Premier League — Matchweek 22

Bournemouth are exceptionally good.

Watching this game is weird, I don't watch many other games, there's fast attacking, skilful football, it's very strange to see.

I don't expect to see anything like this tomorrow. Spurs will huff and puff, and we'll do our best to nullify the game and put the crowd to sleep.

The grimmest of grim times. No wonder the atmosphere has gone completely stale.

The Cherries so dangerous coming forward.

Kluivert, superb finish, 1-2 to Bournemouth just before the break, Skunk Maggots sick as parrots.

All getting a bit spikey, 7 minutes of added time and the handbags come out, Toonies demanding more added time because they were attacking.

Bournemouth are one of the best sides in Europe from what I can see.

I've seen a couple of Champions League games this season, they're as good as anything out there. Must be nice!

Michael, I thought the same about them wanting more time. Maybe let's see if they can score again before blowing the half-time whistle.

Fucking Skunk Maggots!

Bournemouth are everything I wish we were.

A small club that sells its best players, changes its manager frequently but keeps on churning up quality football teams.

What are you doing that we are not, lads? Can we have the secret recipe?

When we pulled Bournemouth out of the hat for the FA Cup tie, I knew it would be a difficult tie for Everton, having seen them get a draw at Stamford Bridge and now they are leading at Newcastle, I think it will be an even more difficult hurdle for Everton to overcome.

Imagine what Goodison Park would be like if all of the Cherries players were wearing Everton blue instead of the red and black stripes, one day we might get a side that we can truly get behind with enthusiasm and hope; that day still looks an eternity away.

Fred

Curse of the culture of the club.

I fear those particular Cherries players were wearing Blue at Goodison Park then they'd have long since been stifled of the talent they are showing at Bournemouth.

Jim # 5, there's no secret recipe to what Bournemouth are doing.

A big part of it is that they have invested over £300M more than us in players since 2021. That's a heck of an advantage.

And they don't sell more than we do. Quite the opposite. Since 2021 we have sold €316.05M worth of players. Bournemouth have sold only €94.49M worth of players (and €64.30M of that was Solanke).

Then it is a case of the profile of players they buy.

There is a big focus on pretty well-known high potential younger players age 18 to 22 – such as:

- Zabarnyi
- Huijsen
- Soler
- Kerkez
- Ouattara

These are not hidden gems. They are hiding in plain sight in international U21 games, Champions League, Ligue 1, Eredivisie etc. All the scouts know them – including ours.

They also pick up high-performing younger players from the Championship and relegated Premier League clubs – such as:

- Scott
- Semenyo
- Tavernier
- Aarons
- Adams
- Sinisterra

Most importantly, they don't buy any players from Premier League clubs (except relegated clubs) because there is no value there whatsoever.

So, the simple recipe is this: spend quite a lot of money – and spend it in the markets where you can find good value and Champions League potential players.

The smaller clubs which are doing well seem to do two things well:

1. Recruit a coach who can coach an effective pressing game
2. Buy players who can play that way, e.g. they tend not to buy 36-year old full-backs.

We continue to fall over on 1.

Great goal by Ouattara but ruled out... pity, it woulda been 1-3!

Robert.

I know they've spent well, but as you state, it's what they've actually done with it that matters.

Under Moshiri we spent so much money between 2016 and 2020 that we should have at least been where Bournemouth are now in terms of having an exciting team to watch.

Travesty really that the money was spent so poorly on player recruitment and managerial recruitments and sackings.

Steve @9, it about time we have to accept that the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton et al have overtaken Everton, even though we have also spent or wasted millions with no plan.

Brighton would not want Dyche or Moyes as manager, not anymore.

To think just a couple of months ago, we played them off the park for 80-odd minutes.

Must admit tho', they look really good today.

Robert,

How can they have a £260M whatever net spend and not be breaking PSR?

Plus, like you say, it's not really about the amounts is it? It's the profile of player that matters and the coach you employ. It's just basic competence with a bit of visionary risk-taking.

Also, Iraola could 've easily been sacked early on but they stuck with him. Marco Siva anyone?

Jim # 11, yes in 2016 to 2020 we idiotically bought the most expensive average players we could find. We bought heavily from the Premier League. We bought many older players too. It very predictably destroyed our finances at the same time as downgraded the quality of the team.

Andrea # 14, how can Bournemouth spend so much more than us without breaching PSR. To be honest I don't know. All I can tell you is what they have spent - because that's easily available in the public domain.

