Season › 2023-24 › General Forum Champions League Quarterfinals 16/04/2024 Share: TuesdayBarcelona vs Paris Saint GermainBorussia Dortmund vs Atlético Madrid WednesdayBayern Munich vs ArsenalManchester City vs Real Madrid Reader Comments (108) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Rob Halligan 1 Posted 16/04/2024 at 21:20:44 I bet Barcelona are “Hurting†right now. They were leading 1-0, 4-2 on aggregate, but then had a player sent off after 30 minutes, and are now behind 2-1, 4-4 on aggregate. PSG must surely fancy their chances of progressing now. Rob Halligan 2 Posted 16/04/2024 at 21:24:30 PSG now lead 3-1 on the night after a reckless challenge by Cancelo to give a penalty away. Put away by Mbappe. Rob Halligan 3 Posted 16/04/2024 at 21:40:27 Watching this Champions League game between Barcelona and PSG, is really galling for all us Blues. Okay, I know it was nearly 40 years since the European ban, and who knows what would have happened with that great 80s team had they been allowed to participate in the European Cup? I'm convinced we would have won it, and probably gone on to greater things which could have been the catalyst for success for years to follow.All cruelly snatched away from us, through absolutely no fault of our own. Michael Kenrick 4 Posted 17/04/2024 at 21:42:20 Astounding miss by De Bryune of all people! Michael Kenrick 5 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:43:46 Oh my gawd... Terrible Bernado Silva penalty! Michael Kenrick 6 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:48:24 City out on penalties.Carlo Ancelotti rolls on! Mike Doyle 7 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:48:31 Carlo does it … again! Rob Halligan 8 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:48:39 Carlo does it again. 4-3 on pens, but as Michael says, WTF was that penalty by Bernardo Silva? A gentle chip down the middle straight into the goalkeeper's hands. It was a great penalty by Ederson, the city goalkeeper as well. Mike Doyle 9 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:50:31 Rob. I think Bernardo Silva was gambling that the keeper would go left or right. Either that or he's been taking penalty advice from Onana? Svein-Roger Jensen 10 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:51:04 Carlo Magnifico!! Dave Abrahams 11 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:51:53 Michael (5) Reminded of a penalty at Goodison this season, but you expect better than that in a Champions League quarter-final, and by a class player like Silva, did he think the goalie would move? Soren Moyer 12 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:52:08 Pep just learned not to mess with Cosa Nostra. Rob Halligan 13 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:52:50 Mike, more likely been watching Maddison, when he done similar against us last season. Straight down middle thinking Pickford would dive. At least Maddison's had a bit of power, Silva's was like hitting the ball at the goalkeeper in a warm-up. Christine Foster 14 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:52:50 Some Dinosaur that Ancelotti, still, we knew better didn't we? Just class… Michael Boardman 15 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:53:46 Up yours, Premier League.By deducting points from your members, you have put the shits up everyone else.RIP Premier League, and I hope you go the same way as Italy.Sorry, just ranting… Dave Abrahams 16 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:53:54 Mike (9) You beat me to it but only just by seconds!! Jack Convery 17 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:56:08 Masters, how are your big clubs doing in Europe? Will that mean the number of English "Big Clubs" in next season's Champions League is reduced to 3? – I bloody hope so!! Liverpool will hopefully fail tomorrow too. Peter Quinn 18 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:58:03 Good rant, Michael at 15. Taxi for Mr Masters after tomorrow night's games! Mike Doyle 19 Posted 17/04/2024 at 22:58:07 Good point, Rob – that one seems a long time ago, whereas when Everton are on TV, my wife points to Onana and asks if he was the one responsible for the ridiculous penalty.Who'd bet against Carlo winning this (yet) again? Mike Doyle 20 Posted 17/04/2024 at 23:01:23 Dave @16, I just beat you to it because, despite being 60+, I suspect I'm still quicker than most of Everton's forwards (at least the ones Dyche picks every week). Paul Smith 