Everton lose penalty shoot-out at Goodison Park

As Christy says, Godfrey might have been a better fit.

The 3 big centre-backs are a serious goal threat. Very difficult to defend against them, Onana and Calvert-Lewin. I expect that's the logic.

Own-goal from Keane, unlucky… but how many times have we seen that?

Where are you watching please? (Link?)

Did the ball hit Keane? If so, surely he's blameless?

Fulham will be looking to push up more, they got the first half they wanted.

Come on, Dyche, don't let this opportunity slip.

Gueye. Well, at least he hit the target. I honestly expected him to welly it sky-high.

But that Onana penalty… OMG. That was absolutely disgraceful for a big bloke like him.

They'd better get their act together before the Spurs match.

And, I knew Gueye would miss. He can't strike a ball cleanly but at least he fuckin tried his best!!

I love ya.

But just hit it man. You let the team and a million or so Blues down with your fancy-Dan bullshit.

If it's Fulham v Boro in the semis, then it'll be hard to bear.

God above. Really???? Dick move. Sorry, no other way to describe it. Unconscionable.

Can't comment on the game, but I'm disappointed to lose it with what sounds like a couple of shite spot kicks.

What was Onana thinking?? Absolute idiot!

Hope this doesn't affect our league form.

We needed to be more clinical in the first half. McNeil and Calvert-Lewin were off the pace. Beto was better.

Onana not experienced enough for penalties, but he is now.

Actually Fulham played the same in the second half, so they were lucky to get through.

Just when we thought we could win it. Absolute idiocy. What was Onana thinking??

There is still a helluva lot to play for this season. Hopefully players can quickly put this disappointment behind them.

Don't care who he is, he should be dropped for being a smart arse.

Calvert-Lewin was really poor again. No need for penalties if we had a goal-scoring centre-forward.

Gutted as Fulham did not deserve it. They're just shite and the time-wasting was sickening. Garner and Tarkowski should have been ahead of the casual Onana in the shoot out.

Deserves all the shit coming his way.

Casual.

That's all I ever think of when I watch him.

He could be amazing but too often he just isn't and that's because he's too casual, the penalty just sums him up in a nutshell.

Really, Tarkowski was captain tonight, no?

If I'd have been Tarky, I'd have grabbed that ball and just said "this one's mine kid".

There's a lot to be said for old school wellying of the football, Onana's type of penalty holds no place in ANY penalty shootout.

"Really, Tarkowski was captain tonight, no? If I'd been Tarky, I'd have grabbed that ball and just said "this one's mine kid".

Tarkowski likely would have been red-carded for that seeing as he had just taken a penalty for us beforehand. But it would have added to the spectacle certainly.

Tarkowski took the penalty after Onana.

He should have taken that ball to send us to the semi-finals.

We are the Dave TV of football – repeating the same shit season after season.

Disrespecting your teammates and the club because you know you're good and you'll be fucking off to a club who deserve you, rather than the peasants you're currently gracing your presence, however...

Well, I'm glad we're away on Saturday. Because Goodison may be quite annoyed at Onana...

Gutted, but we move on. Premier League survival is the most important thing. And there were positives. We got a goal back against a team sitting deep. Beto scored again.

You big time Charlie …. Smash the fucking thing, I hope Dyche gives him down the banks after that.

We missed the Duke tonight.

Sorry, mate, I misremembered it.

It was disgraceful that a full international player who has scored goals before, believed he could beat an experienced keeper by passing it to one side of him.

Sell him in January. I'm so fucking angry.

Garner is a great deadball striker. No idea why he didn't take the fifth.

Very frustrating but penalties are always a coin flip (in theory) and we shouldn't have let it get to that point.

We're still a team that struggles when chasing but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water; it's been a very good few weeks. We move on.

The order of the penalty takers is given to the referee and his linesmen before penalties are taken.

I think it sums up his time at Everton.

There's an athlete there that's clear but he could and should be so much more in games but that he isn't is because of moments like tonight when he is casual, lazy with the ball…

Well, tonight it's been put under the microscope and unfortunately I don't think he'll be allowed to forget it that quickly, which is a shame because lately he's done okay.

As I say, footballers mate, dickheads with no brain some of them.

The sooner we get out of Goodison the better. It's seen far more disappointments than "Good Times".

Remember a few years ago with Moyes and the FA Cup QF v Wigan…

I never like penalty shootouts but we had this in the bag if Onana scored. What the fuck was he thinking? Anyone's granny could have hit a better effort!

'Gutted' is an understatement!

Ian @ 39, it is not often I agree with you, but yes, I think he believes he is better than he is!

Trouble is wherever we go we snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The sight of Lampard Senior nodding in the winner for West Ham at Elland rd to knock us out the fa cup still haunts.

Then the dreadful Liverpool ties, Villa doing us at OT in the league cup final, umpteen other lower division tonkings and as you rightly say Wigan at GP. Bar big Joe and for a fleeting moment Martinez we've cornered the market in jelly fish impersonations.

The financial implication of BMD absolutely terrifies me I really don't want to dwell on the disasters a continued lack of meaningful cash will bring.

Ah well, at least I've gone beyond being surprised

Penalties should be a lottery but Onana kind of took things into his own hands.

I don't like anyone trying to be 'cool' with a penalty. But I'll never get why footballers don't see that there are ways to miss a penalty. Doing something silly that will be criticised isn't the way to go.

He's a bit of a fool.

1. The referee didn't have a clue how to referee a match, he shouldn't be refereeing Sunday games
2. DCL was way off tonight, not even chasing some thru balls.. OK most were over hit but he looked like he was carrying a knock.
3. We missed Doucs badly
4. The time-wasting by Fulham was ridiculous and unpunished. If he had booked Leno for his first 60 seconds to take a goal kick he wouldn't have done it again.
5. Have I mentioned the ref?
6. Onanas penalty was him trying to show off and he has cost us the semi final place...

The end..

EDIT: cooler head. I take back some of the comment I made earlier. The penalty was absolutely shit, but still... overreaction on my part.

Penalties are really a lottery and we should never be angry with the unfortunate said player missing one.

Let's not forget, Onana was our best player away at Burnley and was instrumental in getting us victory. Cut the lad some slack FFS!

Keep going back on the site for some comfort from other posters but it’s not working

No chance of going to sleep anytime soon

Everton, the club that just keeps letting you down, it’s the hope that kills you

I had a feeling the curse would strike again, until I sat outside Goodison, listening to the penalties on my car radio, whilst waiting to pick my kids up, but then I heard a moan, and then Onana, getting slated for what they described as a very arrogant penalty.

I feel sick for the people who have still never seen us win a trophy, but I’ve been feeling uneasy for most of the day, after reading ToffeeWeb, and realising I don’t seem to have a lot in common with quite a few Evertonians, anymore.

Painful one, but we go again

We were desperate for a bit of creativity, and also missed Doucouré’s energy.

“Onana made a twit of himself” was the consensus of the people around me. At least I think that’s what they were saying. I have to agree.

We have won just 6 of the 18 competitive penalty shootouts we have encountered.

I actually think he shit himself and bottled the pen. No way has he practiced taking that type of pen.
That's as bad a pen as I can remember.

More worrying is that the small squad looks very stretched and very tired. The games are coming thick and fast and we have run out of steam after a massive last month of effort.

Plus points, Branthwait is back and covered for Myko very well.
Beto looks sharper even though he is very raw. Another 90 mins for Patterson won't hurt him.

It is what it is, but when it comes to decisive penalties like that, give me a hairy arse and old school thumper.

Generally agree. We looked dodgy with McNeil at Burnley and they didn’t punish us. He wasn’t really defending neither was he attacking he seemed lost and had little impact. With Duke out no one had his pace or eye for goal from midfield. Also, the remaining starters have played a lot of games very well in the last month. We just don’t have the quality in depth to mix it up and bring in fresh legs. Ironically, after years of lacking attackers all we had on our bench were attackers. No midfielders or defenders with any kind of experience.
Frustrating to level so late, miss the chance for the winning pen and then lose. Unlike others, RS or not I feel like we’d have had a good shot in f winning the whole thing had we won this one.

Onto the penalties and we scored for good ones, Pickford’s save took us one step from victory but that fifth penalty was dreadful and we lost out on a potential chance of getting through to a Wembley trip.

One fan on the live forum unbelievably blamed Dyche for putting Onana in the position of clinching the game for Everton.

I expected someone of a Joe Royal persuasion
Just wellie it right down the middle goalie and all

Just never really got going.
Fulham were poor and there for the taking as per the league game
As for their injury antics and time wasting from the first minute, well a disgrace

Everyone in tomorrow. Forget this game, it’s gone.
Total focus on another massive game at the weekend. Fingers crossed Doucoure and Myko are back

I, like many was almost convinced, based on recent performances, that we would emerge as victors in a hard fought encounter, winning by a one goal margin. Sadly that didn't transpire !

