Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - 1 Everton

Everton's final away game of the season takes them to Molineux to face Wolves in an increasingly desperate bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Calvert-Lewin starts, Onana is in for Holgate, Conor Coady ineligible to play against his parent club. 

Sean McAllister is called up from the U21s to the bench for the first time, with Reece Welch and Ellis Simms the other youngsters among the subs.

Wolves kicked off, playing low-risk passes to the ball away from Everton until they picked out Traore who failed to get past McNeil. From Pickford's clearance poor headers gave away possession in midfield and Wolves surged forward dangerously crossing low across the face of the goal. 

Garner was fouled wide right. Mina headed down to Calvert-Lewin who tried to turn but shot wide into the side netting under pressure. McNeil got a decent run up the left wing but Neves was too strong for him. Garner forced possession in midfield but Iwobi's cross was poor.

Calvert-Lewin got on the end of Pickford's clearance and Iwobi followed up but lost it. From the throw-in, a good-looking cross from Doucore was met by Calvert-Lewin under close attention and he could not direct the header. A much better-worked attack saw Iwobi cross well to Calvert-Lewn who should have done better with the header that went a few feet over the bar. 

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Gueye tried his usual utterly wasteful attempt from outside the Wolves area. But Everton were responding well to the high tempo of the game, winning a corner on the right.  Gomes and Trakowski were pushing silly buggers but the ref allowed the corner to be taken and it bobbled around without a clear chance in the crowded area. 

Another decent Everton attack, Iwobi picking out Doucoure with a hard cross that he could not handle. Traore then went right through Onana and was rightly carded . 

Another good attack, this one on the right, saw Calvert-Lewin win a corner, with more silly stuff in the goal area. McNeil's brilliant ball in beat Bentley but Doucoure had pushed him. 

It was a highly competitive game with no quarter given, Everton responding well and giving the fans a lot to cheer. But Wolves did build a dangerous attack Pickford almost getting caught out. 

A strange tangle with Toti floored Calvert-Lewin on the edge of Wolves area but the ref saw nothing wrong with it, while Sean Dyche was somewhat animated. Patterson needed some treatment before the game restarted. McNeil stopped the advance down Everton's left.

Garner did really well to set up Onana but he dithers and dribbles rather than shooting or crossing. He still won a corner, Mina heading over falling backwards. Patterson could not continue and Keane came on.  

Sarabia had a shot well blocked and the clearance set up another attack through Calvert-Lewin. Mina did well to contain 

Everton worked hard to build a tricky attack with lots of players forward. but the intricate passing broke down and Traore ran half the length of the field, his shot pushed out by Picjkofrd straight to Hwang who could not miss.

Onanan was overrun in midfield and Wolves came too close to scoring a second, Pickford parrying the heading the rebound onto the roof of the net. 

Traore switched sides and just steamed past everyone, Mina getting in to shepherd the ball back to Pickford. Iwobi shot weakly from distance. But Wolves now had their tails up and surged forward again, Doucoure giving up a free-kick.  Neves, straight into the Bue wall. 

Calvert-Lewin advanced under close attention, Neves catching his heel for a dangerous  Garner free-kick that was very poorly executed, well off target. Gueye seemed to have been caught on the ball in his own area but recovered very well. 

Onana tried to play in Calvert-Lewin who was blocked by Collins and twisted around, grasping his thigh before going down, head in hands. We all know what that means. Demarai Gray came on during the 4 minutes of added time. 

Everton were shell-shocked but tried to pay out the half without any more damage being done, Podence eventually shooting wide. Dawson fouled Onana and was carded but Everton could do nothing with the free-kick. 

What a disastrous half with two forced changes after getting so close to scoring in well-constructed moves that could have yielded three goals for – rather than one against. 

Everton restarted with a massive task ahead of them to reverse their dismal fortunes. It didn't start well with Onana getting roughed up by Gomes and needing treatment. 

From a free-kick Keane almost got a chance to flick the ball goalward.  Wolves physicality was a serious problem with Toti diving in on Gueye. Everton tried to work an attack and Iwobi shot toward the top corner but not have enough pace to beat Bentley.

Garner blocked Traore very cleverly as Everton tried to stay alert to the counter. Mina was the next to suffer as Neves trod full on his foot. The play was pretty ragged now with attacks harder to construct as gold shirts swarmed around the field to deny Everton time and space.  

Semedo fired a long distant shot over the angle. At the other end, Gray crossed low across the 6-yard area but no-one was moving in to score. Another counter through Traore, Sarabia blazing just wide. Wolves kept coming at Everton, Sememdo lashing wide. 

Everton were simply unable to keep the ball, Gray fouling Collins to get ahead of him on a lofted ball. Podence was next to volley wide. Semedo collided with Gray and Everton were fortunate to get the free-kick. It came back out to Iwobi whose poor volley flew wide. 

Neves was adjudged to have brought down Keane, winning a dangerous free-kick, Garner taken off set-piece duty. Gray did nothing to beat the wall – what a pathetic free-kick from Gray. 

Keane tried his arm at the long throw that saw Bently take out his defender. Gtar id a lot better with a shot that Bently got his hands to it. More song and dance for the Everton corner, Bentley clutching it out of the air after DOucoure had been a real pest. 

On the counter, Pickford had to be alert and very lucky to stop Costa. Doucoure tried to force his way through but his shot was blocked. McNeil crossed in from the left but it was easily cleared. 

Costas tried to force his way to goal but Mina blocked his efforts. Onana was just too casual in midfield but Everton struggled to get forward effectively. Graner tried to beat his man but inadvertently handled the ball.

Everton struggled again to get penetration into the Wolves area, Semedo going down clutching his face from Tarkowski's flailing arm. 

A last throw of the dice was Maupay and Holgate on for Onana and Gueye. But Everton were finding it really hard work to create any kind of a chance against this tough, quick, physical Wolves side. 

Another long throw, another distant Iwobi strike, perhaps his best of the day, deflected wide. The corner was punched clear. McNeil and Gray combined on the left but it broke down and another footrace was on, halted by Mina and Pickford. 

Into the last 5 minutes and absolute desperation from Everton, Maupay trying and failing to imitate Gundogan from last week with a twist and flick in the Wolves goal area. 

Wolves cleverly choreographed a long celebration for the substitution of Neves, the referee allowing him to give everyone a hug with time running out. Garner was forced to take out Nunes, as the game entered 9 minutes of added time. 

Everton tried to build yet again but it was far too slow and the massed Wolves defence quickly switched to counter-attack Nunes doing everything he could but Pickford got a foot out to deflect his shot wide. 

Everton kept pushing up, Nunes cynically taking out Mina. The futility was summed up by Pickford striding a long way forward and hoofing the ball over everyone and out behind for a Wolves goal-kick. 

Gray tried another shot that was deflected behind for another corner, headed away but put back in and winning yet another Everton corner but again it was defended away well for an Everton throw-in.

Into the last minute of added time and Everton had a throw-in near the half-way line, McNel short to Gray who delivered a brilliant cross in from deep wide left, causing havoc at the far post, Tarkowski backpedalling and losing his balance but still heading it back to Keane who somehow controlled it and got it back across to Mina who stabbed it into the net amidst a crowd of yellow shirts in the goal area. An absolutely unbelievable goal to end an unbelievable game!

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Bentley, Semedo, Collins, Dawson [Y:], Toti [Y:51'], Traore [Y:17'], Gomes, Neves [Y:66'] (88' Traore), Sarabia (70' Nunes [Y:90+4']), Hwang (74' Lemina), Podence (70' Costa).

Subs not Used: Sa, Jimenez, Cunha, Kilman, Bueno.

Everton: Pickford, Patterson (29' Keane), Mina, Tarkowski, McNeil, Gana (81' Holgate) , Onana (81' Maupay), Garner [Y:90'], Doucoure, Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin (45+2' Gray).

Subs not Used: Begovic, Lonergan, McAllister, Simms, Welch.


Reader Comments (252)

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Ernie Baywood
1 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:03:46
Dom starts. I'm guessing it's one of McNeill or Iwobi at left back in a flat back 4.

Lots of central midfielders in there.

Dave Williams
2 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:03:59
That is an attacking selection with plenty in midfield. I like it!
Peter Carpenter
3 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:04:53
Well, that's fooled us all. Who the fuck is left-back in that team?

I guess we'll know the first time someone has to chase Traore.

Andy Walker
4 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:05:19
McNeil left back?
Christine Foster
5 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:05:27
I think he's going for it...
John Dingle
6 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:07:07
Best side from what’s available.
Kieran Kinsella
7 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:08:33
“Colgate” on the bench? Trying to keep this game clean I guess
Jeff Armstrong
8 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:08:39
Dyche seen enough of Holgate even when we’re desperate, good.

Bbc got 3 -5-1-1

Tom Dylan
9 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:09:14
Is that 4 central midfielders in the XI? Who's playing out wide?

Let's stick Gana on the wing - could be fun?

Ernie Baywood
10 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:09:36
Can't quite fathom that formation. Is it Patterson centre back and Iwobi/McNeill wing backs?

Or is one of Onana/Garner playing wide? With McNeill or Iwobi at left back?

Or is Gana the left back?

How do you fit that many central midfielders into the side?

Andy Walker
11 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:10:44
If holes start to appear in our defence we’ve got cavity protection on the bench.
Peter Carpenter
12 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:10:50
Hope it's not Iwobi.
Ajay Gopal
13 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:11:28
My guess, as some have pointed out before that either of Gana or Garner plays left back. But that looks like a strong XI, no complaints from me. But the bench looks pitifully weak. God forbid, either of Mina or Calvert-Lewin break down, we would be in big trouble. Only realistic subs are Gray, Maupay, Simms and Keane.
Tony Everan
14 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:14:20
Formation ? 451 with Doucoure supporting Dom.

Pickford

Patterson Mina Tarkowski McNeill

Iwobi Garner Doucoure Gana Onana

Calvert-Lewin

What do you think.

COYBLUES!

Peter Carpenter
15 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:14:47
Best do it today. Don't think we can rely on Tottenham next week.
Alan J Thompson
16 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:15:45
Thank heavens we've named a couple of keepers on the bench as they may be needed if we ever score first or perhaps they are there to encourage the youngsters.
Andy Walker
17 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:17:51
Wouldn’t surprise me if Onana plays very deep as part of a back 5.
Jeff Armstrong
18 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:18:30
Pickford

Patterson Tarkowski Mina

Iwobi Garner Onana Gueye Mcneil

Doucouré

DCL

1-3-5-1-1

Ernie Baywood
19 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:19:16
All I can think is we'll completely abandon the wings. Sit in, fill every possible gap in midfield and then try to counter or hold the point we start with.

Very clear message to Gray. The squad would need to be down to 10 players before he's getting a start.

Pete Hughes
20 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:20:11
Leeds must be licking their lips with the prospect of facing spuds next week? Awful here against Brentford!
Ernie Baywood
21 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:20:12
Jeez Spurs are rank. We're going to need some points on the board.
Alex Gray
22 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:26:29
Wolves made 6 changes which is good. I'm guessing a back three with iwobi and mcneil attacking wingbacks and patterson, tarky and mina a centre backs. Then a diamond midfield 4 and Dom up top. Either Holgate isn't starting and Dom is so i'm happy.
Ernie Baywood
23 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:29:56
How would Patterson go from not being trusted to suddenly being played regardless of position? While Keane goes from key to not trusted over an out of position player.

I think we might just see Gana at left back. Which is odd too. But you can't organise that selection into any formation without coming up with some kind of oddity.