21 Posted 17/04/2024 at 23:04:33 Moshiri is a prick but bringing Carlo to Everton was a wondrous thing. Go and win it again!! Chris Leyland 22 Posted 17/04/2024 at 23:05:32 Thank fuck we haven't got Carlo any more. He's done nothing since leaving us. Rob Halligan 23 Posted 17/04/2024 at 23:13:31 Peter # 18. I can't see West Ham overturning a two-goal deficit against Bayer Leverkusen. As for Liverpool, well we all know how spawny they can be, but let's hope Atalanta can finish the job tomorrow. Rob Halligan 24 Posted 17/04/2024 at 23:15:59 Forgot about Villa. They lead 2-1 going to Lille for their second leg. Not a foregone conclusion by any means. James Hughes 25 Posted 17/04/2024 at 23:32:31 Carlo was the worst thing we have done.He was paid a million a month, bought some crap players and fucked off at the drop of a hat. His football was shite and he also slagged us off after he left. Steve Brown 27 Posted 18/04/2024 at 00:51:41 The Italian Dinosaur does it again! Ian and Darren will be furious. Christine Foster 28 Posted 18/04/2024 at 03:31:34 Hard to believe that only 3 years ago we were 2nd in the league under Ancelotti. Those who broke in to his home have a lot to answer for... I am sure Lampard and Dyche were not too upset.I think Moshiri gave up the dream when Ancelotti left... I think a few of us did. Robert Tressell 29 Posted 18/04/2024 at 03:45:41 Ancelotti left because the money ran out at what he would have realised was a very, very badly run club. Moshiri hasn't invested anything since the last roll of dice spending in summer 2020. Possibly because Usmanov turned off the tap, possibly because it finally dawned on him just how poor the squad was and that it would take more than 𧺬m (without sales proceeds to reinvest) to get us near the Top 4. Possibly because we'd already hit the limits under Premier League rules and had to start selling not spending. Possibly all of that together.Ancelotti is a magnificent manager, it's just a shame our owners were not in his league. Danny O’Neill 30 Posted 18/04/2024 at 06:26:28 I agree with a lot of that, Robert.Ancelotti's record speaks for itself and he knows what it takes to build successful teams. He probably saw what was coming and got an offer from Real Madrid.The perfect storm. Mark Murphy 31 Posted 18/04/2024 at 07:29:56 What does that Man City result mean for the Brentford game?Is it on the Saturday or the Sunday now?? Chris Leyland 32 Posted 18/04/2024 at 08:11:26 Mark - stays as Sat 5.30 David Bromwell 33 Posted 18/04/2024 at 08:40:27 In part I am with James, no 25. I think we were simply used by Ancelotti. He came to us when he and his son were unemployed, and as far as we know they were given very generous terms. He had some success on the field but like so many before and after wasted millions in the transfer market and on players wages. As soon as Madrid came calling he was off without a second thought for us. OK we briefly filtered with football royalty but I wouldn't swap him for David Moyes, who made us respectable and by todays standards very successful. Robert Tressell 34 Posted 18/04/2024 at 08:58:42 David # 33, I expect it was more that we unwisely coaxed Ancelotti to Everton with the promise of funds and ambition. On arrival, he discovers what a mess we are, does what he can with a badly assembled squad, a couple of familiar faces in Allan and Rodriguez and other new players like Doucoure who he'd never even heard of. It soon becomes apparent a club with Top 4 pretensions are barely Top 10 standard and the money has run out for improvements. Hence he reverted to something like Dycheball once opponents cottoned on to the fact that Rodriguez still had a lovely left foot but was a defensive liability. Brendan McLaughlin 35 Posted 18/04/2024 at 09:12:53 David #33,"As soon as Madrid came calling he was off"Actually he "was off" even before Real Madrid came calling. It was in the contract he signed with Everton that he could jump ship if Real Madrid came calling.Although I think it was Carlo who actually called Real Madrid. Brian Harrison 36 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:03:38 Every time I see Carlo Ancelotti on the touchline, I think how lucky we were to get him and how sad that a man who could have built a dynasty just walked away. What happened to make him ring Real and ask were they still looking for a manager I don't know. I suspect that when he was interviewed by Usmanov on his yacht he was probably told he would be backed financially, but