I think it is also fair to say that Iraola is a good manager - but if he had been our manager in the period 2021 to the present day, we wouldn't be watching the football being served up by Bournemouth. We would probably be cursing his name and hailing some other bloke in charge of a good squad at the Vitality.

Let’s hope they’ve all got the flu or something when it comes to that FA Cup tie.

1-3

OMG, what a screamer for Kluivert's hat-trick!

Fat half-naked Skunk Maggots throwing their beer on the pitch.

Almost 4!

Coulda been 4 if they had Calvert-Lewin on that one-on-one... Not!

It was a great strike Michael, I think that Bournemouth have created more chances in this single game, than Everton have created away from Goodison all season, oh there's another good goal for the Cherries.

It is now lol.

Very amusing. Glad I watched this.

Now that is embarrassing!

Thank God I've got Kluivert on my bench for Fantasy. AAAAAAAARGH!

Meanwhile at Everton, we are hoping for a draw against spurs at home!!!

You can see how that lad is Patrick Kluiverts son, his old man certainly knew where the net was.

Sadly we do not have a fraction of what Bournemouth having in the attacking areas.

Ouattara, Semenyo, Kluivert and Sinisterra all walk into our side.

Great pass by Anthony Gordon for the third goal!

Pity it was for the wrong team though! 😂😂😂

Soren, an actual goal would be nice.

We can only dream of DCL shooting like that.

Iraola doing some job - owner at Bournemouth got rid of O'Neil and everyone thought he was crazy - but no, very much looks like he was right !

Joe, not familiar with the word "Goal"! Must look it up! 😬

Come on you Fulham😂

Andrea @1 that's exactly what I was thinking - I don't watch loads of PL games, so maybe all of the games (except for ours) are like that. Both teams looking to go forward, some crisp passing, risk-taking, great finishing, desperate defending etc.

Both teams looked miles ahead of us, we really are in the stone ages with the squad we have and the style we play, and it's deeply upsetting.

I also have no idea how teams like Bournemouth can stay the right side of PSR with the amounts they spend, especially as they have a ground capacity of about 11,000 and are hardly going to attract shed-loads of corporate income, advertising or sponsorship.

How come every thread is used as a vehicle to slag off Calvert-Lewin? Last time I looked he's still an Everton player, and surely our role as supporters is to support?

Michael (35) I suspect they are not paying any of their squad over £100k per week as we once did, and still do, for some of our players.

It is interesting to note Dyche was sacked after losing to high flying Forest and narrowly to Bournemouth who can beat anyone on their day.

Most of the teams in the top half of the table have three or four attackers who would walk into our team.

Andrea / Michael - there are plenty of boring games being played in the Premier League. It is very overhyped.

But on the whole - Everton do play slow, poor attacking football. Which is unsurprising because (compared with our rivals) we have slow, poor attackers (which for me includes the full-backs).

Edward@36
He's stealing a living, nothing will convince me otherwise

I dint think there's as many teams as limited or as dull to watch as us. Watching Brentford V Hades atm and Brentford are doing the low block stuff we supposedly specialise in. The difference between them and us is that they have players who can pass, move and play quick transition when they have the ball.

Our players are so one-dimensional.

2-0 Fulham

Fucking bent linesman flagging a really tight Brentford attack before the move was finished. Corrupt, they don't flag even 3 yard blatants usually.

Brentford breaking on Satan's Sons at will

Yes Jeff. Bad eggs the lot of them. Lost count the number of fouls the shite commit and don't get booked but other teams do.

Bastards!

Devi's Team.

Their souls are forever damned.

That Scottish bellend on Sky Sports screaming the studio down when the Devil's 11 went 1-up is sickening!

Feck me, evil twats

Time to mute…

They are all bellends on Sky Sports.

Second yellow, surely?

That's a second yellow/red for Nunez.

What happened... nothing. Bent wankers them officials.

That's shocking that. Could have even be a straight red. Ref bottled it and pretended he'd not seen it. Even Spock on the touchline winced.

Just seen the RS score, and the time of the goals.

Should Nunez have been sent off before or after scoring?

He should have been sent off after he was born Rob

Hilarious when Ian Dennis on 5live says 1725 happy Liverpool fans go back to Merseyside smiling

Cue Arsenal shitting the bed now.

All away wins so far.

Watch the matches I'd say our midfield is totally different than the rest.