Kevin Molloy
24 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:41:05
I'm disappointed he's dicked around with the formation. He should have bitten the bullet and kept Holgate in there. Our best player is now stuck as a shit left back, we have no width and four centre mids on.

Wolves were already going to be difficult to score against, unless it's a set-piece it's looking almost impossible.

Jeff Armstrong
25 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:50:08
McNulty on the BBC:

Crunch time for Everton
Wolves v Everton (15:00)

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer at Molineux

For the second season in succession, Everton start their penultimate league game under threat of relegation. It is sadly symptomatic of catastrophic boardroom decision making, with owner Farhad Moshiri. chairman Bill Kenwright and CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale culpable and director of football Kevin Thelwell also under scrutiny after January passed with any additions to a struggling squad.

Everton can still put matters right, starting against a Wolves side making six changes today, but what a desperate reflection on those in power at the club that they find themselves in this dire situation once more.

Will Mabon
26 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:52:33
Maybe it's:

1-3.5-4.5-1-1 with McNeil trying to be a wingbackforward like a madman.

Dyche is trying to sandbag them.

Si Cooper
27 Posted 20/05/2023 at 14:53:43
Patterson on the left, Iwobi on the right? Onana just in front in the middle? It would be a big change for Patterson to just hold position in a three.

Looks like maximum mobility plus maybe fluidity. Needs maximum effort and clinicality on top.

Come on you blues! UTFT!

Ernie Baywood
28 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:03:11
So it's McNeill left back. Iwobi left mid. Garner right mid.

Seems crazy to me but let's see.

John Dingle
29 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:19:48
McNulty is a massive blue.
Dave Abrahams
30 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:30:36
Maybe Holgate will play after all, pity Patterson is off though!
Ernie Baywood
31 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:32:50
Keane has gone to right back. I wonder if the Board still feel they've been unfairly criticised?
Dave Abrahams
32 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:33:36
I made a mistake, I hope Dyche hasn’t, Keane is on but beggars can’t be choosers!!
Ernie Baywood
33 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:34:54
It's time to ditch Doucoure. It's abysmal that he can't control nor pass a ball. I don't care what else he can do if he can't play football.
Ernie Baywood
34 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:39:46
How long before we realise they switched Traore the second we brought on Keane?
Alex Gray
35 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:41:38
Doucoure is having a mare here
Ernie Baywood
36 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:48:08
We've got a winger at left back. A centre midfielder at right mid. A centre back at right back. A winger at centre forward. And a big central midfielder at No.10.

This is just pathetic.

Alex Gray
37 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:48:17
Calvert lewin injured. Typical. How can we dominate a game to this in ten minutes
Joe McMahon
38 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:51:18
Season over the minute Richie was sold, relying on a injury prone striker who has scored 7 goals in 2 seasons.

At least we have Kenwright, Mosh, DBB and Sharp and a Dynasty of "Good Times" over decades! Joke of a club, absolute Killing Joke.

Christy Ring
39 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:55:50
There’s no way that Keane was a better option than Holgate at right back, and with Dom gone and the useless board didn’t buy a striker we’re fucked.
Alan J Thompson
40 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:59:24
That was going along with nothing coming from either team and my thoughts were that McNeil was wasted at full back and when Patterson went off we had no full backs at all.

Doucoure is complete rubbish and Iwobi is not doing much better and then we give away a soft goal as somebody thought you could play a one-two with the most brain dead professional footballer at the club, Gana.

When we went to three at the back we failed to bring McNeil into the game at all and without knowing what is wrong with Calvert-Lewin could we not have gotten through the 4 minutes or so until halftime without him while his injury was assessed.

Dyche will need a rethink and new plan at halftime as right now the only thing going for us is that Maupay wasn't brought on and Wolves are not upto much albeit that at the moment that is better than we are showing.

Si Cooper
41 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:59:49
We are now reliant on the players still standing finding the right mentality in extremis.

So ‘miracles’ now required. Our paper-thin squad is a shocking indictment of our hierarchy.

Ernie Baywood
42 Posted 20/05/2023 at 15:59:57
Surely it's time to go back 3, McNeill and Iwobi wing backs. 3 in midfield and Gray playing off Simms?

What else works? This current setup absolutely doesn't work.

Ernie Baywood
43 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:01:45
Alan, we didn't go to three at the back. Keane was in as a right back. He even made a run and cross! He looks so uncomfortable it's untrue.

Pretty sure it was Doucoure who gave the ball away for the goal.

Michael McFarlane
44 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:03:16
Same old story

All over them but cannot hit a barn door at 2 paces

DCL looking promising then injured - no backup striker to note. At least Dyche didn't play Maupey

Doucs awful causing turnovers galore

Gana and Onana think they're playing walking football

Sucker punched and gone to jelly

It's still in ourhands though - COYB!!!

Pete Clarke
45 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:06:17
Doucouré putting himself in the shop window with this display. Cue the phone calls coming in from Wigan etc.
Pickford obviously told to take all free kicks and go route 1 so why the fuck do Tarkowski and Gana decide it’s a good idea to try and play it out. Dumb stupid football players we have.
With DCL and Patterson gone I would very happily take a draw right now but don’t know how we’re gonna get a goal here despite Wolves being average.
Gavin Johnson
46 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:08:23
Dyche sitting on his hands with the subs. We have to go with Iwobi and McNeill as wing backs now. His in game management is awful.
Alex Gray
47 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:18:01
Two stamps now not even looked at.
Jim Lloyd
48 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:18:35
Pete, Doucouré had have more chance of being bought in a car boot sale.
Jim Lloyd
49 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:23:02
Hopefully, this will bring Sod's Law into play. I can't see us scoring if Wolves went off!
Alex Gray
50 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:24:45
They've stopped going for the second ball. Heads have gone.
Ernie Baywood
51 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:42:15
It's okay, Holgate and Maupay are coming on.
Joe McMahon
52 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:48:58
Dyche is dated and past it. I've seen over 10 years of his tactics, and his use of subs is appalling. Gotta feel sorry for Ellis Simms, barely seen since the well-taken goal v Chelsea.

We have a manager that was out of work for 10 months after being sacked by Burnley, just let that sink in.

Michael McFarlane
53 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:52:13
Irrespective of injuries, Dyche has messed up throughout - from his selection to his inability to reorganise them in-game - what a mess.
Mark Ryan
54 Posted 20/05/2023 at 16:56:46
I hope Dyche leaves with the Board at tge end of the season and he can take Maupay with him. We are tragic
Ernie Baywood
55 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:02:46
Well that was the weirdest game of football I've ever witnessed.
Kevin Molloy
56 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:06:30
ho hum.
Craig Walker
57 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:08:18
What options did Dyche have? He did well today with a paucity of options. I'd have taken a draw at 1-0. Wolves win 1-0 at home.

Our away points have been a massive improvement. People expecting us to thrash Wolves were in cuckoo land. We fight another day.

UTFT

Alan J Thompson
58 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:09:33
Well we got away with a point I'm not sure we deserved and it looked a mess both on and off the pitch.

I couldn't believe Dyche's substitutions and while Holgate didn't do too badly at right-back, Maupay managed only to touch the ball three times and shield one over the touchline for a Wolves throw-in. But we looked a total mess with all trace of a plan going off with Calvert-Lewin.

We live to fight one more day.

Michael Kenrick
59 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:12:31
You just never know with this game, this Premer League.

The competetivenes of that game, the huge home adavntage Wolves held, the great start they made to the game... Yet Everton responded and deserved to have won in that first half but just couldn't pull off the chances they worked to create.

Patterson and Calvert-Lewin forced off, Wolves so up for it, so determined not to lose. Everton somehow kept going through an extremely taxing second half and into 9 minutes of added time. And then a tremendous finish in the very last minute. You couldn't make it up.

Who put that cross in?

George Cumiskey
60 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:12:43
That result doesn't hide the fact of the shocking shocking decision to bring on Maupay instead of Simms.
Raymond Fox
61 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:14:54
I'd have happily taken a draw before and during the game.
Credit when it's due, they stayed with it under great difficulty and got a precious point.

That will have sickened our rivals no end.

We can do it now.

Gavin Johnson
65 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:17:17
West Ham final isn't until June. I'd be disappointed if Moyes doesn't put out a strong team in their final home game of the season.
David Hallwood
66 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:18:10
I know it won't happen and evolution is better than revolution, but I'd be happy never to see at least 10 players in an Everton shirt again. We need a total reset
Michael Lynch
67 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:18:49
Delighted we got a last minute equaliser, but it doesn’t actually make that much difference to the maths whether we lost or drew. If Leeds win they go ahead of us either way, same with Leicester.

It’s out of our hands now, because we failed to win

John Keating
68 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:19:46
Just have to pray the Hammers and Geordies do the business
We still have to beat Bournemouth who will definitely not roll over
Watched the early kick off and not sure if Brentford are really good or Spurs are really shite
Regardless Leeds will turn Spurs over
Terrible result, again not in our hands
Jim Lloyd
69 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:19:52
Well! We fought to the last minute; and we got a goal even with Wolves on the pitch!

Keane didn't do bad at all when he went forward. I think Craig is right. We had a real paucity of choice of players. Once Patterson went off Wolves could have run riot but they didn't.

I'm made up for the away fans, they stayed right to the end, when it looked like we had no chance of scoring. But there's some massive rebuilding required; no matter what fate has in store.

Craig Walker
70 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:20:40
Michael @68 but if Leeds drew tomorrow we’d be in bottom 3 wouldn’t we?
Kunal Desai
71 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:21:35
Christ almighty celebrated that equaliser like some looney running round the house.

Now for Arsenal and West Ham victories.

Christine Foster
72 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:22:17
Mother of God, that was horrible.

Played decently in the first half, but losing Patterson and Calvert-Lewin was worse than we ever deserved. Tthe midfield had no shape, if played wide, we had no one to knock it into. It was painful to watch, we didn't stop, but no shape, just pressure.

99 minutes. The 1 point that may mean everything next week. Looks like I will have to go to Mass in the morning… it's already 4:20 am.

We ain't dead yet!

Kevin Molloy
73 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:22:41
I'd not pick Onana next week. I think he just didn't do enough.

Holgate at right-back, and some other chap at left-back would be the way to go. We will score off a set piece and then defend for our lives.

Dave Williams
74 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:22:44
A great fighting performance and what could be a vital point.

Next Sunday will be a killer – can we get Calvert-Lewin fit and, if not, who plays up front? Will we have anyone fit to play either full-back position?

This club ages you so often but then someone does something to drag you back in. Incredible!!

Michael Lynch
75 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:23:02
That's true, Craig.
Brian Denton
76 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:23:46
Craig @71,

We are on 33 points, Leeds 31 points. A point for Leeds keeps us above them. If they win, we go into the Bottom 3.

Dale Self
77 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:25:33
That should keep your interest then, Brian.
Will Mabon
78 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:26:10
Michael L,

I think it can only really influence in relation to Forest, if we draw and they earn no more points, due to goal difference.

Or if Leicester get 2 draws and Leeds score no more than 1 point.

Matt Stapleton
79 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:27:13
Tarkowski header, Keane cross, Mina finish.

Maybe the board were right, we don't need a striker.

Derek Knox
80 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:27:26
Can someone please explain to me, why Dyche keeps picking Maupay (1 goal in nearly 40) instead of Simms?

Losing faith in Dyche's tactics and timing and personnel of his subs.