I would imagine that starting to plan for the coming season, he knew what he needed and would obviously ask the owners what was his budget for the coming season, upon which the owners said practically nothing.So what was the point of possibly the most decorated manager staying for, managing a club with no money was not something he was prepared to consider having probably being promised the earth when he signed.But I remember reading some of the posts when he was here criticizing his style of football, a serial winner, a manager who had us 2nd in the league on Boxing day and yet some of our fans were giving him stick. Strange how some of them fans were urging us to stick with Lampard and Allardyce and now saying the same thing about Dyche. Ancelotti has won the Champions league 4 times the most of any manager and after the penalty shoot out victory last night who is to say he wont make it a 5th. I don't know how much the burglary at his house when his daughter was at home changed things, and then finding out there was no money in the kitty for the coming transfer window made him walk away. He certainly liked his bike rides in and around Crosby, it was also rumoured that his Son Davide was about to buy a house in Woolton, so until the burglary everything seemed fine.But so Everton to see someone that special being lied to by Usmanov and Moshiri which probably sealed our fate of continuing with a World class manager in charge. Again so Everton we went from the class of Ancelotti and appointed a man who should never ever have been anywhere near the managers job. Les Callan 37 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:15:56 David @33. Therein lies the height of this once great clubs ambition. You prefer Moyes to Ancellotti. Says it all really doesn't it ? Christine Foster 38 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:16:58 David, 33# "l wouldn't swap him for David Moyes, who made us respectable and by todays standards very successful."Sounds like that Ronnie Corrbert sketch..I know my place..I think I know what you mean David, I just can't believe you actually believe it.. Les Callan 39 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:28:59 Well Christine, how apt. Maybe “ I know my place “, should replace NSNO as our motto ! Mark Murphy 40 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:35:22 Thanks Chris - that's the best option for me so I'll plan my weekend now.UTFT Dave Abrahams 41 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:41:54 Brendan (35), A bit of a contradiction there Brendan. Of course he called Madrid, and got paid by Everton, hugely, for ‘ doing one'. Everton would have saved a lot of money if they hadn't asked him to come here in the first place. Dave Abrahams 42 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:49:45 Mike (20), I wouldn't be surprised if you were faster than our forwards, I'm older than you and watching them I know I think quicker than them! Liam Wilson 43 Posted 18/04/2024 at 10:59:33 ACT OF DESPERATION TIME for this Irish OAP I'm going over to GP for the Sheffield United game May 11th, as it will be the last time I will get to see GP before the big move. I haven't been to The Grand Old Lady since 1989, when I lived in Waterloo. Ticket office telling me game is sold out. Any advice lads, would be highly appreciated on how to get a spare. Dave Abrahams 44 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:01:52 Chris (32) Yes City are kicking off at 5-30pm on Saturday but I think they are playing Chelsea in the FA cup. Danny O’Neill 45 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:11:20 Some interesting rumours doing the rounds and as always speculation.Moyes to leave West Ham in the summer and Tuchel to move on from Bayern.I don't profess to have any knowledge and tend to stay away from rumours, but interesting thoughts. Christopher Timmins 46 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:15:41 Carlo's record speaks for itself, he had made life especially miserable for our friends across the Park. When he arrived, the damage was largely done, the Koeman era destroyed us. The absolute madness in terms of player recruitment and contracts offered should used as example for years to come of how not to do things. Big Sam did not help but was not here long enough to do long term damage.Pre Koeman, Martinez never really got his hands on Moshiri's money. Post Koeman and Big Sam, Silva wasn't given the players he needed. Benitez had no money