potter and Moyes joining Dyche on shortlist.

Wonderful stuff, Tony. If anyone thinks it's easy getting a good striker, take a look at that Chelsea attack...

But neither did incompetent officials Brian.

Maine Road? God knows how many decisions?

When it's there for all to see you can't hide.

The officials continue to do so and be unaccountable.

Graham Potter - available soon.
He'll do for the rebuild after we go down.

Why don't they just go with the on field decision in marginal cases, like they do in cricket. So our goal on Friday, which cannot be detected as offside by the human eye, should stand. Stop letting some sad nerd in front of a computer ruin football. I'm with Harold Webb, and his brother Howard.

Tony they just showed it again - Kyle Walkers part in that goal was sublime. The bit where he gets free on the touch line before the cross field pass reminded me of THAT Brazil goal in 1970. He’s having a blinder!

I wasn't that keen on Potter when he was at Brighton. Watching this today, I'm less keen. That team looks disinterested, sluggish, disjointed. Bit like watching a more expensive Everton...

Why did it take the ball to go out of play before the referee was advised to go and look at the pitch side monitor? That was a clear handball, and John Brooks on VAR could have told Rob Jones straight away to go and review.

Peter @85

Well spotted. Anyway there's only one Harold Kendall!

Back to VAR I saw Stevenage's 'Offside' goal and it may have been correct but the angle the BBC showed made it look blatantly offside, rather than a straight line to show that the player was or wasn't offside.

Yes Rob, imagine City had scored before the officals made the call and then subsequently missed the penalty. Crazy make it up as you go along officiating, Did Havert get a yellow card as the Cardiff City player got sent off, although to be fair he did make a save the keeper would have been proud of.

I believe that VAR although often correcting mistakes it overcompensates to reach a decision, and the time takes the excitement out of a goal, as you have to wait on a decision from some one not at the game who goes back a couple of moves before the goal. The one that annoys me is a man is offside because he has a bigger shoe size or he hasn't trimmed his nails.

Watching the City game on one of the adverts around the ground it said Search Man City Women and my wife said is that legal or illegal. I think Potter's shine is starting to fade.

Not that I’m arsed but I can’t understand why City are warming up Harland when they are 3-0 up? Surely he should be tucked in cotton wool for the next game?

And weren’t we pipped to Kyle Walker by Spurs when he was just a prospect?

Didn't they buy two Kyles from Sheff Utd? We were probably after the other one.

I think we were after Walker first and Spurs got him. Then Naughtinband they got him as well? It was like we were doing their scouting for them…

I wonder if Chelsea would fancy a swap? Potter for Lampard!

The thing with watching Man City is that usually by half time, or after about an hour, the game is done and dusted, and it can get pretty boring watching the last half hour or so.

Stevenage!!!! Brilliant

Stevenage beat Villa. Some Villa fans on the wolves HYS on the BBC were confidently predicting a walk in the park for Villa, someone even saying a 10-0 win. Plenty of premier league teams already out of this seasons FA Cup. There will be nine after the Wolves RS replay.

Stevenage, that was incredible. A clever winner too, not sure if it was a planned move but so well despatched.

Tell you what, that means Villa are going to be relegated since they lost to Stevenage. Follow the science.

I know this is an FA Cup thread, but watching Newcastle, they look good. Shows what playing on the front foot can do.

The only irritating thing is the Sky commentators desperately wanting Newcastle to win. It might as well be that fan zone thing. They can't help themselves.

Peter & Mark, @93, 94; put that down to Dithering Davey. There was a list on another site last week with 6 or 8 examples.
He was noted for it by Us and those in the know...like Levy and others.
Davey would dither, the papers would get wind, Levy would take notice, decide the if player was actually decent and swoop...Scouting on the cheap.

Going to have to turn over. Well done Newcastle, you played well, but this is nauseating. You'd think it was the final.

Another club using Hey Jude.

Spirit. Forever. Marching. The originals.

Danny agreed, and as much as I hate to say, the Skunks played good football, tonight, and I’d say all in all, the last 16 months are on the ascent in English football.

Alas the press and media just rave on about them even when they lose a game.

And the Southampton team that we expect 3pts from on the weekend are beating Man City 2.0 with 2 min to go

Congrats to Southampton - and Ross Barkley who netted a couple for Nice tonight.

Forest and The Saints through to the semifinals. Off the top of my head, I’d say that Everton have played three FA Cup and two league cup semifinal in the last twenty eight years, and two of them happened in one season. The pain just keeps on getting worse.

and Nottingham Forest beat Wolves in a penalty shootout to go into the semi final,well that is what the commentator said looks like the bottom clubs are getting a spring in their steps

If Everton get 30 pts this season it will be a miracle. Will finish bottom, adrift

FA to investigate spot-fixing allegations over booking in Oxford-Arsenal FA Cup tie

Will the FA be looking at the match-fixing of the Liverpool game against Wolves????