Could have, should have, would have, in normal time, if chances and passing, not to mention penalties, had been up to standard !

One good thing, I hopefully will NEVER hear again, " We did it for Bill ", in the Premier League or forthcoming FA Cup !

Have to say though Anthony Robinson looks like one that got away from us.

A final note, whoever came up with the rule of a player having to wait 30 seconds before coming back on needs scrapping, two of our players taken out, yet we had to weather the storm of two defenders on the touchline.

Derek, we went weeks without the jinx being mentioned, cannot wait for his mush to go off the site.

Even not knowing at the time that Onana had zero pen experience, just based on watching him play, he would have been last on my list to take one, behind Tarks and Garner and even Pickford, whom I was openly calling for to take the fifth one. Onana is NOT a lackadaisical player, he's a passionate and excited one who has become a vital cog in our midfield, but I've never seen him hit a decent shot, let alone take a free kick. I have no idea what he showed in training when they were practicing pens, but I'll bet that wasn't it.

Yeah, I was furious with Onana for that diddlyshit attempt. I have a visceral dislike for that dancing crap over a pen. Bruno Fernandes has 150 top-level goals, Onana has maybe six, and it was a ridiculous imitation to try. But he should never have had that ball in his hand, and that is 100% on Sean Dyche. Onana was in front of the stands apologizing to the fans afterwards. Dyche should have been standing there next to him.

I read something similar. Hopefully that’s not the case as Gueye will be off to Ivory Coast meaning we are even thinner in midfield. I know Thelwell said with everything going on we may not do much in January but if we can find a few quid another Center mid on loan wouldn’t go amiss.

We played poorly but ran our socks off. Then Billy big bollocks decides he will hand our best chance of lifting a trophy in years to Fulham by his showboat penalty taking.
Yes, I'm not really upset.
Apologies for the language.

In a sense we did it for Bill. Plucky little Everton bravely bowing out on penalties to a mediocre team. Wasn’t that penalty loss to Fiorentina one of our “great times.”

Mike, on Onana never having struck the ball well. I raise you DCL and he’s our designated penalty taker somehow. I much preferred the long line of LB penalty takers: Rhino, Ball, Baines. Too bad Myko was injured.

Here are my thoughts: 1) Tarks should gave taken the 5th penalty 2) The miss might do Onana good and remove that “mini Pogba” vibe he sometimes displays 3) DCL needs a rest for 1-2 games at some point (but not now) 4) If we score first great, if we don’t we tend to lose 5) Mentality is the issue Sean Dyche and Thelwell are still working on with the squad and the culture in the club.

My main hope is that this doesn’t affect league form.

By the way, I can’t even remember the last time we won a penalty shoot-out. Chelsea away in the Cup under Moyes? My son tells me it is 6 won out of 19 shoot-outs.

I only remember two. Man Utd in the FA Cup semi and the “big one” Juventus in the MLS CUP when stones Panenka’d Buffon. Obviously the stakes weren’t as high but imagine if Buffon just stood still and caught that. While imagine if the Fulham goalie dived and Onana casually rolled it in as various other penalty takers have been doing of late? Funny thing about penalties. Whether you smash it or get clever if it goes in you’re a hero if it doesn’t you’re a twit.

Good point on DCL and Onana, but at least Dom knows what it feels like to take a pen. To this moment I can't believe our "winning" spot kick was assigned to a guy who had never done it before.

'Tame' penalties...and that was one of the tamest I've ever seen...are usually a result of a last second mind change...been there - done that, so I have some sympathy.

Two 'Carthorse' defenders nonchalantly bury theirs in the roof of the net, yet a midfielder destined so some say, for big things, gives his detractors more ammo.

But just as we win as a team we must accept that we sometimes lose as a team

Onana & Keane; heroes Saturday, villains Tuesday.

Of all the seasons to take this club into at least a semi final he pulls that stunt. I hope he apologises.

The Carabao semi would have been shoe-horned in between the games against Palace (A), Villa (H) and ironically Fulham (A), also coinciding with the start of he African nations cup thing so we know we would be without Gana. Doucourie will likely still be out - or at best just getting back - by mid Jan and who knows what injuries and/or suspensions etc we might collect by then.

Eight matches in a little under 6 weeks should not be the 'be all and end all' but as we know this is a thin squad which seems to me to be starting to creak a little despite the heroics of the last month.

I'm happy that we can concentrate on winning league points but remain shocked by last night's outcome. I still cannot get my head round what Onana was trying to do. "Weird" I described it last night.

I hope he learns from this and gets his head and feet firmly planted back on the ground and continues to play like we've seen he can, and with the FULL support of the fans as well.

Live and learn, young man. Live and learn.

A great moment of form but, when handed with a glorious opportunity like that, we always try to find that one way not to win.

It's a long-running tradition at this club sadly, hard-luck tails, finding a way to lose when winning is easier.

Sadly some clubs just have that winning ability and some have that losing mentality regardless of history or recent successes — it's just the way it is and Everton Football Club is one of those haunted by failing.

As for Onana, I don't want to go there again but I have got to say that constructive criticism is expected, it's not abuse, it's basically needed so that, if ever he does participate in that kind of situation again, that he doesn't repeat such a daft pathetic thing.

I was 25 last time we won a one-off cup, at this rate I'll be in my 60s next time we win something. Let's get out of Goodison, it’s a fecking curse.

We created chances and looked solid defensively.

Kim 96, looks Doucoure will be back long before mid Jan.

Yes, it was a poor penalty, but we've all seen many of those over the years. We'll see them again. He was too casual or possibly froze on the occasion. As frustrated as I am, I won't be too harsh on young Onana, who had the weight of expectation baying down on him from the Gwladys Street.

I just knew Gueye was going to miss. I could sense it watching his body language as he took the long walk. Although admittedly he was an inch away, striking the post.

I couldn't travel last night and it's very different watching it on the screen.

A poor and scrappy game and we took a while to get going. Just like the opening fixture this season, I was getting frustrated at the continuous long diagonals into the land of the giants. Their centre backs coped, their keeper collected. We should have changed it.

Beto took his goal well. When he came on, he added a different dynamic and gave those two giant centre-backs something else to think about. He's a powerful brute of a forward.

On the Keane own-goal, I appreciate that if a cross comes in at pace, it can be difficult to react and he got caught with it deflecting off him. Not quite a Terry Darracott 1977 moment, but I did think at the time, he could have ushered it out with his stomach or chest for a corner. As it happened, it comes off his chest and in the net. Body shape and position in terms of the way he was facing? I'll have to watch it back when I feel up to it.

All irrelevant now. It's gone for another season. We move on.

We didn't lose a game of football in the 90 minutes (+7). I'm not a fan of penalty shootouts. I don't know what the alternative is but I don't like them. It might be the rules and exhilarating when you win them, but it's an awful way to lose a game you technically didn't lose. I prefer extra time and replays, but that won't fly in the modern game.

I'm also not a fan of stats, but it was an even, albeit poor, game. We had 10 shots off target, they had 5. We had 2 shots on target, they had 1. We both had 2 corners. Possession was roughly 50-50 with us just edging it, although I must admit, both teams kept giving away possession easily.

So as much as we are disappointed, we shouldn't be despondent.

Lick the wounds, dust ourselves down, pick ourselves up, and go again. Tottenham, Man City and Wolves with 9 points up for grabs then into the FA Cup.

There is still a lot to play for.

It was mate.

To send your team into a rare Semi-Final, believe me mate it was a bad penalty.

I agree that he should not have been taking that penalty but having a pile on by characterising it as being either casual or showing off is neither fair nor helpful as I see it.

Hopefully it helps build his character and hopefully we keep playing well. It was a close game that we had marginally the better of.

A very scrappy match, 5 at the back with Gueye and Onana in midfield together doesn't work. Should start Godfrey at left back on Saturday instead of Keane, if Mykolenko isn't fit, we're a lot more offensive with McNeil on the wing.

I really hope so, but I'm hearing a month, and with a hamstring (if that's what it is) we may just be seeing him getting eased back in then. Not uncommon for them to break down again.

A penalty taken in the style of a hospitality supporter who'd been at the Merlot before a half time pen competition.

Dreadful. Then again why was he even taking it?

I was a dreadful footballer. One day we ended up in a shootout. Manager asked for volunteers. When we volunteered, he asked us what we were going to do. Anyone who wavered was passed over for another player. I told him I was going to twat it. It went in.

I wouldn't have let Onana or Gueye near a penalty, but we don't know who hesitated, looked away, hid when the question was asked.

Dreadful game, dreadful finish.

We should have played 4-4-1-1 and taken the game to Fulham. In my opinion, we would have had more possession and beaten them.