to spend, Lampard had the Dele transfer but no other major disaster signings and Dyche has being living on scraps. If sometime down the road it transpires that Moyes ended up back with us as DOF with Baines as manager, I could live with that. Ajay Gopal 47 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:23:27 Christofer (46), I absolutely loathed the idea of having Moyes back, but my mind has been playing strange tricks with me lately! Moyes with Baines and Coleman as his deputies may not be the worst combination in the world. I agree 100% with you that Koeman was the worst of our managers - such an arrogant a**ehole, who did lasting damage to the club. Almost single handedly responsible for driving away Lukaku and Barkley, disastrous signings, poor work ethic, horrible treatment of Niasse, etc, etc, the list is endless. Robert Tressell 48 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:37:14 I would have thought managerial change is fairly unlikely. If we stay up, Dyche will be recognised as having achieved that in extremely difficult circumstances. If we go down, Dyche will be recognised as having secured promotion twice from the Championship on a very low budget. The real issue is investment (or not) in the playing squad. And the sad fact is that we will sell and be unable to reinvest more than maybe 50% of the proceeds in the playing squad, even if we stay up.Whatever happens I expect we're sort of where Brighton were under Chris Hughton - and are looking (through more patient player development) to get ourselves where Brighton now are under DeZerbi. There's no short cut though, through just switching managers. A switch to Moyes will not generate material change unless it is accompanied by players of the quality of Saha, Yakubu, Pienaar, Cahill, Fellaini, Arteta etc etc. He will certainly have nothing like the quality of Bowen, Kudus and Paqueta to work with. Danny O’Neill 49 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:47:07 As I said, it was speculation but from decent sources. The conversation can wait until the summer and once the ownership is sorted out. Right now, we need this manager to motivate the players he has and get the results we need.I hope those players are hurting as much as we have been since Monday night and come out to show some courage for those 37,000 who will be there again. They owe us big time. Steve Brown 50 Posted 18/04/2024 at 11:56:20 Brian @ 36, a factual correction.Ancelotti called Real Madrid to enquire about a player not the manager position - I assume a loan as he knew by then the squad investment he had been promised was a lie. It was Real Madrid who then raised the potential of moving with him. We paid Ancelotti a big salary to steer us within one game of Europe. We then paid the catastrophic Benitez and Lampard to steer us to the brink of relegation. Ancelotti has gone on to win La Liga and the Champions League (and may do so again this season), Benitez was sacked by Celta Vigo in his first season. Lampard remains unemployed.But the mistake was in hiring Ancelotti. Although it is hard to top David @ 33 who says he wouldn't swap Ancelotti with David Moyes! Tony Abrahams 51 Posted 18/04/2024 at 12:01:58 It would just be Everton to get Moyes, after we have just got rid of the curse of the last quarter of a century, because David was definitely in bed with William, and they kidded a lot of Evertonians, between them.Twelve years without a trophy and he got clapped out of Goodison; just think about that for a moment and then try and get your hands on one of the little videos that is doing the rounds on wattsapp, that Paul The Esk, has made. Dave Abrahams 52 Posted 18/04/2024 at 12:08:50 Christopher (46), Being honest Christopher that 2-0 at Anfield was achieved during a spell when Liverpool failed to win at home for six consecutive games, the 2-2 draw at Goodison was saved by a last minute VAR decision and the least said about the 1-0 loss in the cup game the better.Ancelotti has proved he has been a great manager always managing clubs with money to spare, sacked by Chelsea, ironically at Goodison on the last day of the season, been around a lot and won honours with different clubs, unfortunately we were skint and he did nothing here except lose more money for Everton, although he did very well himself of course as did his son for helping him out ( lol). He came he saw then did one. Danny O’Neill 53 Posted 18/04/2024 at 12:13:36 As we said, Tony, that Esk footage caused watery