Craig Walker
81 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:27:44
Brian, I was talking if we had lost as another poster said a draw doesn’t change the maths. I thought it did.
John Boswell
82 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:28:26
A few on here criticising the manager for his use of subs but look at the bench: 2 goalkeepers, 2 from the development squad, leaving 5 players with Premier League experience, 1 of whom was Simms – a player with very little experience in the Premier League.

Also remember that a coach has only 3 substitution moments, so following 2 subs for injury in the first half, Dyche was left with only one more opportunity to change his personnel on the field.

There would be no more opportunities to replace any players struggling with an injury. It is not the fault of Dyche that he has so few options, we all know that the missing board of directors have a lot to answer for, if they ever face up. COYB.

Sean Roe
83 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:28:35
The positive, if there is one, is that a goal that late will feel like a win for the players and should ensure high morale for the final game.
Chris James
84 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:31:40
We really need Arsenal, West Ham and Newcastle to turn up now.
John Charles
85 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:31:52
Great point! Just in the car on the way back.

Forest lose tonight and next week at Palace – which they will.
Leicester lose Monday – which they will. We will need a point in the last game of the season.

I'm sick and tired of the Calvert-Lewin drama – whether or not it is his fault, we desperately need to get rid. Playing well 6 games a season does not help the cause. And he had a good first half today.

Will Mabon
86 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:33:50
John,

he's played very well since returning. That's irony for ya.

Scott Montgomery
87 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:34:26
I honestly think Calvert-Lewin's issues are only partially physical, he seems to pull a heart-string in every game that he's desperately needed. The smallest knock has him off the park and on the treatment bench for weeks longer than the average player.

There's so many people willing to defend him but even when he is playing he's worse than average in terms of converting chances. It's no surprise that, when Everton were having fire sales to raise cash against our deficit, it was Richarlison and Gordon that were sold and no-one wanted Calvert-Lewin. If we do manage to stay up, we need to move him on to the Championship and buy 3 new strikers.

Dave Williams
88 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:37:46
A draw does change the maths. If Forest lose tonight, they will be one point ahead of us. So if we draw the final game and they lose then we are above them on goal difference.

Lots of twists and turns yet – the fact that we battled to a draw will help confidence which is very important.

Will Mabon
89 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:39:42
Scott,

he was essentially unsaleable due to injury, whether or not. He's no magician but has made a difference in the last 3 games.

Michael Kenrick
90 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:41:17
Good Post, John @83, I can't believe the stick Dyche gets from some in every game – no matter what happens, they know best.

Also remember that a coach has only 3 substitution moments, so following 2 subs for injury in the first half, Dyche was left with only one more opportunity to change his personnel on the field.

I'm not sure that's quite right. He could have made additional subs at the start of the second half but he didn't… I'm not saying he should or shouldn't have. But I believe there was a fourth sub opportunity there.

Alan J Thompson
91 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:45:52
Dyche does pick the team and bench and decides how we are to play, or try to.
Dale Self
92 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:48:27
And it is all his fault. Even the draw.
Kieran Kinsella
93 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:52:53
The only positive looking at our bench today was that some of the other terrible players were injured and unavailable.

Maybe next week Townsend can have a Lazarus-like return for his last game and score his season average of 5 stunners all in the first half.

Simon Dalzell
94 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:53:39
Sorry, Michael, but when Maupay and Calamity Kid came on, It was probably the most soul-destroying and painfully ironic moment in my 58 years. What the hell was Dyche thinking?

We managed to get the ball in the box quite a bit towards the end, and I bet many Toffees were thinking. "Why the Hell is Simms not on?" Maupay and Holgate!!! Jesus…

If we manage to stay up, I'll say thanks, Mr Dyche, but quite obviously we need to move on from him to progress. He's better than Lampard. Who isn't?

Spot on, Derek (81).

Craig Walker
95 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:54:26
If Sean Dyche keeps us up from where he found us, he'll go down as a bloody good manager in my book.

He's made mistakes but it's night and day from Lampard's tenure. We'd be safe if he were in charge for the reverse fixture v Wolves on Boxing Day.

Rob Dolby
96 Posted 20/05/2023 at 17:59:04
Usually we are happy to take a point away from home with 2 men going off injured but that feels like a big blow to our survival.

I really don't have a clue what team he will pick next week. Maybe Holgate starting at right-back and Gray up top?

The lack of quality is killing us. After largely controlling the first 25 minutes, Doucoure's lazy layoff and Onana not bringing Traore down cost us the goal. We will always struggle after conceding.

The new Mick Lyons was thrown up top. No idea why Wolves wanted to time waste so much, it cost them in the end.

Mina my MotM by some distance.

It's going to be a long week.

Chris James
97 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:01:03
You are right, Rob - I genuinely thought we could get 2 wins from the last 2.

Now we need favours. Will be clearer by Monday, but I do think a Big Sam guided Leeds could get a win at West Ham (not so much Leicester against The Barcodes).

Mark Ryan
98 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:01:51
I cannot fathom why Dyche picks Maupay over Simms. Maupay is totally garbage.

I want Dyche to explain to me why he selects Maupay. Not me personally obviously but just tell us why?

Mike Gaynes
99 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:02:01
This team lacks for talent, attacking ability, and sometimes brains.

It does not lack for guts or competitive spirit. And that's what will keep us up.

Andrew Keatley
100 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:02:40
Watching the Wolves goal today has made me so angry.

Onana might only be 21 years old, but he's an international footballer. If he doesn't understand that you a) make the challenge and either win the ball or foul the player or b) cover the only other Wolves player (Hwang) involved in the breakaway, then I despair.

Sell him in the summer for £50 million or whatever anyone is dumb enough to pay for him because he just doesn't understand what is required at this level and we need the money to strengthen elsewhere.

Well done to the players for keeping going. A draw is a great result considering how the game went with injuries and personnel changes.

Dale Self
101 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:05:48
Just leave McNeil at deep left-midfield and we are fine.
Sean Roe
102 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:06:17
Mike @102,

Absolutely.

Ian Jones
103 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:07:45
It may have been answered previously but 2 goalkeepers on the bench?

I understand the lack of other personnel but why couldn't a place go to a youngster if only to get experience of being involved in the set-up on matchday?

Dave Abrahams
104 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:10:13
John (83), cracking post, well said.

Dyche gets some stick on here yet Ancelotti gets plenty of praise even though he said he isn't a magician and hasn't got a magic wand.

So what do they expect Dyche to do with a weaker squad than Ancelotti had, injuries before the game with the only fit left-back going down, then two more injuries in the first half to two important players unable to carry on. No wonder the display suffered in the second half.

I never saw the game. I watched the Live Forum posts until Patterson went off, then switched to a good book I'm reading and decided to let what would be, be.

I got back to the Live Forum when I thought the match would be over only to read 1-0 and the understandable moaning had begun, I thought the match was over then "Mina!" came from one post, followed by "Yis!" then another "Goal", "Get in", and so on.

I waited for that fuckin VAR to show its ugly face but it never did. I was literally shaking and had to switch off again.

Now, an hour later, still not relaxed but couldn't give a fuck about the performance and who played good, bad or indifferent. We are still in the fight for another week and the battered squad will line up next week at home to continue this battle with Dyche the manager

He's done better than okay to keep us where we are and hopefully earn the bonus that keeps us up and I don't care how we play next week as long as we stay up. God bless those fans who went today!!

Rob Rothwell
105 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:13:53
Well said, Andrew (103).

Couldn't agree more. Doesn't even look interested, and I'm sick & tired of watching him roll around like he has been shot.

Lee Courtliff
106 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:19:33
Joe McMahon, you and I are in a very similar position but most on here are new to Dyche and cutting him some slack due to the poor squad depth.

Which is fair enough, but you and I both know Dyche would pick his favourites like Keane or experience over youth – no matter what the squad was like.

His substitutions, or usual lack of, are baffling. Burnley fans will tell you that.

Frank Crewe
107 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:22:31
We get a 99th-minute equalizer only to see Forest beating Arsenal.

Either there is a God or the Devil is taunting us.

Niall McIlhone
108 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:27:08
Mike G,

I hope you are right, and it won't be for want of effort that we enter the final battle in a precarious position, but with hope, and hopefully, decent team spirit.

Peter Mills
109 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:27:18
Having failed to get a ticket for the game, I watched it, streamed, with my grandson.

With 30 seconds to go, with Pickford loping into the penalty area for the corner, we had an “Everton, that” moment as the screen froze. I stormed out, a minute later little Charlie shouted “We've scored, Grandad”. Blimey O'Reilly.

I consider it to be a point rescued. It may prove to be our salvation. I thought we played pretty well, particularly in the first half. Anything that could go wrong, did so. We fought hard, which is a big thing.

My fear is that, under Sean Dyche, this limited team has been playing as well as it can. But that will not be enough.

However, the fight is there and, currently, I wouldn't swap places with Leeds or Leicester.

Joe McMahon
110 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:32:38
Lee, they do — my wife and brother-in-law!

To be fair, my Mrs does have a soft spot for us success-starved blues.

Mark Murphy
111 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:47:55
Just on the train home and very very relieved and mentally drained but that headline is weird, sorry. I wouldn't describe that as a rearguard action at all???
Pete Clarke
112 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:49:04
I was actually typing this minutes before we scored.

It is not for lack of effort by the players in this match that we are about to suffer yet another defeat but years of piss poor running of the club and it was on show today with the paucity of the playing staff and the manager who is having to make these awful decisions on how to fit this broken jigsaw together.

As it turns out, we pulled out a point from the very depths of defeat in what could prove to be monumental momment in our history.

We should have been dead and buried in this game by the 80th minute but Wolves were passing up their chances to kill us off. So our team stuck at it with what looked like a defiant token effort to avoid being booed off by the hordes of blues and miraculously we got a bit of luck right at the death to snatch a point.

Like many have said, I hope never to see most of these players in the blue of Everton again (no choice for next week). I will make exceptions in the case of James Garner, who looks a proper footballer with a bit of bite to him. Dwight McNeill has been great of late and even tonight he showed he can play football in a real challenging unfamiliar role.

Patterson looks like he wants to play for the team and he is learning fast. These players, along with Simms and Branthwaite, give me hope but, my god, we are poor right now with players like Doucouré, Gana, Tarkowski, Mina, Maupay etc. Even Onana looks bang average.

Ian Edwards
113 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:52:05
Mike @101,

The reason Simms isn't picked was Liverpool and Man Utd away. It was like we only had 10 men. He was absolutely dreadful.

Paul Kossoff
114 Posted 20/05/2023 at 18:58:45
I had a premonition. The corner we took before we scored, I typed on the Live Forum, "Gooooal!"

I was convinced we would score, we didn't. Before I wiped that off, we had another corner and scored, I then posted my delayed "Gooooal!"

Mick O'Malley
115 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:06:20
Ian, don't you think it's a bit unfair to judge him on 2 of the toughest places to go? He's hardly played any Premier League football.

He'd be more likely to score than Maupay, yes. Maupay runs round but, fuck me, he is so ineffectual, I just don't think we should write the lad off on the back of 2 performances at Anfield and Old Trafford.

Anyway, I'm quite happy with the point today thanks to Big Yerry, granted the performance was a hard watch but we showed a bit of spirit to get a draw at a tough place to go.

Colin Glassar
116 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:08:32
I made a conscious decision not to follow today's game as I had to work and it's a nightmare trying to keep up on our lousy internet connection. So I decided to wait until 5 pm to see the final score.

At 4:40 pm, I couldn't resist the temptation and got on the BBC football page. When I saw it was 1-0, my heart sank and I felt sick. At 5:05 pm, I was punching the air.