Like others, as a lifelong Everton fan, I was looking forward to us being in a semi-final.

As for Onana, it's all been said. At least use some power instead of trying to pose.

A big game coming up against Tottenham.

I've always felt cup games are a bonus, and the league is the only thing that really matters, and never more so than in 2023.

We need to be in the Premier League for the money it brings, and with our perilous state, ownership issues and new stadium to worry about, a cup run is nice, but not what's going to help us long term.

Onana made a mistake, he's a young, fallible human being and he'll learn from it. No bad feeling towards him from me. We need to continue to get behind the players from here on in, and we can still have some potential fun & games in the FA Cup too.

A missed opportunity again perhaps, but it's no great shakes in my view regarding the longer game we're playing.

Gana's miss is more forgivable.

Its gutting that we're not in the semi's but there are positives to take - we are a competitive team nowadays, despite the injuries. I haven't seen that since Carlo's 4 centre-halves were grinding out results (the ugly way!).

5 more matches in the space of just 3 weeks will likely produce more casualties and suspensions (hopefully nothing major), so Dyche will need to manage the squad accordingly.

Before the game I said it was best to go with Keane and Godfrey, three at the back, and Beto to start.I thought when I seen the team selection that maybe Dyche was determined to win and was conscious of Fulham's mobile attack and the weakness of a back three on the wings..He got it wrong.Keane in a back four is always a spare tool that does not know his place, and without Doucoure Everton were playing on the back foot, with Everton's forward play adding to Fulham's defence.Keane did get forward to try to bolster the attack, but there was no rhyme or reason to it. With McNeill so off form, there was no effective attack.The midfield was ok, but had no forward outlet, until Beto came on.The game should have been won before penalties

Those Geordie maggots went out in similar circumstances, and also the penalty miss by Onana didn’t cost us our premier league status, unlike another weak penalty miss by James Maddison against us last season, which, had he scored, would more than likely have sent us down and kept Leicester up.

We had the better chances (again) in normal time against Fulham and showed character to get level and force pens. We also kept going to try and win it late on. Obv in the PL this would be a point.

As for the pens, we scored 6 out of 8 and hit the post. Pickford got close to the majority of theirs, and got a hand to two of them, but most of Fulham's pens were very well placed in the corners. I really hope Onana can shrug off the miss, he was trying to do something clever I think which shows confidence. Had it come off, he's 'ice cold', it didn't so he's getting slammed which is pretty harsh - granted I'd have preferred he just slotted or smashed it, but he didn't.

Ultimately though, what Dyche will be very clear on is that we win or lose as a team and a club, and we need to suck up the disappointment and push on for the next 2 league games. Both are tough, but Spuds are vulnerable defensively and City look at their most fragile for some time and could be pretty knackered post Club World Cup.

Either the long ball to him isn’t working as well (he seems to be mistiming his jumps again) or he is playing poorly. Or both. Trouble is, I’m not sure Beto has a full effective 90 minutes in him.

Perhaps time to try.

“ He’s not a lazy player, he’s a passionate player who has become a vital cog in our midfield” maybe to you he has, he’s had two good games in the last few, he was casual all night in the game before he took casual to a new height and fucked the penalty up with his ‘ watch me kid the ‘keeper’.

He’s a player who thinks he’s a lot better than he is and I’ll stand by that until he has a good go for Blues for ninety minutes plus in every game not go missing like he did tonight for large parts of the game as well as his five yard passes creating nothing.

I hope the fans on here are correct and he goes for the huge transfer fees they are quoting in January, I’ll be amazed if we get that sort of fee for him but very, very grateful. and we get two two ninety minute professional players in with the fee.

As for Dyche should have been on the field apologising with ‘ your man’ Dyche doesn’t do that sort of thing he’s a pragmatic man not an egotist like the man you see no wrong in.

Publicly, at least, there was no criticism of Onana.

“His record has been very strong in all the (training) rounds and that is his style,” said Dyche. “If you are brave enough to get up there and take one, you are brave enough to take the consequences.”

Clearly Onana used that style to successful effect in practice but it just didn’t come off last night.

Really Paul ? So fans who have no other option but to "move on" are the reason we don't win trophies ?Glad you pointed that out before the FA cup comes around. At least we know that if we all start bleating and whining over and over again about a young players stupidity we'll be guaranteed to win it..There are only two types of penalties. Good or bad. The record books don't register technique, attitude, or even bravado.

My annoyance with Onana has already subsided. There is no mileage in it. If we are to get the best out of him in future, it would be far more beneficial to forgive and encourage than to slaughter him. He will wake up a wiser man today. If he didn't know last night how desperate we are after 28 years. He will certainly know this morning.

If our club is to ever end it's trophy drought. We will do it like every other successful club in history. We will do it by picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves down. Even in seemingly endless times of adversity. We keep trying.

Danny is 100% correct. We move on...Not because our fans are not bitterly disappointed, but because sport doesn't give you an option. Move on or die

I like Onana. He has a great personality and we've all seen him engaging with young fans etc. However I do think he has a pretty big ego. I've no doubt he wanted the last penalty and chose to make it about him by trying something fancy rather than getting the job done. He wanted the moment for himself which cost the fans and his teammates. If they've have practiced pens in training as Dyche says I can't believe Dyche or Stone would sign off that type of penalty at such a critical moment. He rightly deserves a bollocking.

Should the RS find themselves in a similar situation against West Ham tonight I think we can all predict the outcome.

More interesting, I thought, was watching how our team shape functioned, or rather didn't, without Doucoure supporting DCL. DCL spent most of the evening ploughing a lonely furrow and kept quiet by the excellent Tosin Adarabioyo.

It was all there for us too... maybe next season?

Finally to penalties, don't know who or how the decision for the penalty takers was decided but I couldn't believe Tarkowski wasn't given one of the first five. The Onana penalty was just breathtakingly arrogant, and as usual he wanted it all to be about him. I read many posts since he arrived suggesting he is going to be a great player, believe me I have ben lucky to see some great midfield players for Everton starting with Bobby Collins, and Onana is nowhere near being a decent player never mind a great player. To be honest for large sections of the match he forget he is even on the pitch, don't remember to many good midfield players being as anonymous as him, never mind great ones.

To often of late have many of our supporters have made very average players into icons starting with Duncan Ferguson, as Joe Royle said he became a legend before he became a player, and sadly I see the same status being used for Onana.

Onana vastly reduced his chances of scoring by taking that type of penalty. If you hit the ball above half way and either side of the keeper you will invariably score, as the keeper will almost always dive low either side. It doesn't even have to be right in the corner. They should all be capable of that.

If Onana was feeling the pressure, the last thing he should be trying is something like that.

A bit like Duncan Ferguson, they are / were mostly ineffective having long balls hit to them in central positions. Defenders either eat them up or just wait for the second ball.

Dominic is much more effective when he's in the box and balls come in from the flanks. Duncan was in a different way.

Daves (C & A), I agree on both counts. Encourage a very young player. Yes he needs to mature and be more consistent, but encourage and support him.

This one is gone now. Tottenham on Saturday. If anyone doesn't fancy it, just let me know.

For me it show the togetherness we've been, that the players give a shit and are as devastated as the supporters. For the supporters

Let them recover and get ready for Tottenham.

As agonising as this was, I wouldn't want it disrupting to bond we've built between team and supporters in difficult times. As Dave Cashen says, the best thing we do now is keep behind them and that includes Onana.

When I speak to Everton supporting mates, win/lose or draw, reactions are far more measured than what I see here.

Carabou Cup? Nah, not that bothered personally. My biggest issue from last night is whether it affects our league form. Also slightly concerned that Keane is making his way towards the first team again and we look tired and short on numbers.

Onana has played great for us this year. Made a mistake last night, he doesn't need people on here to tell him that. Hasn't anyone else made a mistake at work or at home? Yeah, thought so. Have him practice penalties, move on.

The deciding penalty to take your side into a Cup semi-final? Not so clever.

You might not be bothered, but I certainly am. Yes, I make mistakes at work and at home, and if they are f*cking stupid ones I expect to be pulled up on them.

Onana is getting stick for a very poor penalty, who else is getting ‘ Hung, drawn and quartered’ ?

We lost a match we could have won but nothing to get really upset and down about, I wanted us to win last obviously otherwise I wouldn’t have gone but my priority is staying in the premier league, this defeat doesn’t run deep.

By the way Onana had a poor game beside the penalty.

Onana may become a very good player one day, and he'll hopefully learn from last night - like when to showboat and when not to. Does he want to become a Viera or a Pogba? Depends on what he learns from these type of setbacks.

Instead he is in his own box, on the wings running channels..I thought we stopped doing that a decade ago.. but no..I think his main purpose in life is to help win the 2nd ball.. disrupt, it isn't.. the onion bag remember?