eyes.Not immediate, but one of the opening scenes of Howard's Way shows black-and-white footage of the 1966 team bringing the FA Cup home.You and I were there in 1984. It is special. An experience I'll never forget. Dave Abrahams 54 Posted 18/04/2024 at 12:15:19 Tony ( 52) FFS will you stop calling yourself an old timer, how do think this makes me feel, I'm in the fuckin' departure lounge as it is, are you coming to take me away. Jesus wept! Stephen Vincent 55 Posted 18/04/2024 at 12:27:51 Liam #43, The resale site will open a week before the game and there are always a few unwanted season ticket seats. You will need to be a member though. Christopher Timmins 56 Posted 18/04/2024 at 12:52:43 Robert #48,If you flipped things around and the last 15 games were the first 15 games of the season and the first 17 games were the last 17 games, then Dyche would not be in danger. Our first 17 games in terms of points won and performances were infinitely better than the last 15. Even when we were losing games, take Fulham early in the season, we were creating loads of chances. That's not happening now.The manager has to turn things around in the next 6 games, I am hoping he does as you simply can't have a scenario where at the end of the season you have played 21 games and won 1 and the manager survives.Dave #53,I was thinking of Carlo's victories in the past few seasons as Madrid's manager rather than the victory in an empty stadium across the Park. He is Mr Pragmatic; however, in saying that, his second half of his only full season with us was a disappointment. He didn't win last night by playing front football, his team rode their luck.Tony #52,I know you are not a fan of Moyes, however, when he walked out the door, he left us in a better place than he found us. Remember Walter Smith's final game against Boro?remember where we were in the League, on the verge of relegation? He certainly left us in a better place than we find ourselves today.Baines, maybe I am hoping for a miracle here, might be our Pep! Rob Jones 57 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:05:17 It really is a generational thing, and this conversation will not die.I'm 35. I would have preferred Moyes that December. He gave me the only Everton I've ever really been proud of supporting, barring a season under Martinez which I loved, but which had enough warning signs of what was to come: Sunderland (H) on Boxing Day 2013, the collapse against Crystal Palace, etc.Ancelotti brought James Rodriguez, the kind of player we'd never have dreamed of signing. He brought eyes to the club. He also spent a lot of money on players (nothing like Koeman, I'll grant you). Everyone acts like his season was a success, that we flirted with European football. The truth was, we collapsed in the second half, and finished 10th. Yeah, sure. Great fucking success. Nil Satis. He brought James, whose wages were outrageous, and who cared about the club so little that he didn't even know who and when we were playing, instead pissing about on a plane.Older fans saw us when the club wasn't a fucking tragedy (or comedy, if you're not a fan), was capable of winning trophies, and wasn't an embarrassing basket-case. I don't blame you for wanting better than Moyes, and wanting a winner. My generation are happy to settle for not being embarrassed. Liam Wilson 58 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:16:02 Stephen@56 many thanks for your advice. Yes, the resale site is an option, next week, but will be expensive, no doubt. Right now, I am just casting my "ticket-seeking" net. My flights and accommodation sorted, now all I need (aside from a ticket) is a local boozer where I can meet other TW supporters, so I can put a face to a name/handle. Joe McMahon 59 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:29:37 Rob@58, absolutely correct, but you also forgot Kanes Yacht with his bikini babes. I still feel the club should have stuck with Marco Silva, and I'm sure we all remember we won at Turf Moor 0 5 when Dyche was there, not to mention the 4 0 v Manchester United. Brent Stephens 60 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:40:31 Dave #55 "FFS will you stop calling yourself an old timer, how do think this makes me feel, I'm in the fuckin' departure lounge as it is, are you coming to take me away."Dave, I just think of you as chronologically challenged. Does that feel any better? Christopher Timmins 61 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:42:26 Joe # 