Our midfield walk into empty spaces, go round in a circle, and then pass back. Whereas the other team's midfield run into spaces and drive forward.

Also we never come out of a 50-50 with the ball. We have the slowest team in the Premier League.

Edward, Liverpool will win the title.

Arsenal are even bigger cheats than them and don't forget Arteta's antics on the sideline.

Just when I thought it was safe to watch MOTD the shite go and do that. With the help of the officials of course.

Joe 60, wash your mouth out with a bar of coal tar.

No one, not even Nasty Nick from Big Brother 1, cheats more than the spawns of Satan.

Liam, sorry you are right, I had brainfog for a minute.

I still can't stand Arteta and Arsenal though.

Yes, the Arse are right Jodrell Bankers…

Rob #55, Nunez had already scored twice when he should have got a straight red/second yellow, terrible challenge.

Should have walked and had his goals chalked off for being a complete twat.😏

We can say 'shitting', Edward.

Btw, Mings is shite, I thought I’d get that in before the mistakes.

Get in, accepted for first ever event at BMD 2 tickets for U18 game.

Mike 59. You are bang on.

The speed and accuracy of other teams in final third is like night and day to what we get served up.

Thomas Tuchel and Nosferatu have never been seen in the same room at the same time.

That's a Grammar School education for you, Paul😀...

Seriously, not sure if I don't hate them more than I love Everton these days.

Liam, all’s Tuchel needs is a good pan of scouse down him.

I got the 'better luck next time pal' email for BMD, Jeff.

Tuchel, Lee, Emery.

I went to a grammar school shite bollocks bugger

Out ladies just gone 1-0 down to Mrs Emery's girls

Unlucky Liam, you'll deffo get event 2 or 3.

After event 3 is allocated, all season ticket holders and members will have had an opportunity to go before next season starts.

Blessing in disguise, Liam.

Wait until the big kick-off takes place… hopefully we are in the Premier League.

It looks like Leicester and Saints want to go down, Mike. Wolves and Ipswich have both picked up four points more than us over the last 6 games.

A fair few thought that Ruud – 'You don't know what you're doing' (today) – would be a good choice for us. Ruud lived next door to Denis Law for years.

We play Leicester 1 February. They have lost their last SEVEN League games… 😖

Everton — the sequence busters.

I never got selected from the ballot for the first test event at the new stadium.

I don't think that's right, all those who have been to every away game should have been selected. In fact should get to go to all three test events!

Agree 100% Rob. Poor that.

I suspect that Hewey predicted that you were 'guaranteed' to be selected, Rob.

He did, Paul, that's when I knew I had no chance! 🤣🤣

Seriously though, how much trouble is it to reserve 1,000-1,500 tickets for three games (156,000 seats) for the ever-present who would see it as a dead nice gesture. It's not as if they get much else.

Was that visit to Finch Farm for the ever-present a few years ago a one-off, Rob?

Great goal! 2-0

It was mate. Was that about 4 years ago? Might have been longer.

That's a shame. It must have been at least four years ago. Why not every year?

What a cross from Digne for Tielemans to head home.

Should be 2-2

Did that actually hit Havertz's hand?

It was hard to tell.

Agreed Liam, looked like it hit his stomach for the disallowed goal.

Arsenal. Bed. Shit.

As predicted.

Title race is over now anyway.

In fairness, Arsenal have never really looked like a side capable of winning 7 or 8 on the spin, which is what's going to be needed this season to oust the Shite.

Man City have had a cataclysmic implosion to rival that of the Titan and nobody would have foreseen what's happened to them.

Football at the top is in flux, Chelsea, Spurs, Man City, Man Utd – all pissing into zipped-up pants. Just a shame we have yet again failed to step into the open door that clubs like Forest, Bournemouth, Brighton have.

Good post, Jim.

Man City's upcoming fixtures are not the best either.

I thought VAR was there to ensure the correct decision was made? I couldn't tell on the numerous replays whether the ball had hit the striker's hand or not; also, why no magnified images to help decide if it was hand or stomach?

Let's be honest, the other lot over the park, and there wouldn't have even been a question, it would have been awarded as a goal quicker than you can say VAR.

As Jim said, Arsenal look way off the last few seasons and are too vulnerable at the back to be Champions.

I have horrible feelings that the implosion of many of the regular contenders will see the other lot dominate for a few years more, which is exactly what occurred in the 1970s.