The service to him was woeful last night, poor crosses and hit and hope balls from Pickford, Keane or Twarkoski hoping for a knock down.. soul destroying for the crowd and DCL..

Patterson delivery was poor last night, DCL gave up after 30 mins.. we have to play differently to use our strengths, DCL can score goals but not if he is running channels or knock downs from hit and hopes. Poor tactics, very poor..

Might add that Duncan Ferguson in his last season cut a poor figure, he was penalised every time he fought for a ball, jumped or competed in the air.. the days of physical challenges are over, why are we still trying to use the same tactics when the game has changed?

Should Onana now be sold in January as one poster suggested? That idea is so bad it's embarrassing.

Is he arrogant because he tried to take a slow penalty? No idea, I'm not in his head and neither are the posters who are saying he's arrogant.

Did he play well against Burnley? Yes. Plenty on here raving about him.

Did he play well when we came on against Newcastle? Yes, I watched him in that game and he didn't put a foot wrong.

If he isn't playing well, how come he keeps getting linked with bigger clubs than us? He's one of our best young players. Dyche will be as desperate to keep him as he will be to keep Brainthwaite, Garner etc.

I'll say it again, he doesn't need posters on here telling him he made a mistake last night. He already knows, and I'm sure Sean Dyche will be telling him that when the time is right.

Dominic doesn't have the full spectrum like Harry Kane.

He is an in the box striker and that's where he should be.

I'll glad when the Tottenham pre-match thread goes up. I need therapy and to focus on Saturday!

“ He never put a foot wrong against Newcastle” turn it Jimmy he makes mistakes in every game he plays, like other players, still goes missing in every game, Doucoure makes loads of mistakes in every game but I suggest he is missed a lot more than Onana when he doesn’t play.

I think he does need telling he makes mistakes and plenty of them beside the penalty because his ego won’t let him believe he is responsible for any mistakes.

All players make mistakes agreed. But he didn't make many, if any, against Newcastle, and he also made one crucial intervention in the box when it looked like a goal was certain. I think he suffers from the over-expectations of his fee and the Toffee Web fanbase, he's a young player clearly still learning.

So you would sell a first eleven central midfielder, when we are already thin in central midfield, in January? Really? And you would buy who exactly? And would Dyche even see that money considering where we are with FFP? Sorry mate, but I'm glad it's Kevin Thelwell and not you who's overseeing our transfers.

You're right of course, and I'm not worried about him. Shudder to think how Keane would have handled that one.

I remember when Dyche arrived and he talked about keeping the players on more of an even keel, win/lose or draw. He'll be doing that today at Finch Farm I should imagine.

Maybe he needs to do some work on that with the Toffee Webers too :)

What I would like to change is that once Everton is sold, that everyone stops talking about the biggest curse in our history, (again imo) and concentrate on what they have been doing since we got the ten point ban, which is uniting behind the team.

I said it on Saturday night after the Burnley game, that with some people starting to talk about Everton winning a cup in honour of Bill Kenwright, that this just reminded me of the scene from the Bronx Tale, when everyone just started ripping up and throwing away their betting slips, when they suddenly heard the local jinx, shouting the leading horse home.

I will definitely never have anything in common with any Evertonian, who is scared of playing Liverpool, (some people actually claim Liverpool are our biggest curse) and this is also something I read on these pages yesterday.

I want Everton to get rid of sentiment, and I want Everton to turn into a football club that really wants to win again, and I want to see people come into our football club with a genuine plan, because I don’t think this has been the case since Sir John Moores left.

First question I asked my oldest lad after I had listened to him calmly say Onana was an arrogant footballer, who hasn’t earned the right to take such a ridiculous penalty, was what side did Antony Robinson, hit the ball, after I had heard on the radio that he had sent Pickford the wrong way?

I asked for a reason because I have been watching the young American fullback, a bit closer recently, because Mike Gaynes, sings his praises, and my stepson who is currently a pro footballer, came home from Anfield the other week and praised his performance against Liverpool.

I told my stepson that if Robinson, can play in the Premier league, then I also believe he can, because they have both got very similar attributes imo, (both quick, both strong and both very left footed) especially because I think Robinson is very stiff, and not the most technical imo.

I bet yer Robinson put his penalty to Pickford’s right, I said? Yeh he did yeh. I knew that without seeing, I said, how he asked? Because he’s stiff lad, he doesn’t look like he can strike across the ball.

Attention to detail goes along way in professional football, and my attention yesterday was that once people started bringing up Bill Kenwright, I just had a feeling the curse would return last night.

As for who that player would be I’d trust Thelwell and Dyche to have the answer to that, along with another player for two or three positions providing some club comes in for this marvellous player you see despite him suffering? Jesus, from the over expectations of his fee and the Everton fan base and he is a young player still learning, you got that last part right he’s got a bleedin lot to learn, with the main part being you play for the team and not yourself, mind you as Mike Gaynes said not long ago ‘He’s one of us’ he’s not he’s for Onana and the future great player he is going to become, scratch that, he already thinks he is that great player!

Just like with England in the Euros, it should have been the captain or someone more senior stepping up before Onana. Was screaming for Tarks and Garner to take instead. Deadball guys should alway be in the first 5. Fact.

I don't blame Gana. We were down to the bones by then. Surprised when centre-halves don't step up because, in my experience, they always leather them and almost always score when they do. Daft way to exit.

Dyche said that he scores them exactly like that in training but IMO when there's so much at stake, like there was last night, you reduce the chance of a save by as much as possible and smash it.

He's 21 (I think) and a bit immature by the look of things. I hope he learns from it.

What concerned me just as much last night, and I don't know if anyone else has brought this up, but Calvert-Lewin did something I never thought I'd see him do and that was (how to word this) not commit 100% to that 50/50 with the Fulham goalie.

It seems that Dyche "may" have seen it that way too as he was substituted very soon after. Admittedly, Calvert-Lewin didn't get much service at all last night but I think he was subbed round about the hour mark, and as I say very soon after the 50-50, which is unusual for Dyche.

Keeping hold of the stiff left back, Scouse / USA international would have saved the club over £50M!

The lad never got his chance with us through the usual injury, manager buying in ready-made players etc.

Your stepson, like all young footballers, needs to have a large slice of luck to make it in the game. Fitness, hard work, resilience and arrogance are the minimum. Good luck to him.

Not only can we not do that, we have players who are playing on the edge, like Doucouré and Calvert-Lewin. As such, going out like that to a good side is no disgrace.

Yes, Dominic didn't go in with any real intent for that 50/50 ball. I like Dominic but I was up out of my seat screaming at him for that.

I like Dominic and I wasn't the only one having a go at him for that, he doesn't usually shirk challenges like that.

Never seen that film but will have a look out for it, but did notice your comment a few days ago, similar to my way of thinking.

Let's hope now we move on and do it for the fans and the football club.

If we get a result against Spurs, we will all be over the moon!

How about moving Onana on in the summer if a big offer came in, once of course you've identified a replacement and been guaranteed that you'll actually get the money back off the owners to spend, and that we're not in danger of breaching FFP again, oh yeah, and that we're still actually in the Premier League?

Nah, sell him now while we're still in a relegation fight, we're short on numbers and January, as everyone knows, is the worst time to buy players.

Come on, be sensible. There would rightly be uproar if that happened and we went down.

Looks like Onana could be off. His agent has met Barcelona representatives over a transfer in January or the summer.

Tarkowski should have been lined up to take the fifth penalty. It is not always the decider but it often is. I would have expected our most senior player on the pitch to take responsibility rather than a young man who has yet to mature into a professional who can be relied upon to treat the game seriously.

In the end, we were not good enough in the 99 minutes of regulation play to beat a team roughly at the same level as us. Although we had an equal share of possession, control and composure were lacking at vital moments.

We were not helped by the absence of three first-choice players; Young, Mykolenko and Doucouré. Although Patterson at right back and Branthwaite as a makeshift left-back did not let the side down, we badly missed Young's composure, Mykolenko's drive and Doucouré's energy.

So far, we have failed to win any of our league games immediately following a League Cup tie. Perhaps we can change that at Spurs.

We all mostly agree on what we think happened over decades of neglect, culminating in the near abandonment of the supporters and unfounded accusations. That can wait for now.

But here and now, we have bigger fish to fry and need to look forward. The tribunal can come later.

Scared of them? Never. Never ever. I can't comprehend how people think that way. I don't fear any team. Never have. As a player. As a supporter of Everton.

Once he's earned his spurs, get your lad down to Finch Farm!!

But why would Barcelona want to sign him? He's crap apparently and not good enough to wear the royal blue shirt. I thought someone like Bristol City or Stoke might be in for him though… :)

Once again, our fans seem desperate to jump on a young player who is one of the only players we've had in recent years with an excellent chance of playing for a top, top club.