60Given what Silva has achieved in his almost three year spell at Fulham, your case is made. Unfortunately, the supporting staff that he had at Everton let him down.We have been the worst run club in the League for such a long time at this stage. That cannot start to change until Moshiri moves on. Joe McMahon 62 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:43:08 Typo alert@60, James Yacht. It's this bloody phone. Steve Brown 63 Posted 18/04/2024 at 13:55:26 James on his yacht or Straq on his pedalo best sums up the difference between Carlo and Moyes. With Benitez in his arm-bands with the over-65s splash club. John Raftery 64 Posted 18/04/2024 at 14:10:48 In our current state, with the club in financial ruin and a playing squad lacking quality and depth, no manager will be good enough. Each downward twist of the spiral brings a less talented group of players and a new manager every 12 to 18 months. Many rate Gana and Gomes as our best central midfielders. Both are now bit part players. Both were here under Marco Silva five years ago. Despite a small fortune spent on central midfielders since then we are worse in that area than ever. With no money left to strengthen picking up a couple of out of contract journeyman on low salaries will be the only option. That will not come anywhere near to making the team competitive in the Premier League. Of course that will no longer be a concern if we are relegated. Ed Prytherch 65 Posted 18/04/2024 at 14:32:14 Luton have better attacking players and I bet they are not on big contracts. I read that Ross Barkley is on 15K/week. There is a paradigm that we must pay big club wages when we are barely above Championship level. Dave Abrahams 66 Posted 18/04/2024 at 15:32:55 Brent (61) Yes thanks, but I'll let you in on a secret, I know I can trust you to keep it, I'm rolling my eyes and looking upwards, I've been in touch with this professor and inventor and he tells me he is very close to inventing a machine that turns the clock backwards in time. He said I'll be the first to know when it succeeds but it will cost me a good few pound——-You're clever Brent, do you think I can trust him! Brent Stephens 67 Posted 18/04/2024 at 15:49:02 Dave #67 - be careful. Maybe better to pass the money to me first and I'll assess the credentials of this guy first before handing the money over. Dave Abrahams 68 Posted 18/04/2024 at 15:57:44 Brent (68), Thanks, that was something for me to think about, but after reviewing that situation I think I'd be better going to a tattooist and getting “Dickhead†tattooed on my forehead. David Currie 69 Posted 18/04/2024 at 16:31:08 Danny 49,The players should be able to motivate themselves!I remember Alan Ball when managing Man City and, after a heavy home defeat, the reporter asking him "Who will lift the players now?" Ball, quick as a flash, replied "Who will lift the manager?"Tony 52, Good post and I totally agree! Dale Self 70 Posted 18/04/2024 at 16:36:10 Well, what a turn for me. I used to put aside my enmity for the English clubs in European competitions. I believed an extra Champions League spot might benefit Everton sometime. Now, I hope they crash and burn. It is still a joy to read some comments here though. Rob Halligan 71 Posted 18/04/2024 at 17:04:15 Dave, don't trust Brent with your money, he will only use it to buy more pedalos and expand his pedalo empire for use on the River Mersey to ferry people to and from Bramley-Moore Dock from Garston docks! Dave Abrahams 72 Posted 18/04/2024 at 17:13:43 Rob (72), I wish you would have told me sooner, I've bought 25% shares in his new company making them. Brent told me this time next year we'll be millionaires! Brent Stephens 73 Posted 18/04/2024 at 17:19:33 Dave #69 "I think I'd be better going to a tattooist and getting “Dickhead “ tattooed on my forehead."Better than getting "forehead" tattooed on... no, even you wouldn't go that far. Paul Ferry 74 Posted 18/04/2024 at 18:06:28 Lovely stuff, Dave Abrahams (am I allowed to ask if Tony is in your will that is due to be read many years from now?)Moyes rather than Carlo, Jesus wept.And to those claiming that Carlo called Real Madrid asking if they were still looking for a manager. Think about it for a moment. Would he really need to call to find that out?I have heard a different account of that alleged "call" and could those of you who know so much point me to an unequivocal and reliable source for your version of events: that Carlo rang to ask if the job was available? Rob