Now I've settled down, I realise this is not in our hands and I'm feeling sick again. Can we depend on others to help us? All we can do is hope and pray Leeds and Leicester don't pick up more than a point from their remaining games.

Thanks, Everton, for ruining another weekend. If we go down, it's our own fault but I'll be lighting a few candles between now and Sunday.

Colin Malone
117 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:15:40
Square boots, Doucouré was terrible.

I cannot understand why Garner never stayed with their goal scorer. Instead, they all went towards Traore.

Nick Page
118 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:30:17
We're fucked without Calvert-Lewin and Patterson. Seems like this is the season it all ends.

Forest buying 30 fecking players and Leeds pulling another fast one like last season, only this time with Allardyce which adds a certain tinge of irony – they don't deserve to be in this league but mind you, neither do we.

If that fat fuck Kenwright had one shred of decency in him – he hasn't – he'd put back into the club every penny he's made from his share sales and repay every single expense he's taken out of the club.

Jerome Shields
119 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:32:14
I was out of signal for the first hour. I was thinking getting a point against Wolves would be a good result.

My son got enough signal for the score, it was 1-0. I prayed for an equaliser and it was still 1-0 at full time. My prayers had not been answered. Then back in signal a 5:00 pm and when on ToffeeWeb it was 1-1 – Alleliugha!!!!!!

So it will be the last game of the season that may decide Everton's fate. It was always going to be like that with this squad.

Ian Edwards
120 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:36:07
One win in our last 10 games isn't good enough in a relegation battle. Draws have killed us.

Leeds will win at a tired rotated West Ham and then at home to a terrible on-the-beach Spurs.

Danny Baily
121 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:37:21
Not the worst day, but about as close as you can get to that. I think our goose is cooked.
Dale Self
122 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:38:24
Prognostication or proctolofication? A constipated refrain that smacks of desperate Lardiola love. Just stop it man. You’re hurting yourself. Doctor!

And repeat for that next one.

Mark Ryan
123 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:41:24
Pleased for Forest. They had Arsenal to beat, we had Wolves. No comparison. We had it in our own hands and we still couldn't do it. Fair play to them.

It's us or Leeds. Leicester will find it hard to rally.

Maupay consistently over Simms? Just don't understand it. Fine margins. I hope Coady is back for Bournemouth to fire this team up.

Andrew Bentley
124 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:41:28
This was our chance to save us today. I fear we've blown it and, if Leeds get a result tomorrow, as I think they will, then it's out of our hands.

Thank you, Bill Kenwright, and thank you, Farhad Moshiri. How has this great club ended up here?

Rob Dolby
125 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:42:51
Ian 107, tactics at Man Utd cost us, not Simms. We don't get much at Anfield anyhow and do you think Maupay would have done any better?

The goal at Chelsea is better than anything Maupay has done for us. When we resorted to smashing it upfield today, who would you rather have attacking the ball – 6ft-2in Simms or 5ft-7in Maupay?

It's so easy to say "I told you so" after the fact.

Paul Hewitt
126 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:44:10
No point worrying now, it is what it is.

I just hope Leeds and Leicester lose. And if the worst happens… then we deserve it.

Ralph Basnett
127 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:47:58
Considering the predicament we are in, Dyche seems quite positive… is he fucking mental?
Ian Edwards
128 Posted 20/05/2023 at 19:48:05
Rob @131,

Neither are good enough to play on their own. Imo Maupay links the play better.

Simms's goal at Chelsea earned a point. Maupay's goal v West Ham earned 3 points.

Rob Dolby
129 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:03:01
Ian,

At this level, Maupay is a failed striker. Simms is an unknown. With those tactics today, Simms was a better option.

I have seen enough of Maupay to realise he may be good next season if we go down.

Who is in your starting 11 next Sunday?

Maybe I have answered my own question in that Keane is better than both up front!

Jack Convery
130 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:07:51
If Patterson, Mykolenko and Calvert-Lewin out, it will be:

Pickford
Keane, Mina, Tarkowski
Iwobi, Doucouré, Garner, Gueye, McNeil
Simms, Gray.

And more squeaky bums than Goodison has ever heard !!!

We now rely on Moyes and West Ham Utd – twice, and Newcastle and Spurs. Thank You, Messrs Kenwright & Moshiri.

I feel physically sick as my head is telling me the cherry on this awful-tasting relegation cake will be Allardyce laughing his fucking cock off on MotD next weekend.

I hope to god I am wrong.

Ian Edwards
131 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:07:53
Rob,

My team if players are fit:

Pickford
Patterson Mina Tarkowski Mykolenko
Iwobi Garner Doucouré McNeil
Calvert-Lewin Maupay.

John Raftery
132 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:23:22
My worst fears were realised this afternoon. Wolves scored with a counter-attack. We huffed and puffed before scrambling a late equaliser.

There were too many positional changes to compensate for an injured left-back. Consequently our play was disjointed, at times chaotic. Throwing Michael Keane up front reminded me of the seventies and Mick Lyons but nothing else was working so it was worth a try.

I am afraid West Ham have no interest in the outcome tomorrow. I expect Leeds to win both their last two fixtures. I hope I am proved wrong.

Michael McFarlane
133 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:24:12
How will our result sicken our rivals, Raymond?

On the contrary. Leeds and Leicester now know it's out of our hands. They'll be invigorated that a win will lift them both above us.

I can see Leeds getting a result at West Ham who have no skin in the league but do have skin in Europe.

As it stands today, even a rip-roaring last-day win does not guarantee us safety. We could win 10-0 and still go down.

The result today has definitely sickened me though.

Jay Evans
134 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:27:06
Onana brilliant again.

Cue the apologists talking about potential.

Danny O’Neill
135 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:30:59
I am still on my way home.

I will wait until tomorrow to write something more coherent, because I have all kinds of emotions running through me right now.

As did those leaving the stadium at the end.

I tried food, but the body wasn't having it.

It's not over.

Rob Dolby
136 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:31:05
Ian 140.

Calvert-Lewin is not playing next week and neither is Patterson. The next start for Maupay should be in the Championship – regardless of club:

Pickford
Holgate Mina Tarkowski Mykolenko (if fit; if not, McNeil)
Iwobi Garner Gana Doucouré
Gray or McNeil (Simms if Mykolenko is not fit)

Regardless, we need to win against a team that have battered us twice this season.

Mark Murphy
137 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:39:42
I was at the game, still on the way home.

We weren't great but we weren't shit and no-one hid. Wolves have been strong at home and we were seriously depleted when we lost Patterson and Calvert-Lewin.

Proud of the team.

UTFT!

Ian Edwards
138 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:42:39
Rob,

If we play Simms on his own up front, we are royally fucked.

Brent Stephens
139 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:42:44
Mark,

Yes, proud of the team to get a point from that given the in-game injuries.

Good to meet you, Neil and Martin for the first time today, and Danny of course.

I got home about an hour ago.

Michael McFarlane
140 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:44:48
I get Dyche was dealt a poor hand. However, I cannot understand why he persists with Maupay, who offers the square root of nothing, above Simms and Gray.

And why play our most recently effective forward player McNeil at left-back in a must-win game? Garner should be central controlling the game. And both Doucouré and Onana in the same midfield is only ending in a mess at the moment.

My Saturday mornings are spent watching my lad's under-12s – they were more organised than us in that awful second half today.

Credit though for throwing the centre-backs forward to do the striker's job. That could be an important point.

Right – moan over. I'm switching off.

We can still do this!

Rob Dolby
141 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:52:11
Ian,

And with Maupay we are…?

Ian Edwards
142 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:53:59
Rob. I wouldn't play either of them up front on their own. In a two or not at all.

We have struggled for goals all season because managers have persisted with one up front with an uncreative midfield.

Pete Neilson
143 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:55:50
The injury to Mykolenko and then to Calvert-Lewin and Patterson meant this was a battling performance. I thought we looked pretty dead after their goal but rejuvenated after half-time.

Massive celebration on the goal with many of us still not knowing the scorer even as we left the ground. Thanks to Neves for the added time. Let's beat Bournemouth and then see where we are.

Lee Courtliff
144 Posted 20/05/2023 at 20:56:48
For what it's worth, I don't think Maupay is a bad player. He's in the wrong team, definitely, but he's not a bad footballer at all.

If we are to play him, then we need someone alongside him like Calvert-Lewin or Simms. You'd think that would be obvious.

He may turn out to be the player who fires us to promotion next season?!

Bill Gall
145 Posted 20/05/2023 at 21:03:09
Just another let-down to go with what has gone on before.

I feel really sorry for those regular away supporters who will still be saying "It's not over yet". Sorry, you are starting to sound like the band on the Titanic offering encouragement while knowing the ship is sinking.

You have done your best for the club and it is sickening that those who have more influence within the club could not offer as much, but chose to bury their heads in the sand and plead innocence.

I sincerely hope that we stay up but we have relied on other clubs to fail for too long instead of relying on our own abilities. Today we've seen the 2nd-place team whose league position never changed with a loss, against a team that, with a win, stay in the Premier League. This shows you can't rely on other results; our league position is our own fault.

Colin Glassar
146 Posted 20/05/2023 at 21:06:59
Well, now it's down to the manager and the players to raise themselves and beat Bournemouth. The fans can play their part but, at the end of the day, it's down to the players.

No amount of rah, rah, rah speeches or unbounded optimism and faith will keep us up, only the final result at Goodison and other grounds will determine our fate.

Thanks, Moshiri and Kenwright — you've played a blinder… Twats.

Dale Self
147 Posted 20/05/2023 at 21:28:58
For just a moment, think of the change that point created. We would have been even on goal difference.

Also how it was realized after several key injuries in an already patchwork eleven. They fucking did what we've all demanded at their most heavily weighted moment of pressure and anxiety. They fucking did that so please just take a moment to get right with that and give them their due.

It might work out so don't go overboard before the ship requires that of you.

Raymond Fox
148 Posted 20/05/2023 at 21:43:02
If we go down, that deadful run of losing games at home to clubs that were down at the bottom with us will have killed us most.

Today, when Calvert-Lewin and Patterson went off ,we did well to get a draw. Anyone saying otherwise doesn't know much. We had no full-backs plus other players out of position on the pitch.

Leicester are 1/8 and Leeds are 1/3 to be relegated while we are best priced 11/8. The bookies appear to have more faith in us than we have, I'm not sure I agree with those odds myself.

We are in a very vulnerable position.

Andy Meighan
149 Posted 20/05/2023 at 22:09:51
Just home from Wolves.

First 25 minutes, we were well in control,; after that we allowed them to dictate. That said, they never looked like scoring.

2nd half, we were dreadful and I and my two mates on our way back to the car couldn't believe we'd just equalised — we were shell-shocked actually.

But what the fuck! It's another point gained. If someone had said 5 points from Leicester (a), Brighton (a), Man City (h) and Wolves (a), we'd have snapped their hand off.

Ian Riley
150 Posted 20/05/2023 at 22:21:35
The most exhausting season for many years. Whatever the outcome? Let it be over! Relegation must not be a shock!

Selling your best players season after season lies the problem. Relying on other clubs to save us now is how low we have come.

Still a chance and hope!

Sam Hoare
151 Posted 20/05/2023 at 22:22:12
Injuries have really clarified how weak our squad is and what a dreadful job the custodians have done of spending the money we've had.

If we go down, it will be overwhelmingly their responsibility.

Gonna be a tense week!

Don Alexander
152 Posted 20/05/2023 at 22:24:25
A match we had to win to keep control of our fate, and we failed.