"make the keeper make a save"

Not sure if Onana's backpass even meets that low bar...

I think giving Onana fifth take was a gamble but Dyche felt this was a big chance to advance Onana. He has grown into a leadership position and this was a threshold. I think we can deal with the setback. Perhaps Onana will climb this mountain and regain the fans' belief in him.

They have done us twice this season by being hard to beat and getting that bit of luck.

Luck is hard to quantify but why is it always Keane? He is Mick Lyons reincarnate on the pitch.

It's going to be a tough couple of weeks with the tired legs and knocks people are playing with.

Danjuma looked sharp when he came on. Maybe Dobbin or Beto can play the Doucoure role? I am clutching at straws a bit there but we are down to bare bones once we get a couple of injuries plus Gana is off to Afcon in January.

I would take Harrison Reed from Fulham in a heartbeat – I'm sure I read he is out of contract in the summer.

If there had been ToffeeWeb Live Forum back at the start of the 1984-85 season, Howard Kendall wouldn't have lasted until October.

And as for the rest of the rubbish – Sharp, Bracewell, Sheepy etc – they wouldn't have got a game at Tranmere!

I did watch all of the game and from the captions on the TV screen and BBC, it displayed a 5-4-1. That is why I commented on Branthwaite wandering into midfield, and everyone getting in each other's way.

Danny O, the kid is a red, so I wouldn't want him anywhere near our football club, mate!

Seriously though, if you believe you're cursed, then that is usually what happens, so I think it's time we started really believing again, because it's the only way to succeed, imo.

Imagine. The Gordon Lee years. Okay, he signed some good players but after what felt like a decent start at the time, got us very close to relegation twice. And that was only 10 years from last winning the league, not 35 years.

Similar with Kendall. I'll bring you forward to 1983-84 and that dark December. "Kendall must go".

I'm not saying the club or any organisation should accept poor performance and results. But sometimes, just ride the storm and stick to your belief.

But I can imagine pages like these back in those days. They would have been lively to say the least!

Hate to be pedantic but wasn't it the 1983-84 season? I think we came good the year after.

What hasn't changed during the whole period is that Evertonians are desperate for any kind of success. Perhaps in the modern game, that's too much to ask for, but seeing Fulham and Boro taking up two of the four semi-final spots of a domestic competition reminds us that it can be done, and lord knows we've had plenty of missed opportunities over the past couple of decades.

Eddie #120, thanks for the info on Steve Stone. It never occurred to me that Dyche would have delegated that task, but it makes perfect sense.

Dave #122, you haven't the slightest idea what sort of man he is, but if you think he's an "egotist", you've never watched his interviews or his videos on the club site or seen him be the last player off the pitch after every game, talking with a kid and giving him his shirt. If he's arrogant between the lines, good. I wouldn't give a dime for a footballer who wasn't. As for my seeing "no wrong" in him, give it a rest. I see his mistakes just like the rest of us, and the penalty was total shit (Iain #132, agreed!). I just don't relentlessly slag him and downgrade his importance like you do, especially after his top performances in the last three games, including yesterday before the penalty. Jimmy #145 is right. You're not.

Brian #155, I saw that too, and my first thought was ah, shit, that Chelsea challenge. Think maybe he didn't commit last night because his ribs are still sore? You're right, I've never seen him back off before. Ever.

Rob #156, amen, but how do you figure not keeping Robinson cost us £50 million? We actually made a very nice profit on Digne, and Mykolenko cost us £23 million I believe, so what entry am I missing on the spreadsheet?

Also, Rob, our not giving Robinson a chance may have saved him. Our physios didn't catch his heart problem. Neither did Bolton or Wigan. AC Milan caught it when they came in for him 4 years ago. He had the heart surgery and his career stayed on track.

No, that was my point. After getting stuffed by Spurs in the first game of the season and then losing to West Brom, it came good in the end. After struggling against University College Dublin.

All the best to you and yours... imagine you're retired now?

Here goes:

TL;DR version: We played okay (just about, fatigue showing in our thin squad now (expectedly). Cut Onana some slack, he could have been as a big hero as he was a villain. Fulham didn't come to play, and out Everton'd Everton. Except without our 'commendable'(?) sense of fair play? Penalties are a lottery...

Long version:

I'm going to be a little revisionist here (well, as opposed to lots of views above).

Pickford had a great game, even their goal was because he was doing what loads on here have been asking him to do. Instead of waiting on the line, he rushed to the 6-yard box to try to cut out the cross. Unfortunately, a very slight deflection off Patterson meant Keane (who was doing his job, by backing up Patterson in case Robinson went outside and burned the kid) was helpless to get out of the way.

When I've rewatched, he seemed to try to steer the ball out with his chest or shoulder. Shame he didn't want to take a penalty, or wasn't thought of?

Patterson was an enigma again. He didn't know whether to stick or twist against Robinson, Muniz and Willian. He made a couple of good tackles, an excellent 6-yard box clearance, but was burnt by Robinson at least twice, and bamboozled by Willian twice.

His support play was also patchy: sometimes it was okay, with a great ball into Beto, who overran it (If Patterson played it nearer the front post, Leno could have saved it more easily, but...) Other times, it was wasteful and misdirected.

Keane had a solid game, shame Tarkowski couldn't get him to shut his gob when he got the yellow, but otherwise played well, and did his best to avoid the deflected goal. Split-second stuff: right place, wrong time.

Tarkowski was immense, two goal-attempt clearances or blocks and good defensively. Just a few times he didn't judge the wind with his longer passes.

Branthwaite: had a decent game, but way down the levels of Mykolenko as a left-back. His was only one of three decent chances, other than the goal, we had, and basically cushioned his header to the keeper (just how bad was the wind last night?) Maybe on the left of a back three or five, he would have been better.

Harrison was industrious as usual, one good cross Calvert-Lewin couldn't direct, and one shot with his radar slightly off. Played about a 7 with good link-up play and his harrying of their players. As per, ran himself into the ground, subbed by Danjuma.

Even though I like Jack, I hope he starts getting better end product soon, more assists and a goal or three... It would help the team and his confidence. Though, I'm reading he won't be at Everton next season, as we can't afford his loan buyout clause.

Gana: had his usual mix of the good: his tackling and nuisance value, and his little link-up passes (if only we had a Messi in our side!); the bad: his longer pass distribution and his regular fluffed attempt at a shot, which should've gone out to Harrison; and the ugly: misplaced passes, that blocked shot of his, and going 8th in the penalty shootout when Pickford should have gone there, else at that point it was Patterson or Branthwaite who was left. Mind you, kudos for stepping up, and oh so nearly scoring his penalty… but he missed.

Garner: worked his socks off, played some delightful balls, like that outside-of-the-foot pass to McNeil down the left, tackled well, pressed and covered well, looked okay at the full-time whistle, not too knackered. Only the coaching staff know why he wasn't one of the first five penalty takers.

Onana: in and out of the game, played a couple of nice passes, broke up a few attacks, drew a yellow from one of theirs (Tete?), was awkward to get past, but offered little in attack (maybe pushing him into the false No 10 position between their 2-3 would have been better?).

Then I think he must have been taking pens well in practise, else he wouldn't be at #5? I think his problem was he over-thought it and got himself in 'n+1' minds as to what to do with it when Leno didn't commit himself? Again, poor penalty… but kudos for taking one.

I think his detractors need to remember he is young, and who knows what went through his mind? All this slagging him (I called him a Pucking Fillock at the instant he missed!) is very outcome-based. As Si Cooper and Sam Hoare above have said; if he rolled it into an empty net with Leno watching it from the floor in the right side of his goal, we'd be laughing, applauding the bravado of Onana making Leno and Fulham look like fools, and Onana would be a hero! Unfortunately...

Oh, and I'm as miffed (nice kind non-sweary word) as anyone for us not getting to the Semi-Finals. Yet I've been following Everton since 1974-75 and have seen us win things. I've also seen our worst barren run in club's history too. Okay, we missed our chance in the League Cup. Next cup up is the FA Cup, let's go for it!

McNeil: played well for the first 65-70 minutes, again passing was a little off (the wind?), tried to drill a Forest-type goal home when he should have dragged it back, good harassing of the opposition and generally played okay but not at his best (excellent pen though).

But from around the 70th minute, he started to visibly fade, with mis-placed passes, too slow to make a tackle and visibly lacking energy to close. Understandable since he's played more or less every minute of every game since he came back from injury. Moved over to the right when Danjuma came on. Maybe this was a game for Danjuma and then bring Dwight on if needed? Hindsight's a lovely thing though...

Calvert-Lewin: worked tirelessly as the sole attacker again, but with no-one making runs to help him most of his 61 minutes or so. When he had the chance, he held the ball up. He started to flag but only a little before being subbed. I asked the question on the Live Forum last night that maybe with Fulham just sitting back and letting us come onto them; then why not take off Keane (yellow-carded) and put Beto alongside Calvert-Lewin? That could have given us better options in attack.