Jones 75 Posted 18/04/2024 at 18:38:55 Paul. Do you honestly think Carlo succeeded here? Nobody in the world thinks that Moyes is a better manager than him. But Moyes would have been a better fit in that period, and for the club, than Carlo was.Carlo dumped us, and then sued us. James and Allan were heavy financial outlays that did not pay off, other than some lovely goals which James scored before his inevitable injury problems. Dave Abrahams 76 Posted 18/04/2024 at 18:44:01 Brent (74), After buying those shares off you, Brent I'm seriously considering doing just that.Paul (75) Yes, Tony is in my will and I think he is trying to push the date forward, there is a couple of £M involved after all, that's what Tony thinks anyway! Rob Halligan 77 Posted 18/04/2024 at 19:44:37 Dave, does Tony know that you only use Roman Numerals when quoting figures? The letter M in Roman numerals is thousand, so really you've only got a couple of thousand quid. I'm sure he won't mind that though! 😄😄 Rob Halligan 78 Posted 18/04/2024 at 19:47:04 Villa close to being eliminated from the Europa Conference League, but have forced extra time at Lille. I can't believe it's 10 years since we took well over 10k fans to Lille, with some reports estimating it could have been double that. Danny O’Neill 79 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:07:44 My son went to the Lille match, Rob.Left Liverpool on the coach at some ridiculous time in the early hours.And they got caught up in the overhanded Police response to football supporters having a day out!! Rob Halligan 80 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:10:43 Jeez, Ismaily of Lille just received a bang off Watkins and has a lump the size of a football on his forehead. Watkins says “What did I do?†🤷â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ¤·â€â™‚ï¸ Rob Halligan 81 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:20:43 Pens for Lille and Villa. Paul Ferry 82 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:22:11 Penalties Villa - just got back from teaching and of course they are 1 up. Paul Ferry 83 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:24:35 Rob you went to Bergamo, didn't you? It's an absolutely beautiful city, not that red shite would understand that. Paul Ferry 85 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:27:39 Martinez loves pens doesn't he and he saves the first. Rob Halligan 86 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:27:49 Martinez sent off during penalty shootout. Who goes in goal? Paul Ferry 87 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:28:14 AND HE GETS A RED!!!! Paul Ferry 88 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:29:23 OVERTURNED Rob Halligan 89 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:29:48 No, change of mind by the ref. Had the card in his hand though. Paul Ferry 90 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:34:05 Bailey misses; Cabella scores 3-3 Rob Halligan 91 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:36:11 Apparently yellow cards in the game do not carry over into the penalty shootout. So Martinez was booked in the shootout, and then goes and saves the final kick. Paul Ferry 92 Posted 18/04/2024 at 20:37:01 Villa through; 2 reds at West Ham, both to coaches. Paul Ferry 93 Posted 18/04/2024 at 21:32:13 Time starting to work against the shite in Bergamo. Tony Abrahams 94 Posted 18/04/2024 at 21:39:01 Only when the fat lady sings with those jammy bastards, Paul, so please be quiet for a little bit longer mate. I'm watching West Ham, but my mind is on time, with that old adage of it only taking a second, making me bite my nails. Paul Ferry 95 Posted 18/04/2024 at 21:40:29 Fair Tony. Lookman on for Atalanta Paul Ferry 96 Posted 18/04/2024 at 21:51:48 Just 2 minutes added on in Bergamo. Moyes loses. Paul Ferry 97 Posted 18/04/2024 at 21:53:23 Shite out 3-1 Rob Halligan 98 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:00:27 Like Tony, I was watching the West Ham game. I knew the shite was still only 1-0 cos, believe me, Ian Darke, the commentator would have been creaming his kecks if the shite had pulled it back. Unlucky West Ham though, ran Leverkusen all the way. Don't know what the semi-draw is, but Atalanta v Bayer Leverkusen would be a good final. Tony Abrahams 99 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:00:58 I thought they were nailed on for that cup, with the final being in Dublin, and just hope another team in