To now be dependent on other results to have even a hope of survival is a way more than appalling legacy from those in charge, and yet today's match has generated a mere 150+ posts thus far.

Seems to me that most of us are long since rightly 100% aware of the grim fate bestowed on us.

Jeez, even if we survive this season, where does anyone with a modicum of reality see an escape from relegation next season given the gross negligence and recklessness alive and well at the top of our club?

They've already comprehensively fucked us for seasons to come.

Danny Baily
153 Posted 20/05/2023 at 22:36:57
Relegation has been the most likely outcome since the defeat to Southampton. On the balance of probability, it's happening.

Let's enjoy next week for what it is. We have something to play for; we've had very little to play for for a generation.

Jim Lloyd
154 Posted 20/05/2023 at 23:17:17
We got a point, we fought to the end. Yes, it looked disjointed but no wonder. We got a goal right at the death and that's given us a better chance of beating the drop. The players never gave up, which it's all anyone can ask of them.

It's not in our hands but all we can do is go and win the game next week.

Well done, Blues.

ps: if circumstances mean no Calvert-Lewin next week, I'd like to see Keane up front.

Ernie Baywood
155 Posted 20/05/2023 at 23:50:14
I've said many times on here that a I've never questioned the effort of this Everton team. I've seen plenty of "they're not committed" type posts across the season but that's not how I've seen this season. I've just seen a team that works hard but is generally just not good enough.

Effort is the only thing that has given us a chance. I believe that the players are battling despite poor managers and a history of dreadful recruitment that has left us with a ramshackle set of players.

We're now in a position where we go into the most important match of the season not even able to play a recognised formation with the players we have available. That's an absolute disgrace.

I can only hope, as the board watched that first half and saw McNeil wasted at left back, Keane floundering at full-back, Garner struggling positionally on the right wing, and then the tough calls made when our only viable striker exited the game... they thought, "Yeah, these fans might have a point. We've cocked this up and should go."

We're lucky Wolves went for the counter-attacking option. If they'd taken the game to us as they did after Patterson went off, then we'd be a point and goal difference worse off. The Keane change was an absolute shocker, even if the player himself showed admirable qualities in that second half.

Colin Glassar
156 Posted 20/05/2023 at 00:04:42
Whoever thinks Bournemouth are going to be a walkover, I hope they watched the highlights of their game against Man Utd. They played to win and could've with a bit of luck.

I think West Ham - Leeds will be a draw, and Newcastle will beat Leicester, therefore our survival will be in our own hands. Can we do it though?

Christine Foster
157 Posted 20/05/2023 at 00:16:31
Under my wafer thin veneer of belief that we can still do this, is a sickening feeling of inevitability that comes with the last match of the season. We now have to see how Leeds and Leicester fare and hope they both lose.

But hope was never going to be enough, cruel to lose Seamus and Patterson, cruelties still having to play Keane and Maupay. But the sickening reality is the abject failure of the club to have a squad depth were there is a total absence of quality cover in key defensive positions, and ultimately the one, key catastrophic failure to bring in ANY strikers to replace Richarlison or critical back up for DCL.

That, single failure may well be the most damming failure to the survival of the club. Moshiri knew it, promised a striker, never happened.

We all know why we are here, it's not been bad luck even if it feels like it, we had a badly shaped team who didn't give up, a manager, like those before him, who couldn't get the same performance from players week in, week out.

I don't care what Leeds or Leicester do, our focus is to win our last game, we have points on the table, not a game in hand. I will take that anyday

Derek Thomas
158 Posted 20/05/2023 at 00:18:03
The short version is (I think);

We Only! have to win once...we Have! to win.

We can finish on 33, 34 or...the preferred option...36pts

Leicester need 2 wins and 'only' finish on; 30, 31, 32 33, 34 or 36pts plus a better GD...but it doesnt really matter if we finish 18th or 19th

Leeds is the key, they also need 2 wins but may potentially finish on anything from; 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 or the nightmare / doomsday senario...37pts

That Fat Lady is stood in the wings waiting for her cue.

We can only win or draw and hope the gods of diminishing mathamatical permutations let us off the hook.

Win!

Don Alexander
159 Posted 21/05/2023 at 00:47:37
Thanks indeed to those of us pointing out (above and most recent) the bleedin' obvious about the week to come but just when are you going to demand in any way at all the removal of the shitheads who've for years engineered our demise?

Team-shape/transition/injuries/suspensions fully occupy every PROFESSIONAL football club every week yet those useless prats who've managed to spend £hundreds of millions to now deliver our years-to-come perilous predicament are still there, postulating their completely unrevealed notion as to how they'll show one iota of know-how when it comes to either relegation of the skin-of-the-teeth survival they once again pray for.

Moshiri is just like a mega-balloon such as Gerald Ratner, who destroyed his own Ratner jewellery chain to the tune of £500,000,000 by telling the mere truth.

That said, truth from the Everton boardroom is as scarce to anyone not in it as the final destination of the Arteta money, and way more besides.

With these clowns we're fucked - period.

Joe Digney
160 Posted 21/05/2023 at 02:51:41
I was too young for the Wimbledon great escape, I’ve heard me old fella talk about it but I’m just curious, in context how does this week feel compared to that final week? Will it be an even greater escape this time round?

Simon Dalzell
161 Posted 21/05/2023 at 03:15:15
Great question Joe. I am old enough to remember. (58). Before the game I was 60/40. I played Cricket at a reasonable standard so was in the field that day. At 2 down we were obviously goosed. I remember feeling so sick hearing the increasingly bad news. What a night that turned out to be. Don't want to tempt fate, but you can get 6/4 us going down now. We still have a chance.
Pete Clarke
162 Posted 21/05/2023 at 03:40:13
Joe.
It was a very very nervous build up to that game with rumours abound that some Liverpool supporters would walk down County Road carrying a coffin with the words ‘ RIP Everton’ written on it so there was a lot more to the game than relegation itself. ( we did this to them many years earlier )
We were also playing the perfect party spoilers in The Crazy gang. So, we are 2 nil down by our own mistakes and Wimbledon we’re laughing. I had a perfect view from the top balcony of just how bad it was. The bitterness was in everyone’s faces and the mood was sickening. Absolutely gut wrenching.
The rest is history of course but here we are again as a football club that has learned nothing. What is incredible is that we have avoided the drop for so long whilst this idiot chairman has had control of things.
He would probably take great pride in that of course !
Ernie Baywood
163 Posted 21/05/2023 at 04:37:01
Jeez you've made me feel old, Joe. I was 15, on a direct line from the Street end, through the top corner, to Horne's boot. A view that disappeared for the last few feet of the strike as it wasn't going anywhere but in.

I was probably too young to understand the mismanagement it takes for a club like Everton to be in that position so soon after a successful period. I just blamed Liverpool and bad luck. Everton were still by far the greatest. And I'd been too young to appreciate our successes in the 80s.

That said, my sense was that we couldn't possibly go down. The Street end would suck the ball across the line. We were defiant and it was the greatest day of my life until the 95 Cup Final.

I've since left the UK and will defer to current matchgoing Blues, but my sense is that it was similar to the Palace game (even ignoring the sequence of goals) but with more ferver and desperation.

This time feels strange to me. More Coventry than Wimbledon. I don't think that Palace lightning in a bottle moment can be recreated 12 months apart.

In all truth we absolutely deserve to go down. We're a mess. We look like the sort of club that needs to be put out of its misery and relegated. I found myself laughing at Michael Keane ambling down the wing in the first half. Nothing against his efforts; it just summed up our club. The game was reminiscent of when Skinner and Baddiel used to do the 'Saint and Greavesie Endsleigh goal of the month' sketch on Fantasy Football. Possibly Doucoure is our own Ricky Otto.

Staying up really isn't enough. I've never been at that point in my life. If we stay up and little changes, then we just do this again next year and go down in humiliating fashion. We are the worst club in the league. We need wholesale changes just to make survival worthwhile.

Edit: you've also reminded me what our younger fans have experienced as Evertonians. I'm in my mid 40s with vague early childhood memories of the late 80s and one Cup win in the 90s... I feel robbed. You must feel absolutely screwed over!

Joshua Steadman
164 Posted 21/05/2023 at 06:13:33
If as some suggest on here, west ham with a decent record recently at home, will manage to get something from the game today, will mean we will be safe. I genuinely think we will beat Bournemouth next week, even without Calvert-Lewin . It's all about the Leeds game.

Hi Joe, funnily enough I always thought we would beat Wimbledon. Even with Walker at the helm. We had players who genuinely gave a shit like Southall, Watson, Horne, Rideout, Stuart, the fantastic Limpar and a decent goalscorer in Cottee. Don't get me wrong the start we had nearly gave me a heart attack but I always felt we were capable of beating them. You only have to look at the following season when Royle took over. The same side beat all the top sides and won the cup! There was only Parkinson that hadn't played a part in the relegation fight. All the other players were at the club who started in the final.

I was far more worried about Coventry. I thought they would turn us over. Bolton had got some momentum in there few previous games and were playing a London side with nothing to play for in the league but had a European Cup Final to play, oh the similarities!! Still haven't forgiven the Chelsea fans for booing their own team! I understand West Ham don't particularly have any affection for Leeds so hopefully they cheer their side on.

Derek Thomas
165 Posted 21/05/2023 at 06:25:15
Joe Digney @ 189; I was there and it feels different to me now.
Back then most of the Squad was good enough to win the FA Cup 12mths later, off form, poorly managed and on the day - very, very, nervous - bricking it with a sort of self fulfilling nervousness everytime a cross came in - Yes, even Nev wasn't immune.

This Squad isn't that nervous as such...though we'd better wait until Sunday to really see...its just collectively not as good.

Eddie Dunn
166 Posted 21/05/2023 at 07:38:26
As others have said, even if the rivals fail to win today and Monday, we will have to beat Bournemouth.

I have worried about this fixture for ages. They play with verve and know how to score goals. We, on the other hand will surely be wothout our front man.

We will have a better chance of success with Mc Neil wide left but what we do at right back will be equally important.

Perhaps Iwobi will play there and with Gray wide right.

I wonder if Townsend might make the bench? One of his 30-yarders would be nice!

Kim Vivian
167 Posted 21/05/2023 at 07:55:35
I met one of my new neighbours for the first time yesterday. Now, I'm not a midget but had to take a step back so as not to crick my neck. He plays rugby now but used to play football for Tonbridge and at 6'10" I was thinking, seriously, I would rather see him than bleeding Maupay.

I digress - back to the match. I couldn't get a stream working yesterday and have watched MotD so that and the LF comments are what I have to go on. I haven't read the comments on here yet but It seemed to me that we were only a smidgen of luck and a downward header by DCL away from a win.

At 5:00pm yesterday I felt like I had won the lottery.This morning, in the cold light of day my realist head is back on and nervousness for today's 1:30 game has kicked off. I said on the LF that the irony of having our fate resting potentially in the hands of D Moyes is palpable, and my predictor a few weeks ago had us finishing 17th with 33 points.

That's still possible but please W Ham and you Geordies win today for the good of our health, and leave our fate in our hands.

Charles Brewer
168 Posted 21/05/2023 at 07:58:46
On a slightly less serious note, albeit an absolutely crucial one in todays match, I thought it very karmic that Wolves’ unbelievable time wasting when Nunez (I think), went off - shaking hands, hugging everyone, slow walking, the lot - was exactly what cost them the win.