Oh, and I think it was Jerome Shields who mentioned that Calvert-Lewin usually runs at the 6-yard box centrally between the two centre-backs. Last night, I really noticed it, especially when Harrison played a beautiful ball in the first half, just to the right and front of their goal, and if Calvert-Lewin had cut right to the front post, he'd have had a very decent chance to shoot on target, but, he went inside between their two centre-backs. I just shook my head, and mentally raised a glass to Jerome.

Beto: scored, nearly could have had two at the near post on the right from that Patterson cross. He played really well when he came on, and his penalty was good too! Made himself a real handful, but still a bit wasteful with his passing. He's definitely not a target man, but a really good player to have on the defender's shoulder.

Danjuma: did okay when he came on for Harrison, noticeable Dyche pulled McNeil across to the right, and Danjuma went on the left. Maybe again, he could have played the No 10 or false No 9 position from the off, but he naturally gravitated there as the game went on; and, very nearly got us through with his attempt in extra time. A little more composure and who knows?

As for Fulham, they had much the better of the first 10 minutes; in reality, it was all them. Then, for some reason, they went all Everton and sat back and invited the pressure and just breaking several times which got Keane yellowed (how good was that Willian free-kick, just about 2 feet off target with Pickford statuesque), and got their goal with a quick break down their left.

After that, and for the whole of the second half, Fulham just time-wasted, with four out of four players going down with the minimal of contact (apart from Willian who got fairly clattered to my mind, and he eventually had to come off), and indeed Muniz escaping punishment for simulation when he threw himself down, when Tarkowski was stood behind him? Just how bizarre was that?

This attitude actually became their potential downfall by allowing us the time to build pressure for the eventual goal and those two late chances (Beto near post and Danjuma's). Our goal showed just how poor Robinson is in defence, as opposed to his attacking play (maybe a conversion to winger or left-midfielder might be in the offing?)

Lastly, all their penalties were well taken, but Pickford saved one, though again, in the Live Forum, I spotted he was well off his line (thank you Mr Asstant Ref!), well picked up on, MK! He got his hand to two and he dived 'over' one to his left (#7 I think?), and came pretty close to two more, or at least dived the right way.

Time to say "bygones", save your recriminations and slaughtering of our own (he could have been just as a much a hero as villain) and keep supporting our efforts to: a) stay in the league (and get a European place, if we get the points back!); and b) We're still in the FA Cup (and nick a European place!).

Palace away shouldn't hold any fears for us now. Lampard has gone, and we've drawn and won there since Dyche took over; either result would do me (though obviously I'd prefer the win!)

Life happens, it is not the result that matters, it is how you react to misfortune. Or as the Chinese would say "It is not in never falling down, but, each time you fall, you must rise!"

Just my usual diatribe and take on things.

Spuds next... COYB!

Richardson scored I think.

Can I echo good luck with your lad. I hope he goes places.

As for this;

"Seriously though, if you believe you're cursed, then that is usually what happens, so I think it's time we started really believing again, because it's the only way to succeed, imo."

As Henry Ford (and many others in various formats) said, "What you think is!" –. if you think you're cursed, then you are cursed by your own thoughts.

Belief is required, which is what has been trying to instil since he arrived here.

Breathe and believe! WE... ARE... EVERTON..!!

“Calvert-Lewin worked tirelessly.”

Do you really mean that? Looked to me that he couldn't be arsed.

Well said, I'd take fluff to balloon any day of the week! Though naturally, a goal would be even better. :-)

It looked to me, after running his socks off for the first 25 minutes, he was starting to blow, and knew he was on a diet of scraps for the night. At least when the ball did get to him, he tried to hold it up or do something with it.

Look at the bigger picture, he didn't have any help for most of the night. Eventually that's going to tell mentally as well as physically.

On reflection, I forgot to say that I thought Dyche in general play (not the shoot-out) got it slightly wrong (to me at least). But hey, we're all entitled to our opinions.

I've also learnt during my time on earth that perceptions are different from person to person, much like opinions? Nowt wrong with that, and leads (sometimes) to interesting debate.

I'm full of a head cold and bored after only waking up about 3pm (Sorry to come on here folks!)

I just loved (in a very self-deprecating way)

"We are the Dave TV of football – repeating the same shit season after season."

It actually made me giggle out loud, which made my ribs hurt! Bl00dy cold!

I do not agree that Calvert-Lewin is left isolated. IMO, he isolated himself by not doing the above. By not doing so, he looks off the play. When that is the case, it would take pin-point accuracy to find him, that is if no-one was marking him.

Off the play, he is easily marked. A cross into the box without being challenged or having a player not trying to get in front of them is bread-and-butter to Premier League defenders.

The other problem when a centre-forward is continually off the play is that the defence get really confident and start pushing up, making sure all the play is in front of them. Again, this making the defending bread-and-butter stuff, clearing the lines.

Maybe he is carrying an injury, but you would expect Dyche to know that.

Coolest head, most consistent 1st. Best, most confident last, for me.

The reason why I echo it is because it is an 'objective and logical' comment, made much more eloquently than I could ever write.

Thank you, Si.

I am not known for my mathematical skills. Digne and Mykolenko cost us around £50M.

My point being Robinson would have done a job for us. Rather than blow stupid amounts of money on players.

I believe fullbacks should easily be produced from within the club. Lazy coaching and lack of a development culture at the club holds lots of kids back.

What's all this we can change the order on the fly; is that possible?

Jerome, I'll listen to you (and Christine) you were proved right again last night.

Calvert-Lewin has been mentioned once or twice; my 2 bob's worth is he's a physical specimen who occupies defenders,; however, he hasn't the ability to be a natural goal scorer.

He will score but miss far more… although my wife says that really doesn't matter.

I've just had two more paracetamol and made a fresh brew.

I'm feeling really groggy and rotten to be honest, so I'm off back to bed whilst I've got chance.

Re DCL, he's who we've got (for better or worse) but I just don't feel he deserves the stick he gets.

He's obviously doing what Dyche wants, else he wouldn't be playing. However, this is where I do criticise Dyche. He has this 'plan' to stay solid with 'eight or nine' back and use a big man to allow transition to attack by holding the ball up.

DCL has proved he can score, like his full season with Ancelotti and before his injury woes. However, like you (if you don't mind me putting words in your mouth) I don't think he is a natural goal-scorer; and running channels and playing knock-downs wastes his talents further.

I'm inclined to follow Jerome and Christine's thoughts that he would be more effective playing in and around the box.

Lastly, though I'm no football manager or coach (but having a Father and Uncle who played for Bolton between 48/49 and 52/53) and having watched football since the '74 WC and played in the school 1st XI (Christ, now those are claims to making me an expert! Hahaha!!)

I think Dyche just needs to be even more adaptive than he has shown this season.

However, to caveat that, we have a limited squad, with possibly the lowest skill set we've seen for a while. Good players all mind, just not as technically gifted as players we've previously had [but were managed worse!]) and a very thin squad with several aging players.

Lonergan 40 (GK)
Young 38 (Utility) - 1st XI
Coleman 35 (RB) - 1st XI
Gueye 34 (DM) - 1st XI
Tarkowski 31 (CB) - 1st XI
Keane 30 (CB) - Sub
Doucs 30 (A/CM) - 1st XI
Gomes 30 (WoS - my opinion)
Pickford 29 (GK) - 1st XI

Now Tarks, Picks and Keane aren't too much of an issue, due to the positions they play (Though losing pace to age does affect CBs) but three of our 1st XI are the 30+.

Which will inevitably put a huge load on their bodies.

The curious thin is, in Beto (25), Myko (24), NcNeil (24), Patto (22), Onana (22), Garner (22), Jarrad (21), Dobbin(20) and Chermiti (19) we have a good core of players 25 or under. (plus Godfrey & DCL being 26)

Which can only bode well for the future, if we can hold onto our better players that is!

Personally, if all were fit I'd like us to adapt to Ancelotti's old 'Christmas Tree formation, and not just for seasonal reasons! hehe)

I think a 4-3-2-1 would/could suit our squad. E,g,

Pickford

Patto (Seamus) Tarks Jarrad Myko

Garner Gueye Doucs

Haz McNeil

Striker (Either DCL or Beto, I don't mind, both have their own set of strengths and weaknesses.)

Sorry for the length of post again Barry. My mind is over-active as my body is under-active. Plus I've always been accused of thinking too much anyway.

Good wishes, Barry.

PS Alan McG, nice to see you back on here. Where are you now? Norris Green or some other oasis of a watering hole? Hehe ;)

I didn't reply before, but Willow is from a separated family, me and her Missus split up six years ago. She (the ex) has remarried to an Aussie bloke, and we've agreed that Willow can go with in Jan'26 tho it'll be like a knife in the heart.