blue, can upset the odds and get the Cyndi Lauper, faced bastards, to show their true colours next week! Rob Halligan 100 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:04:44 Plenty of hotel cancellations happening as we speak, Tony! Paul Ferry 102 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:13:44 Imagine going to a final in Dublin! Sorry Rotterdam, no offence intended, I had a great three days and all, but I'd rather have gone to Dublin. Tony Abrahams 103 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:14:25 I'm hoping they are nearing the end of their pact with the devil, Rob🤞I know what you are trying to say Paul, hence my first sentence, but I wouldn't swap my memory of Rotterdam, for anything. John Raftery 104 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:18:36 Rob (76) It could be argued Allan and James were largely responsible for us earning 59 points in that season. Without them we might well have been in a relegation battle. Good players make a difference. Paul Ferry 105 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:20:12 Me neither Tony. Precious. And we did get to go to Dublin! Tony Abrahams 106 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:23:42 I've been turning the clock backwards for years Brent, and still haven't received a penny😢I never got to go to university, Paul, and if that kid, hadn't missed that sitter, in the second leg at Goodison, then we wouldn't have those beautiful memories forever!You know what I'm thinking now, and those bastards call us the bitter ones🤮 Kevin Molloy 107 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:32:08 have Liverpool been knocked out?don't think I can take much more bad news.when sorrows come they come not in single spies but in battalions. Christopher Timmins 108 Posted 18/04/2024 at 22:39:21 I hope the cancellation policy allows for a refund! Dave Abrahams 109 Posted 19/04/2024 at 10:08:30 John (105), Stop it John and behave, we wouldn't have played with nine men and although Rodriguez shone sometimes it also looked like we were playing with ten men when he didn't shine. Allan I liked, I would have liked him better if he had been younger, injuries and age had reduced his effectiveness. We all have our opinions, in hindsight I think Carlo was mostly influenced by the wages offered at Everton, he's not a fool he always looked ahead, look at his contract, he had a way out even before he got here and he would have known what he was getting to coming to Everton just by looking at the previous few seasons of Everton's performances.Look forward to seeing you soon John and we'll have a bit of banter together and drink a glass with a nod to our hero Iwobi, sorry your hero, I only had one hero at Everton and he's long gone: Dave Hickson and I was young and foolish then! John Hall 110 Posted 19/04/2024 at 10:53:46 Dave @110Knew Dave Hickson in his senior playing days and was then well past his prime.Took a few heavy hits from him on a few occasions as a youngster and was hard as nails even in his fifties and was still a fit guy.Wish we had players with a heart as big as his and we wouldn't be in such a shitty mess.Great guy with the kids coaching Junior teams on Rossmore road mud heaps in Ellesmere Port many many years ago.Was Everton through and through.Great attitude, great player who would put his head to anything.Bravery at it's finest and would die for the cause in a blue shirt unlike the imposters who today writhe and wriggle at the slightest touch. Dave Abrahams 111 Posted 19/04/2024 at 11:13:18 John (111), True John, Dave was a lion on the field and a gentleman off it. I used to get on the No 3 bus in St. Anne St, going to Goodison Park and a few times Dave would be on the bus with some other Everton players like John Willie Parker, Jimmy Harris and Ted Buckle, Dave always had time to talk to us kids as did the other players but Dave was our idol.I was sick when he signed for Villa, then Huddersfield but overjoyed when he came back ‘ home'. As you say he gave everything for the Blues including blood a few times, certainly wish he could play, like he did in his prime, for these last six games he'd definitely get the crowd up for those games with his never say die spirit.An absolute beaut Dave the only idol I ever had for Everton although I realised the value of many more players. Dave wasn't the best but I loved his robust style and whole heartedness—— Everton through and through. 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