Tony Everan
169 Posted 21/05/2023 at 08:06:27
Joe, I was at the Wimbledon game in the upper Gwladys Street and was a nervous wreck. Too much emotion for me. I remember a lady in front telling me off for swearing. I made a banner at home before the match and dangled it over the ledge thinking it would help. I had more confidence back then we would do it.

To me this time it feels different, the injuries, the abject failure to buy a striker last summer, then ridiculously compounded January. The blinkered persistence with the way out of depth Lampard beyond the Bournemouth debacles , at the same time Villa was getting rid of Gerrard and appointing Emery. In short, just how much incompetence can a club take before it breaks?

As ever, I’ll be praying to the football gods to intervene and give us a reprieve. Only this time I think it will take even more of an effort from all concerned. Leeds and Leicester have not been better than us lately, so it’s still all there to fight for.

Eddie Dunn
170 Posted 21/05/2023 at 08:12:59
Charles- I think it was Neves giving all the cuddles.
Anthony Murphy
171 Posted 21/05/2023 at 09:02:40
I was away at University for the Wimbledon game. What I remember most is how the story was presented before the game on the day itself. I had the radio on all morning and afternoon and Everton was the big focus - it’ll be similar next Sunday, so we’ll need to deal with that attention too. With Coventry, my lasting memory is how determined Coventry seemed to beat us - Dion Dublin especially. My thoughts are that beating Bournemouth is possible but given the mess our first team is in, it’s more likely that survival will be a result of others failing to win - similar to the Coventry situation where we finished 17th - just!
Karl Meighan
172 Posted 21/05/2023 at 09:12:04
Love to know who is going to create against Bouremouth?

The goal yesterday came from a last gasp punt, we created nothing in a game where we desperately needed the 3 points.

Stephen Brown
173 Posted 21/05/2023 at 09:17:15
It’s rapidly coming towards the time of year when I feel terrible envy towards other clubs celebrating success. I cannot watch it, don’t watch the news, scroll past on twitter. It hits home how far away we are from being relevant.

Like everyone on here I’m desperate for us to win on Saturday to seal survival but I just can’t get up for a big celebration afterwards, no pitch invasion, no lording the players.

I wish I didn’t love Everton - life would be so much easier. A week of torture ahead starting with a hung over WHU, then a Monday night supporting the detestable barcodes.

In the last month I’ve been rooting for RS, Man Utd, random teams that used to be in league 2 like Brentford. God it’s hard work!

Like the rest of us though I’ll be there doing it ! Get it done

Jim Lloyd
174 Posted 21/05/2023 at 09:25:16
Ernie (174) you're dead right. Not the players fault but they looked like bunch of lads who goneon the Oller for a Sunday afternoon game. Not their fault because those players were all we had left,. After spending (Splurging) hundreds of millions of £££'s over a seven year drunken stagger to the edge of the precipice. No wonder worlds greateast Evertonian has found a way of hiding his shame... "security advice!"
Danny Baily
175 Posted 21/05/2023 at 09:37:37
Karl 201, we made a few chances yesterday, especially before the forced changes. And we targeted 4 points from the last two fixtures, which is still very much on. The question is whether it will be enough.

The point means Leeds need a win today to escape the bottom three, not a draw.

I'd go with Gray up top against Bournemouth. Hopefully Myko is back, so Holgate can come in at right back. Gana, Onana and Doucoure in midfield, with McNeil and Iwobi wide.

Alec Gaston
176 Posted 21/05/2023 at 10:02:20
Other than Palace at home I have left every home game this season feeling frustrated and disappointed, I hope next Sunday is different - this is the worst season I have experienced as an Everton supporter- like lots on here have said this season feels different possibly due to the board debacle - safe or not something needs to change
Paul Tran
177 Posted 21/05/2023 at 10:03:47
I'm sensing an air of resignation this season. Last season we were a poor, brittle side, with Richarlison's fabulous determination dragging us over the line.

This season we sold Richarlison, didn't replace him. Sold Gordon (great business) without replacing him. Bought Maupay (because we could?) and tried to reinvent him as a lone striker. Kept Lampard during the World Cup break, when it was clear to most of us he was finished. Brought in Dyche just in time to give him no players. If we'd brought him in during the World Cup break, I think we'd be safe now.

We need a big, big performance on Sunday. We need to score first. As on all the previous 'relegation' days, someone or something has to unexpectedly turn up for us.

Karl Meighan
178 Posted 21/05/2023 at 10:21:21
Danny I really hope we win and stay up but they were no more than half chances in my opinion I'm not sure we have anyone capable of taking those. Targetting 4 points seems strange from those 2 games as we could still be relegated.
Brian Harrison
179 Posted 21/05/2023 at 10:22:27
Paul 201

I think you summarise our position compared to last season perfectly, we had Richarlison who was our talisman last season who helped get us over the line.
I think most of our problems were created by our last manager who failed to replace Richarlison and even had Gordon and Gray playing in the main striking role for 5 games, before finally buying the ineffective Maupay. He splashed £33 milion on Onana, who again proved yesterday what a poor decision that was. He signed Vinagre who has had about 15 minutes in a Blue shirt. As you say had this board acted as they should pre the World Cup then I doubt we would be here if Dyche had have been hired back then. Yet there were many on these pages still saying stick with Frank right up to the day he got sacked. The narrative wasn't that he was any good, just that we couldnt keep changing managers, but when they are as bad as Lampard you have too.

Dyche has not been able to sign a player, took over a squad that had lost all belief in itself and folded as soon as they went a goal down. He has had little or no striker due to DCLs injuries and Maupays ineffectiveness. Yesterday he loses his only fit right back and again DCL broke down all before half time. So a team lacking any real goalscoring threat once DCL went off, and because of Mykolenkos injury was forced to play McNeil our only naturally left footed player at left back, which severely hampered our attacking options.

I know that many have as you say resigned themselves with the thought that we are down, but at this stage I would rather have the points on the board than games in hand. Yes if either Leeds or Leicester win we would be in the bottom 3 going into the last game of the season which none of us want. I would just say Moyes has a lot of effection for this club so he will I believe have his team motivated to win today.

Jim Wilson
180 Posted 21/05/2023 at 10:35:37
Wrong team before the injuries.

Onana didn't strengthen the midfield he weakened it and he affects Doucoure's game.

Moving McNeil to left back further weakened the midfield that became disjointed, and took away an important attacking strength.

By far the lesser evil would have been to play Samuel-Smith or Holgate at left back.

Lee Robinson
181 Posted 21/05/2023 at 10:37:47
If Doucoure had any ounce of footballing brain or slight awareness of anything around him he would have let that ball run through his legs and Calvert Lewin would have been in on goal. Instead he does what he always does, breaks down attacks and put's the team at risk on the counter. Huge liability and one Frank unsuprisingly couldn't cope with, I wouldn't either, I've never seen a worse technical footballer, when he's bad, he's really bad. The problem is he's one of our few attacking threats, but only if he can get on the end of things (like Brighton), if he is involved in any phase of play he is the weak link.
Colin Malone
183 Posted 21/05/2023 at 12:39:08
Lee # 181
Lee. Spot on. I don't understand why Onana doesn't play in that position, and put square boots in Onana's position.
Frank Crewe
184 Posted 21/05/2023 at 12:48:03
I suppose to a great extent our fate will be decided by whatever side Moyes picks to play against Leeds today and he appears to have picked pretty much his strongest side. Not sure that's such a good idea considering they only played on Thursday night so how much energy will they have to cope with a full on Leeds side? Maybe a bit of rotation might not have been so bad but it's out of our hands and we can only wait and see.
Joe McMahon
185 Posted 21/05/2023 at 12:57:49
The sun is out, its their last home game, they are safe, so I hoping they put on a performance for what has turned out to be a good season. Downside Leeds and Sam know they have to win.
Jerome Shields
186 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:02:59
I thought Holgate would be better at left back, rather than wasting McNeill there.I think a semblance of formation has to be maintained, with use of players who are use to playing their position.

The main reason why Everton are relegation fodder is the same repeated error's players are making.Putting a player in a position he is unacustomed to adds to the risk of errors from such a player and requires adjustment from other players which increases the risk also.

Dyche has felt the need to change things game after game.It just shows you how confident he has in the Everton Squad and the players recruited.

Jerome Shields
187 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:03:00
I thought Holgate would be better at left back, rather than wasting McNeill there.I think a semblance of formation has to be maintained, with use of players who are use to playing their position.

The main reason why Everton are relegation fodder is the same repeated error's players are making.Putting a player in a position he is unacustomed to adds to the risk of errors from such a player and requires adjustment from other players which increases the risk also.

Dyche has felt the need to change things game after game.It just shows you how confident he has in the Everton Squad and the players recruited.

Dale Self
188 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:09:12
I hope one of the Hammers’ bubbles envelops Fat Sam and takes himaway like he was The Fat Prisoner.
Mark Ryan
189 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:10:38
Whatever happens next weekend we have to say thanks to Sean Dyche for trying to keep us or thanks for actually keeping us up but if we want to start any sort of progression next season we have to get a new manager, a new centre forward and slowly build a side. Dyche has brought better stability since Frank left but he is a dinosaur. Thanks Sean but we need to develop as a footballing side and you are not the man to do it. If we survive and keep him we are down next season
Christy Ring
190 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:20:23
Good to see Moyes play his strongest team, hopefully he’ll beat and sicken Big Sam.
Jim Wilson
191 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:26:07
Lee @ 181

You are quite right, Doucoure is one of our attacking threats and his energy is also an asset, the rest of his game is suspect.

A centre midfield of Gueye the tackling covering player, Garner tackling and passing, and Doucoure's hassling and energy and goal threat seems to work.

Onana for me does not enhance that midfield, it just gets disjointed.

Anthony Murphy
192 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:26:39
Not a good sign WHU bringing their kids out is it
John Hall
193 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:30:20
Philippines here, Waiting for the Leeds game. Son in Law is a Leeds supporter born n bred just like myself as a true blue. I recently asked him for all of the addresses for Championship teams as he has had many years visiting them. His reply was that he would gladly provide for me as he won't need them anymore due to Leeds dining at the top table again next year. We wait in anticipation and see what result they get today but I fear Big Sam might seal our fate and keep them up. They have a structure to their side that we don't have with lots of options and players to bring on if required.
What we saw yesterday was a side bereft of any real quality with just hard work gaining us a point with Wolves missing quite a number of good opportunities in the second half and really should have been out of sight before we scored.
We stay up, and we will face the same prospect next year with no money, a crap unbalanced squad, club in turmoil without a pot to piss in and the FA just waiting to give us a points deduction.

Most of these players stealing a living on massive salaries will be off like a shot if we go down. What's left will not survive in the Championship as it will be youngsters, plus a few journeymen. Rondon was on 40K plus per week, Deli Ali 100 K, Gomez 110K, Maupay 45K. The list goes on with Mason on mega bucks on a lucrative 5 year deal. Gueye the top paid player alongside Doucoure who is only a few grand behind him both on over 100K per week. Utter madness and stupidity with the loonies running the asylum but without wearing straight jackets.
69 years old in July and been following the team since I was five years old. Glad I did my bucket trip in August last year and actually saw a win against West Ham under feeble Frank. Maupay scored the winner which is his only contribution since signing for 10 million quid and getting 45K per week. Probably the most expensive goal ever scored in the Premier League. I need to say this just to get it off my chest but he is "the worst Everton player I have ever seen" and I have seen some shite in my many years of watching Everton. Got to assume that one of the inmates in the asylum was on a high when that was agreed to. I could go on and on but bitterness wont solve the crisis so here's hoping that Moysey does us a big favour and gets one over on big Sam.