So maybe not a Toffee Girl unfortunately. (Sadly!)

Not too mention a) she doesn't like football (other than Harry Kane!?) and b) despite being in a school right on the bottom of Morecombe bay, most of the boys there are Manchester supporters, either City or Utd... Blame their glory seeking Dad's.

Thankfully, there is only one little baby-rs Kopite there, but his Dad is a scouser who has relocated to the wilds of the Fylde coast!

All down to the love of a 'loose' (local) woman! He has four kids, three girls and an ickle Kopite! (So far!)

Right, I'm off to bed! I can't stop coughing and sneezing!

But the answer to #197 is... I'm not sure. The Laws of the Game do not require that the order for the first five kickers be handed to the referee in advance, but the rules for the Cup may require it, and I've seen it done many times at the professional level. If so, the order of the penalty takers cannot be changed.

In the shootouts I've reffed at the scholastic level, and the ones I participated in as a semipro, no advance list was required.

I thought so at the time we sold him (having watched him for the USA) and screamed bloody murder that we shipped him for £2M. Horrible.

I felt at the time, and believe more now, that he would have followed the track of Hibbert and Baines and Coleman into a first-team stalwart... assuming our doctors would have caught his problem at some point.

But we did make a £9M profit on Digne, if I recall correctly.

To my mind, he adds to the long parade of strikers who seem to be better players when they are injured than when they manage to turn out !

Be that as it may, but with another 9 points to come off for the almost inevitable 'administration', what is to be asked of our two main strikers is really the impossible. My guess is that both Calvert-Lewin and Beto won't be around that long, anyway!

I just hope that Dyche, who has realised how much unrealistic pressure Calvert-Lewin is under, can get him back to the basics of being a centre-forward. I am sure Dyche is trying, but the penny has not dropped with Dominic yet.

I still think his head is not fully sorted and it showed in his focus drift in the match, as Christine pointed out. After the game against Newcastle, he should have been rested, missing this game, and concentrated on the Premier League games. That is what he has been prepared for.

He will get important goals in the Premiers League where he is not under the same pressure as a Cup match. It won't be consistent, but a welcome surprise.

Dyche got caught up in the buzz of the quarter-finals and played a formation and selection that may have been okay for the Premier League but not for a Cup competition.

And there lies the problem. The annoying thing is that, against Newcastle, Dyche had the perfect formation to carry on to the League Cup match and Beto could have carried his form from that match forward, having been a successful sub. We then would have had a fresh Calvert-Lewin against Spurs.

Yes, Ancelotti certainly gave DCL some good advice about getting into the 6-yard box, one-touch finishes. How do we know that? Because DCL said so.

I've no reason to suspect Dyche coaches anything differently – witness how often McNeil tries to play early crosses in. But somewhere along the line, DCL isn't getting on the end of them.

It's either because he's forgotten the habits he learned under Ancelotti, a lack of form and confidence or the draining effect of constantly having to contest high balls (which he is doing less effectively these days due to frequently mistiming his jumps). Getting the ball forward quickly and winning the second ball in an advanced position is Dyche's style and it's been quite effective recently.

I don't see that Dyche should have one formation for the League and another for the Cup competitions. It's all about continuity and we just have to accept that for one reason or another, DCL is underperforming at the moment.

I swapped my order recently for a shootout when we had a chance to win it on the fourth kick, which we did, swapping my best guy to 4th. Pro level, not 100% certain. Who cares. Onana shouldn't have been last. End of.

If Onana scores them like that all of the time in training, you'd have thought our goalies would've cottoned onto that by now. :)

Thanks for trying to answer my question. I've woken up again (Was that the sound of groans I heard..?)

According to the inter-webby-thingy-ma-jig.

Law 10 of the (P.71) Laws of the Game)

Rule 5. Each team is responsible for setting the order in which its eligible players take kicks.

Then;

Rule 18. If it becomes necessary for players to take another kick (because the score has remained equal after all eligible players have taken their first kick), players are not required to kick in the same order.

Which seems to clearly state (well maybe infer) that a team has to hand in an ordered list of penalty takers; that can only be changed after ALL other eligible players have taken their kicks.

If you read the rules, they're a bit convoluted, but seem pretty clear.

You have an order of penalty takers that you have to stick to, until all eligible takers have taken their kick. Only then can the order be changed.

By the Gods, I know I'm bored now, I'm reading rule books!?

Against a fast offensive outfit like Spurs, he has to play in his proper position. He was one of the reasons we had clean sheets in our last three Premier League games. I know Keane played very well against Forest, but Spurs are a different proposition.

Yes, I have stayed and seen him stay on the pitch and walk all around it applauding the fans even when he hasn't had a good game. I'm not really interested what he does after the match but I'm definitely interested in what he does during the game.

If you thought he had a good game last night I think it's time you gave it a rest, he had a poor game and went missing as he usually does in most games although he has some good games recently he still doesn't work throughout the game.

I laughed at your comment “Jimmy is right and you are wrong” – how old are you? That's a schoolyard comment, Mike, come on, and you are telling me to give it a rest.

He wanted me to take him (pay for) Christmas shopping so I suggested Everton 2 for his brother's pressie.

Whilst in there I asked if they were doing discounts for Onana shirts and was told to “Fuck off next door, you koppite cunt” …

When did we lose our sense of humour??

Happy to have you disagree with me, but disagree with the shit I actually write, not shit I don't write. That's the kind of thing I'm telling you to give a rest to.

No Mike, inventing quotes to win a debate is not kinda schoolyard too, it's telling lies. I don't do that.

You most definitely said Onana “was one of us” when you were talking about him walking around the pitch in pouring rain after one Everton game. If you keep records of your posts, which you might do, you'll find it.

I don't keep records myself, but you are correct, you didn't say "you are wrong” you said "Jimmy is right, you're not" which is pretty much the same, splitting hairs there. Mike.

Whether you said he is a great player, which I don't remember saying, you certainly have a very high opinion of him, which is fair enough, but I don't, which is also fair enough. So there is no need to tell me to give it rest because you did write some of them things.

It is no special insight, it is football basics. Getting first to the ball ahead of your marker. Attacking the near post. Stepping back off the defensive line when between two defenders. That is what Ancelotti was trying to get Calvert-Lewin to do.

There are probably more sophisticated techniques that I don't know about, which people who played at a higher level do. But I can see that Calvert Lewin isn't doing the basics. Why? I don't know, but I am sure that Dyche knows the basics.

As for the formation and selection, there are more games than a settled 11 can cope with, so changes are inevitable. The Premier League is a League competition over a season. The Carabao Cup is a knockout Cup competition over part of a season. If you lose, you are out.

Fulham were away from home with their leading striker suspended. They were always going to set up shop. Dyche against Newcastle who were away from home, with key players injured and did set up shop, played three at the back and the defensive line pushed up, often, led by Keane at every opportunity.

Against Fulham, Dyche had four at the back and Everton were deeper. This meant that all the forward play was in front of Fulham.

Fulham had 56℅ possession. Basically this played into the negative Fulham tactics. Why did Dyche not continue with the successful three at the back, which was successful against Newcastle, a better side than Fulham? By the way, Fulham do not play like that in the League.

As has been posited many times on here and elsewhere, until we do know, we don't know. As double-Dutch as that sounds.

What was it Donald Rumsfeld said;

"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know."

We can all 'star gaze' or even 'navel gaze'.

However, until something is 'concretely' (or any other firm material substance) confirmed, then we (me especially) can only speculate using information available from the 'Public Domain'.

BUT isn't that how 'disinformation' starts? Do I actually know what I think I actually know, or is it in fact an unknown or even an untruth?

I think I'm going slowly insane..?! I think or do I know?

PS Jerome, if the stat was 51% possession for them, that means we would have had 49% possession, which is way too much for us! The BBC has got it as 50-50. Which is even worse for us!

We need to be below 40% possession and just bag one or two. For example

I'm always aware of being a long-distance latecomer to Everton. And yes, I do have a generally high opinion of Onana, but this club has only one great player, and he ain't in midfield.

Simon, my comment regarding that comment was actually to Robert's comment on Dave's comment about the possibility of Onana being sold in January. This comment has been deliberately worded to flummox anyone who is stoned on cold medication.

All Blues everywhere are one of us.

There are many from outside the city of Liverpool or Merseyside or scattered around the country or globe. They are all one of us. I live in London but I'm one of us.

Players who play for Everton are one of us. Alan Ball and Howard Kendall are one of us.

Everton family – regardless of where people come from and how Everton came to them.

I often think how much dedication goes into following Everton from those hundreds or thousands of miles away. It arguably takes more effort from those who can walk to the ground or, like me, are a train or bus ride away from the stadiums.

Through circumstance, I've had to do it myself at times. From crackly radio transmissions and the lads informing me of the result in Afghanistan, to watching Duncan Ferguson seal victory against Manchester United in Swanbourne, Australia in 2005 to keep us on path for Champion's League qualification. God knows how many early starts when over in the USA.

Wherever you are in the world, Everton is with you.

On player opinions, they will always differ. I used to argue with my best mate about Kevin Sheedy. We went to every match together for several years. He complained he was lazy. I told him that if he was Catholic, he should go to confession. He adored Norman Whiteside, I wasn't a fan.

I used to constantly argue with my brother about Jagielka. To him he was brilliant. I thought he was okay in an average team. I liked Distin, he didn't rate him that much.

It's all opinions and relates to the many discussions we have in the bars around Goodison, the stadiums around the country and forums like this. You often won't change an opinion as we all have differing views on football and Everton.

If you asked 11 Evertonians to pick an 11, you'd probably get 11 different teams. That's why I try to avoid pre-match team predictions.

That's the manager's job. I just wait and see who is playing. Then it's down to the team and supporters.

I’m glad it was you and not me getting called a kopite c**t, because my answer would have been that those kopite bastards, wouldn’t have accepted Kenwright for so long, or clapped Moyes out of Goodison, to Old Trafford, after twelve fucking seasons, especially with a record of three semifinals, one final, no silverware, and not one away victory in 44 attempts against the teams in the top four.

I believe there is going to be major changes in the next few months at Everton, and when I have ever listened to the older generation, talking about what Shankly did for Liverpool, the thing that I have always taken the most out of listening, is that the Liverpudlians were absolutely desperate for success after being in the doldrums for so long.

I know we have stayed in the top league, but I don’t believe Everton football club, have ever been in the doldrums for so long before, and with a fantastic new stadium to move into, (it’s needed now, and this is coming from someone who absolutely adores Goodison Pk) then it’s about time we got back to being the Everton, of the Sir John Moores era.

The usual suspects will come on going on about needing Arab money, but when I look over the park at those kopite c**ts🤦‍♂️ alls I see is sheer hard nosed professionalism.

1. It's onwards and upwards, nice little win at spuds followed by a cheeky 1 nil at home to City and through to the next round of the Cup, all happy again.

2. Including The Fulham game after Villa it will be 5 straight losses, out of both cups and hovering just above the relegation zone again.

Which one is Everton?

I can’t believewe clapped Moyes out and how we tolerated becoming plucky little Everton under Kenwright and how he got away with it does my head in.

Normally we would be screaming for re-inforcements, but things have got that bad that a lot of people would just be happy to see 777 take control.

With Christmas just around the corner, then I think this time of the year is a time for reflection. Mine is that Dyche is doing a very good job, but how long will it be before he starts flogging dead horses?

No chance.

You are right and so am I even with different opinions so have a good Christmas Mike and a Happy Healthy New Year. Very best wishes Mike as always.

It’s definitely got to be down to Lyndon, because I don’t think Literal Mike, would stand for it!

In your case, it's extended discussions about fucking Liverpool that have absolutely no place on an Everton matchday thread, for fuck's sake! I moved all that shite to the Carabao Cup thread.

I don't know how you could possibly think that discussing cold cures, and preventions, plus the difference available in Eggnog, favoured drinks, and other such related items DID NOT belong in a post-match thread!

I shake my head in utter dis-belief! Hehe ;-) 😉

Michael, I would like to inform you, that We The TW'ers also had a quick 'hands up' moment, and we ALL think that there should be a pinned separate thread regards all points regarding the Common Cold, and indeed Man-flu..! Treatment, prevention and symptoms!

Like Tony {252] (Unless already moved or deleted?) (●'◡'●), I too refuse to accept your apology, as you confused me where posts had gone, where they'd been moved to, or worse, deleted from history!

J'accuse! This is the route to the iron-hand of CENSORSHIP, the beginning of the end to free-speech, and is the start to the erosion of our Forum Rights!! 😂🤣🙋‍♂️

"I am Spartacus!!" 😂🤦‍♂️

Is this the start of some sort of conspiracy?

Also as a bonus, it would confuse Tony A more too! Hehe

OK, I snitched, but I did it for my kids!!

I'm on some new Cold medication concoction, it's awesome! I actually feel light-headed, as opposed to having my head in a soggy bag!

How are you doing Dale me 'owd mucker? PS When you reply, keep it football related at all costs?

The noticeable thing, it seemed Fulham, weren't putting too much effort into the game after the first 10 minutes, and we probably happy for the game to go to penalties. (Presumptive I know) It just seemed they weren't playing 'to win'(?) as it were. Once they got their goal, it became even more apparent, they just tried to shut up shop, and expend the minimum energy.

If only we weren't so fatigued, that we could have had a proper go at them?

As a quick point too, I think Sean set us up wrong from the start, but why didn't he change the formation at some point, when it was obvious the initial setup wasn't getting any penetration?

I hope lessons are learnt from that.

Dale and Simon
Statler and Waldorf

Dale you get to pick who's who... Hehe

When you say "shaggy" musician types...

BTW, if we are claiming to be a Muppet musician, I'd like to be Animal first, or if not not, the Cool Afghan hound-like Sax player... Just sayin'

To further complicate things too Dale, vis-a-vis S&W, I'd have to be the taller one of the two, so I could an air of superiority plea🤣🔙

I thought Danjuma could have done much better with his volleyed attempt against Fulham, though I could excuse him because of the lack of minutes he's played. (See it's not too hard)

PS Dale, please mind your language, don't make the site descend into to 'sweary bear-pit!', children might be reading...

Out of our pens, I couldn't decide between Beto's and Tarky's pens as to whose I liked more?

I'll take your word for it...

Keith is in the top 3 (rock) drummers of all time for me;

#1 Bonno
#2 Ginger
#3 Keith
Closely followed at #4 Mr. Watts

Brent, if I could ask, which Muppet would you be?

NB That IS NOT me trying to be insulting, or even being insulting, it is a genuine Q/ ** HONEST! **

Jimmy G's penalty, and Dwight's were excellent too.

That’s the problem with too many heads in the sand Evertonians, who hate Liverpool, Michael. Love Everton by all means, and hate Liverpool by all means, but one club, fucked off a manager who put them on the road to success, whilst another club, clapped a manager out of Goodison, who epitomized mediocrity.

I have never read anything on this website as nauseating as people saying we could hopefully win the carabao cup in honour of Bill Kenwright, and it genuinely makes me despair at the football club, that we have allowed ourselves to become.

I listened to a mate of mine on a podcast, and wish for his sake, that he would have joined Liverpool, instead of Everton. I’ve never asked him because I don’t really talk football with him, and my thoughts would provoke genuine outrage, because every single member of both his family and his extended family are all proper mad Evertonians.

But something tells me his career would have been different if he had joined Liverpool, because he had the talent, but it sounded to me like the drinking culture of Everton, started him on the road to ruin, imo. Maybe I’m wrong, and he was just stupid, (very stupid) and he was always touched by an inner madness or self destruct? Something I will never know.

With an incredible new stadium on the horizon, and new owners coming into the club, nepotistic Everton, “FINALLY” have a real chance to reset everything. Let’s just hope for every single loyal and passionate Toffee, that hard nosed professionalism, is at the very top of these new owners plans🤞

Prior to the Charlton Full Members Cup game, was the previous occasion Everton took part in penalties the Andy Rankin heroics night in the European Cup back in 1971, or have there been other major matches penalty shoot-outs involving Everton that I've forgotten?

Charlton 1987, home, Full Members Cup, lost.
Rangers 1988, neutral venue, Dubai Super Cup, lost.
Sunderland 1998, home, League Cup, 1998, lost.
Bristol Rovers 2000, away, League Cup, lost.
Crystal Palace, 2001, home, League Cup, lost.
Newcastle, 2002, away, League Cup, won.
Middlesbrough, 2003, away, League Cup, lost.
Bristol City, 2004, away, League Cup, won.
Fiorentina, 2008, home, UEFA Cup, lost.
Man Utd, 2009, wembley, FA Cup, won.
Brentford, 2010, away, League Cup, lost.
Chelsea, 2011, away, FA Cup, won.
West Ham, 2015, away, FA Cup, lost.
Norwich, 2015, home, League Cup, won.
Southampton, 2015, home, League Cup, lost.
Leicester, 2019, home, League Cup, lost.
QPR, 2021, away, League Cup, lost.
Fulham, 2023, home, League Cup, lost.

"Heerrreeee'sssss FOZ--ZIE BEAR, Yeeaaahhhh!!!!"

Whenever you post now Brent..!? 🤣

Good wishes Fozzie from Zoot! 🎷