Tony Everan
194 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:31:28
Anthony, it’s got an ominous end of season feel about it. Still, the West Ham team looks strong enough if hey are up for it.
John Raftery
195 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:31:37
Mark (189) And who do you think that manager might be? A bright, up and coming young manager or Bielsa?

Jerome (187) Your first paragraph is spot
on. But talking to fellow Evertonians on the way to the game yesterday not one of them thought it would be a good idea to persist with Holgate. The outcome of course was several positional changes were made which disrupted the rhythm of the team. And we ended the game with Holgate on the pitch anyway.

Tim Greeley
196 Posted 21/05/2023 at 13:33:58
Moyes played most of his first team here, as I suspected he would. No reason in the world not to… weird Euro Cup run aside theyve had a rough year so they definitely want to win their last home match in the EPL. Come on Hammers!!! Bowen for a couple I says
Mark Ryan
197 Posted 21/05/2023 at 15:03:34
John @ 195 Bielsa is taken. A bright up and coming young manager would be a start, yes
Jerome Shields
198 Posted 21/05/2023 at 15:04:53
West Ham have scored. VAR confirmed.
Tim Greeley
199 Posted 21/05/2023 at 15:29:20
Leeds has always sucked, some of you need to chill out!! Over to you Newcastle
Jerome Shields
200 Posted 21/05/2023 at 15:32:58
West Ham win.Mine's 98' looked like relegation survival.All down to Goodison.
Joshua Steadman
201 Posted 21/05/2023 at 15:40:37
After the initial sick to my stomach when Leeds scored, West Ham were worthy winners. Should have had five which would have left us only needing to avoid defeat. Why did they have to start trying to walk it in? Still thankyou Moyes and thankyou To the players for a good second half performance.
Martin Mason
202 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:04:12
Just one post on the game.

Great trip up with Danny and Mark. Met some new faces such as Neil Copeland and others who I'll have to ask Mark about and a quite exceptional performance from Everton given the circumstances.

Make no bones about it, we are in general a very poor side and badly organised but without any real full-backs, our only forward gone and a goal down, we did something the Blues don't do and got a point at the death.

They worked bloody hard and nobody didn't turn up or wouldn't get off their asses. A massively important point too. Great support as always, although understandably a bit downbeat at times. My 4th away game and 8 points and a wonderful day out and game.

Brent Stephens
203 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:14:04
Good to meet you yesterday, Martin.
Martin Mason
204 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:18:13
Thanks Brent and same to you mate. Sorry I didn't store your name well but will remember now.
Brent Stephens
205 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:19:57
No worries, Martin. A decent point in the end. Great atmsopshere when we equalised at the death.
Jay Harris
206 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:36:50
The heart and desire since Dyche came has made a massive difference. His team selections sometimes leave us a bit bemused but he has instilled a mentality into a weak squad that Leeds and Leicester cannot muster.

Well done to Moyes today who recognized that Zouma was struggling and took him off at half-time.

Over to Newcastle now to complete the job.

Nick Bower
207 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:39:10
If Leeds win by 3 against Spurs, which is unlikely after their display today, and we draw - with points & goal difference equal, does head-to-head decide? We drew at theirs and beat them 1-0 at ours. In that case we stay up. Right?
Jay Harris
208 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:41:09
Nick I think it then goes to most goals scored which is them.
Rob Halligan
209 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:42:17
Nick, if points and goal difference are identical, it then goes on goals scored. In that respect, Leeds are fourteen more than us. I guess if they were both equal, then I really don’t know if head to head would come in to it? Won’t get that far anyway.
Kieran Kinsella
210 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:52:41
Bring in Phil Jones on a free, tie down Davies, build around them and the core of Calvert-Lewin, Coleman and Keane, add a few journeymen, balance the books by selling Pickford and Onana, and we should be in good shape for next season.
Jay Harris
211 Posted 21/05/2023 at 16:53:45
Grant
It’s not all over till the toffee lady sings and let’s hope she’s singing a happy song under new ownership next season.
Dale Self
212 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:00:34
But Grant they attack they give it a go. They're not coached by a donkey. I could go on.
Brent Stephens
213 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:07:13
Grant - Brighton v Everton. All the same arguments against a win for us.
Shane Corcoran
214 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:07:35
What are people’s opinion on Dyche bringing on Holgate to allow Keane to play up front as opposed to just bringing on Simms to play up front.

It’s not like Keane has the height advantage like he would have over Maupay. I just don’t get it.

Brent Stephens
215 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:08:25
Kieran #215, stop smirking!
Ray Roche
216 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:10:35
Kieran Kinsella
@215

WTF have you been smoking? ;-)

Grant Rorrison
217 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:12:15
Brent 219. We've shown a bit of character since the Newcastle game we lost 4-1. I cant say the same about Leeds. Besides that result against Brighton was a total one off. Leeds aren't beating Spurs by 3 or more goals. I don't think they've got the resolve to win at all. They shat themselves at 1 nil today.
Brent Stephens
218 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:16:26
He's joking, Ray. It's Kieran.

I do think you're right, Grant. Leeds scoring 3 is highly unlikely. Just can't bring myselfy to say "impossible".

Denis Richardson
219 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:19:06
Grant 218 - simple answer is they’re playing at home so will be better than today. Also, given how the season has been you can’t take anything for granted. Until we’re properly safe I’m not going to start counting any chickens. This weekend has been great so far, mainly down to West Ham not us.

Also, likely come last game we’ll have no DCL and no FBs. If DCLs got a hammy his season is done. Thankfully we’re at home so can’t see the Bournemouth players being that up for it. No idea what team to play, whichever won’t lose.

Dale Rose
220 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:19:20
Shane.

Interesting point. Keane can get you a goal, Maupay can't. We don't have anyone else. Too much pressure for Simms on this one. I'd rather have Keane fucking up in the front than at the back.

This comment is an appalling indictment on the club.

Shane Corcoran
222 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:32:55
Dale but Simms can jump and head as much as Keane can. He’s also more likely to control the ball and run the channels.
Peter Mills
223 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:37:05
We must beware the slightest hint of complacency, the Bournemouth game will be tough.

However, a decent weekend so far - Everton come from 1-0 down to rescue a point, West Ham come from 1-0 down to win 3-1, Crosby Stuart Under 9s come from 1-3 down at halftime to win 13-3!

Dale Rose
224 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:42:13
I know what your saying Shane, but I just think the pressure would be to much. Not his fault, just lack of games. I hope to see a lot of him next season. I do like the lad a lot.
Colin Glassar
225 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:52:03
If a cat has nine lives, how many do we have? I can’t take the strain anymore. My stomach is a mess and my head hurts. I know Everton like to make us suffer but this is ridiculous.

I think we will draw with Bournemouth. Spurs will be Spurs and batter Leeds (Kane masterclass) and Leicester (after getting stuffed by Newcastle) will win their last game but to no avail as they will be relegated with Leeds and Southampton.

This has to stop here and now or some of us are going to be six feet under very quickly.

Christy Ring
226 Posted 21/05/2023 at 17:56:17
Kieran #215 I know you're having a laugh, but Indiana Jones would be a better option than Phil Jones.
You can question Dyche putting Keane up front, he scored a screamer last season to turn the game against Palace, and he provided the pass for Mina to score, having said that, if Dom is out I'd start Simms next Sunday.
Dale Self
227 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:03:06
I know you all feel it at a different level locally but if I may, we could be at an inflection point only possible through this pain. I think everyone knows the suits’ game is up and it’s down to price and who gets what walking away. If we make it there is little question our ovetall position improves. We may have had to suffer the closest of calls twice to get a change.
Grant Rorrison
228 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:19:26
Denis 223. Yeah, but they've lost 4-1, 5-1 and 6-1 at home in the last 6 weeks or so. Fair enough, they draw with Newcastle last time out but were a bit lucky and the 'bounce' from having a new manager seems to have completely evaporated today. I think it will be too much for them and their fans will be just waiting to turn on them.
Denis Richardson
229 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:30:04
Hope you’re obviously right Grant. After our freak 5.1 result I’m not ruling anything out. Albeit I’ll sleep a lot easier tonight after the West Ham result.

You’d fancy Newcastle to do the job tomorrow to guarantee 3rd so hopefully we go into the last game with it all in our hands.

Also, if the Bournemouth lads know what’s good for them and they want to get out of GP in one piece, they’d better be focused on packing for the beach….

Overall I’m feeling a lot better and given the board won’t even come to the ground you’d hope the club is finally sold in the summer.

Brent Stephens
230 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:42:13
One of the nice little quirks yesterday at Wolves was when we scored. I was on the very back row, about the halfway line. As we rejoiced, I turned around to look at those in the executive boxes behind and just a bit above us. Must admit, I did give it a bit of "up yours". To my delight, one guy in the box proceeded to open his jacket to reveal a top bearing the Everto logo. A satisfied grin on his face but no outward celebration that would presumably have seen him turfed out.

If it was you, dear reader, please step forward!

Nick Page
231 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:50:45
Watching City win another title. Probably the best team in Prem history, and one of the best t🕺club sides ever. But Mansour wouldn’t let Kenwright run the trainset. Meanwhile, we’ve had some good times. Never ever forget Blues, never ever forgive this fucking parasite and his crew for what he’s done to Everton Football Club. Never ever ever. And every single one of you that bought into his lies…. shame on you all. Hopefully you’ve seen the light (I can only pray).
Nick Page
232 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:50:45
Watching City win another title. Probably the best team in Prem history, and one of the best t🕺club sides ever. But Mansour wouldn’t let Kenwright run the trainset. Meanwhile, we’ve had some good times. Never ever forget Blues, never ever forgive this fucking parasite and his crew for what he’s done to Everton Football Club. Never ever ever. And every single one of you that bought into his lies…. shame on you all. Hopefully you’ve seen the light (I can only pray).
Kevin Molloy
233 Posted 21/05/2023 at 18:58:21
Leeds fans in reflective mood
'From 'Bielsa ball to this. I'd rather watch the One Show'.
Relegation just isn't the catastrophe for them that it would be for us. The price you pay for being footballing royalty I guess
Roger Helm
234 Posted 21/05/2023 at 19:07:48
Kevin, are we football royalty? That's nice to know. I know we were good in the past but I thought we were just a medium-sized, badly run, Premier League team who haven't won anything for a generation.
Kevin Molloy
235 Posted 21/05/2023 at 19:14:45
We've amassed more points in the top division than anyone, Roger.

And our league is the oldest in the world.

Kieran Kinsella
236 Posted 21/05/2023 at 19:23:37
Steve Shave,

If you're hoping for despair from Allardyce, you'll be disappointed. It's an easy payday for him. Four games against the Champions, a Champions League team, a European finalist and Spurs. Nobody expected them to survive. If they do, he's a genius; if they don't, he's been in the impossible job. Either way, he gets a fat paycheck.

As for Moyes, apparently he refused to let the West Ham players celebrate after Thursday so they could focus on the Leeds game. I don't imagine that had anything to do with deliberately helping Everton and was more classic dour Davey. But it was to our advantage.

Personally, I'm not in the anti-Moyes brigade. I think he did the best he could with us and better than others have with more money. But I don't pine for his return or indeed any of our ex-managers' return. Even Howard Kendall couldn't roll back the clock.

Ian Riley
237 Posted 21/05/2023 at 20:08:22
The most tragic part of staying up is are we back here this time next season?

Staying up is a must financially and for our great fans but, if real change doesn't come, then staying up will be pointless!

Give me strength and leave David Moyes out of this. If West Ham lost today, so what? It's down to us! The league table never lies.

Sad but true that the David Moyes era was the most successful since the '80s. Yes, very sad! He tried with average and did well.

All I know is, if new owners come in and we keep our Premier League status, then on the field is no quick fix. Buying our way out won't happen. Therefore the manager will need to buy on the cheap and find a style that gets points.

Forget Man City and Top 4 or Top 6. Staying put and being competitive is key. Actually, a manager used to a tight budget and being competitive is required until the stadium and finances are stable.

Really, we all need the season over!!

Mike Gaynes
238 Posted 21/05/2023 at 20:26:07
Sadly, Denis is correct. Assuming competent and well-off new ownership, we can hope for Cup silverware with a lucky run and a return to Europe -- if Brighton and West Ham can do it without oil kingdom ownership, anyone can. It takes planning, discipline and good decision-making in both the business office and the transfer windows. And we can certainly hope new owners will bring both.

But league title glory, I believe, has passed us by forever.

John Chambers
239 Posted 21/05/2023 at 20:30:45
Ian I agree with you completely. We need to do something to break the cycle, starting with being realistic for the immediate future. For next season we need to work out how we can be in the position Wolves and Crystal Palace are, at least it will be less stressful for us all. From there moving into to the new stadium we can look to build to be where the likes of Brighton and Villa are and get some real stability into the club. Only then can we hope to build a team to challenge to get in to the Premier league elite
Oliver Molloy
240 Posted 21/05/2023 at 20:42:44
I think Guardiola is probably the best manager in the world in terms of "total football".

Of course he has always been backed to the hilt in terms of money wherever he has been, but it's no easy task to manage big name players and of course he is totally involved in the hiring and firing of all players and coaching, and there is no doubting this man makes great players even better - I like him!

I think the the holy grail of Champions League winners is nailed on this year - surely they won't blow it this time.

It's a crazy thought, but if the stories are true about the owners of City wanting us before they spoke to them, Guardiola could have been managing us !

Who knows what will happen down the line, but if we stay up next Sunday, as others have pointed out - we have sunk so low that a few pints in the pub celebrating survival in the premier league is the best feeling we are going to have for a right few years !

It is truly awful the downward spiral this great club is and has been on these last five years.

I forgot to add - how the fuck Allerdyce compared himself to Guardiola is not even funny!

Nick Page
241 Posted 21/05/2023 at 20:59:42
Joe, cheers to you too brother. We are all part of the Everton family. It brings tears to my eyes what has happened to us. Which is why I’m sometimes outspoken against some posters - because I want us ALL to do well unlike Bill Kenwright who wants himself to do well and live in the limelight cos he’s a failed actor. I remember standing on my seat in the TB with my Dad - a boys pen regular back in the day - and singing, Hand It Over Liverpool, against QPR in 85. Best thing ever. Ever. Will never forget those memories no matter what happens to us.

Kenwright has a lot to answer for.

Paul Birmingham
242 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:00:10
All in all, a decent weekend, and hopefully now Everton, can turn up and work hard an£ defeat Bournemouth, which will be an achievement, in view of the injuries incurred yesterday.

I’m not convinced that Leeds, have the belief and brains, to beat a flat Spurs, but the last day of the season, always turns up some strange results.

Hopefully this time next week, all Evertonians, are celebrating, staying in this League, and then to gaze, and consider, what happens next. Fair play to West Ham, today, who out classed Leeds.

This club, the Evertonians, can survive these decades of slumber and the last two chronic years, then, we can survive literally, any thing this League can conjure up.

But the board, must be replaced and a new era of rebuilding, no and healing the relationship, with the fans must be a priority. Takeover, part buy ins, who really knows, what’s fact or fiction.

Until, this is achieved, I see the same volatile, gung ho, madness, which has brought the club to its knees.

But one step, at time, and for the Skunks, to beat Leicester, tomorrow night, and then Everton beat Bournemouth, and Spurs can, draw or beat Leeds, next Sunday.

UTFTs!

Raymond Fox
243 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:07:04
Leeds 1/16 to be relegated, Leicester 1/10 we are 3/1 from 5/4.

My old man always used to have a bet on the opposition in important games on the basis if the worst happened he would at least have a little sweetener!
He could swallow losing his money if his beloved team won.

Soren Moyer
244 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:12:27
If the survival can be achieved next weekend (hopefully), and fans invade the pitch, we should target the board instead of singing and such.
It will be the perfect stage to do that IMO.
Matt Stapleton
245 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:17:49
Bottom line unfortunately at the moment is it's still in Leicesters hands. If they win both games we are down.
I won't sit any easier until 10pm tomorrow.
After that I can wait til next weekend before starting to feel sick again.
Kevin Naylor
246 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:18:54
Speaking of odds I think you could probably get 33/1 the board turning up. Disappointed I havent seen a meme of DBB in a Mick Mcmanus headlock.
James Hughes
247 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:43:42
Woke at 4am here in NZ to check the Leeds result a point next weekend should do it as Leeds would have to beat Spuds by 3 clear goals. Can't see that happening

Matt Leicester are crap and won't get anywhere at the Skynks place. They will qualify for CL when they tonight so they will be up for it

Mark Ryan
248 Posted 21/05/2023 at 21:49:17
My neighbour is a big Spurs fan. He said they have no chance of beating Leeds. He said the club is in real turmoil and Kane is wanting away. He said " you will need to beat Bournemouth, 100%" We will get well beaten at Elland Road
Brian Wilkinson
249 Posted 21/05/2023 at 00:17:26
Last season the Palace game was unbelievable, dancing in the streets, same will happen this Sunday and we will hopefully be praising Everton to the rafters.

Then you take a moment and think is that how low our football club has sunk, celebrating escaping relegation for the second season in a row, should we survive, I feel sick just thinking about it, two f a cup finals since 1995, and almost the same amount of time, bar 1 year, we have survived a relegation scare on 4 different occasions.

Was that f a cup final loss to Chelsea our so called good times,because I cannot recall many good times, apart from the odd Derby win or two.

Unbelievable how low our Football club has sunk, something has to be done this summer.

Phil Lewis
250 Posted 22/05/2023 at 01:01:08
Jim #180

Wholeheartedly agree regarding Onana. He definitely weakens us. I'd sell him to the highest bidder. Its almost as if Evertonians are willing him to be something he clearly isn't.

He's slow of thought and movement. He lacks imagination and creativity and far too often simply strolls through a game. The master of the back pass.There is no way in a million years we'd have achieved the Brighton result had he played.

I hear people say, he's one for the future, or he'd look good in a better team. Nonesense. There has been no conclusive evidence whatsoever to substantiate those rash claims.

Against Brighton, quick slick passing, tenacious tackling and lightening reflexes brought the goals.

From what I've seen so far, Onana displays none of those attributes.

Considering that Holgate has previously played well, when selected to play a defensive midfield role by Duncan Ferguson in the past, I'd even give him preference over Onana, if the circumstances demanded it.

Jamie Crowley
251 Posted 22/05/2023 at 03:56:45
Greatest fans on the planet.

Link

Keep the faith. Leicester to lose tomorrow and we beat Bournemouth. There's lots to talk about regarding Everton. But right now there's only one thing I care about - stay up.

Sam Hoare
252 Posted 22/05/2023 at 05:11:17
If Leicester lose tonight then we will probably only need to draw with Bournemouth, unless Leeds smash Spurs which would seem unlikely with Allardyce at the helm.

If we can’t draw at home with Bournemouth when our survival is on the line then we deserve to be in the Championship.

What a terrible season it’s been. I actually think Dyche has done pretty well considering the appalling squad given to him and he’s had a tough fixture list as well. The only result he’s had which was really disappointing was against an annoyingly useful Fulham.

Paul Cherrington
253 Posted 22/05/2023 at 10:04:35
Obviously was hoping for a win at the weekend but will take the point - especially with the way big Yerry snatched it for us at the end. Not always been his biggest fan but he is one of our best defenders and has bags of personality.

although it might not seem much, getting a last-gasp goal like that could really boost the teams mentality going into the Bournemouth game. We should be able to beat them at home and am confident we will - but this is Everton we are talking about!

Injuries are the obvious concern for our last game. I think Patterson and DCL are out if they have picked up hamstring problems. Holgate in at RB for me and Gray in up top. Not ideal but best option for the situation we will prob be in. Just hope Mykolenko is back at LB or it will get tricky again!

I would seriously think about sticking Michael Keane up front in a 2 with Gray if we are losing with 10 minutes to go. Get it long to him and let him knock it down for Gray/Doucoure joining in. He seems to be something of a magnet for the ball in the opposition box (as at the wkd) and has the composure to pick the right option. Good striker of the ball and good header too.

Final comment - I truly fear for DCL's future in top level football. He seems stuck in this cycle of injury, months off, handful of games and then injury again. Been happening for a few years now. Even Dyche's kid-glove approach this time hasn't worked. I think injuries could do for him unfortunately and see him retiring early. Massive shame if that does happen and hope I'm wrong.

Jamie Crowley
254 Posted 22/05/2023 at 13:18:06
Paul -

Your last paragraph I agree with. DCL has been snake-bitten with injuries.

There's simply some players who get hurt more often than not in every single sport on earth. Hell, Everton have had a few through the years: Louis Saha and Darren Gibson spring to mind. Both were damn good footballers - Saha could just score and his touch was immaculate, Gibbo's range of passing and his positioning on the pitch were fantastic. But neither of them could make a difference as they were constantly in the treatment room.

Dom is no different. Amazing hold up play, excellent striker, but continually hurt.

It's sad, but we have to recognize the repetition here and move on. Dom is not an asset because he drains resources (read money) and there's not enough of a return on investment for what we're receiving back. We should be learning these lessons from experiences like Saha and Gibbo.

With a heavy heart and as amicably as is humanly possible, with well-wishes pouring, I'd trade Dom this summer and invest in another striker.

You can have all the talent in the world. If you only play 15-16 out of 38+ games, and you're in and out of the lineup ruining any continuity in the squad, you're not an asset. It's just that simple. Ruthless, but true.

Everton can not afford another season without a goal-scoring striker. Dom's injury woes are directly proportional to where we've finished the last two seasons. And we can't let this shit happen again. Two years in a row is simply unacceptable.

After this season I think we should move on from Dom.

Ernie Baywood
255 Posted 22/05/2023 at 13:50:24
I wouldn't relate DCL's travails too closely to Darron Gibson's. He was turning to the drink; there's no evidence that Dom is doing similar.

But some players do just seem to get injured a lot. James Vaughan had a knack of picking up weird injuries including a severed artery! His style of play probably contributed to that.

I'm hopeful for Dom. The injury (quad) he first had last year is a terrible injury that causes all sorts of problems and takes ages to get right. Hopefully he can have a decent pre season and stay fit. Regardless of who he's playing for.

Still, it's pretty obvious that we need to bring in more than one striker at the club. In fact it's at best negligent or at worst self sabotage that we didn't do it in July or January.

Might be best all round to let Dom move on. But with our budget, can we really trust the club to sign potential rather than another couple of Maupay's?

Danny O’Neill
256 Posted 22/05/2023 at 14:07:58
Some great comments on here. I won't go through them all, but although I didn't get a proper catch up with Rob, great to see you. Especially seeing you gesturing (I won't repeat) at those idiots in the executive boxes as we left the ground who had been giving us uneducated stick throughout the match.

Bellends I think is the Scouse vernacular.

Derek Knox
257 Posted 23/05/2023 at 10:09:52
Danny, 'Bellends' you've been mixing with Rob H then ? :-)

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