I have no idea if Everton will return from its self-inflicted exile from the higher echelons of the game ever again, but we have to hope that we do.

Clearly hand ball now I've seen it again.

Simon @96
Fair enough if it was hand ball, it was right to disallow the goal, just from what I saw during the live broadcast, it wasn't obvious as to which part of the body the ball hit.

That was handball, unfortunately.

Definite handball by Havertz, even if it was unintentional.

Devil's luck for the RS again.

Nunez hasn't been able to buy a goal for months, comes on a sub and scores two in injury time.

Nothing but bad news for us loyal Evertonians these days.

RS with a plethora of strikers will be Champions now that the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal have shown their weaknesses of late and only Nottm Forest look as if they can challenge them.

Sorry to say that our next game could be just as tough as we have seen over the last few weeks, even though Spurs have been lacklustre… Spurs at least have strikers.

It would be nice to see our fortunes change tomorrow especially as we showed some decent signs against Villa (who showed today they are a tough team to beat).

Having said that, we always get a little hopeful before every game only to see more of the same crap. Will Moyes have the guts to change the starting line-up or keep giving the same under-achievers another chance? Hope not.

Maybe, just maybe, Moyes will be able to show a new strategy instead of the same old, same old we have been fed for a few seasons or more.

I would like to see Armstrong given a start and Doucoure dropped.

Bournemouth showing that the manager is nowhere near as important as we believe.

The life of the club is top down from the owner.

Martin not sure your comment about the Bournemouth manager is correct (I do take your point about ownership, with a professionally run club) as Bournemouth are missing a lot of first-team players yet they put out a performance like that yesterday.

Whilst the backroom staff have sourced some top relatively unknown talent, Iraola still has to train them and devise the tactics. Although the ownership need credit for selecting him.

On a downbeat note — guess where the DoF who appointed Iraola and sourced their players is plying his trade now?

Martin, I completely agree with you.

Managers take far, far too much credit for what is really being delivered behind the scenes.

Put Iraola in charge of Everton in the period since the arse fell out of the club in 2021, and we would probably be cursing his incompetence — and wondering why high-flying Bournemouth are doing so well under some other manager.

Granted, Bournemouth wouldn't have appointed someone like Dyche to look after their very well-assembled (and expensively assembled) squad. But they don't fear relegation in the same way that we do. It wouldn't ruin them financially or bring such shame to the fans.

Robert but put Iraola in charge of the club before the arse fell out when we had the money, which was very badly spent, and we’d be in a better place.

I suppose this goes back to Martin’s point about senior leadership, a bit chicken and egg, whilst clubs like Bournemouth and Brighton were appointing risky young managers our geriatric leadership were appointing has beens like Allardyce and Benitez.

Remains to be seen if TFG haven’t fallen into the same trap though.

Charles, weren’t Silva and Lampard risky young managers?

Jeff # 106, that's the point. Silva is a good manager the club failed with an idiotic transfer strategy (the general theme 2016 to 2021).

Iraola has succeeded because he is a good manager at a club with a good transfer strategy.

2021 to the present has been one crisis appointment after another – at a point in time where we can't even compete financially with the likes of Ipswich for players. Those are not the conditions for the likes of Iraola to flourish.

If TFG can stabilise the finances and Moyes can stabilise the team, then the next manager might be more well-placed to really kick us on.

Robert, with stability, we should take risks.

A risk on a forward-thinking manager and a risk on relatively unknown players, no Premier League stalwarts like Willian or Man Utd cast-offs like Schneiderlin.

Charles, yes absolutely.

Although, once you have stability, these things aren't even risks – they are just plainly sensible things to do.

Agreed Robert, you can’t have one without the other, we’ve tried and failed because we didn’t have stability off the pitch, but to say we’ve never tried a young relatively unproven manager is not true.

Ipswich getting properly undressed!

Hopefully City won't ease off, Colin, and help us by making Ipswich's goal difference even worse!

Come on, City, double figures please! 🤞

Wowser, City doing us a huge favour.

Ipswich goal difference is being hammered. It's a good day!

Eased off now.

Didn't realise Ipswich had bought Ben Godfrey.

He had a shocker today by all accounts. The lad has pace and not shy of a tackle but he is an awful defender.

On loan, Brian.

Shocking and subbed.

Thanks Paul, he could be the best loan signing of the window for Everton!

Gather Luke Littler was watching his beloved United today.
Introduced to the crowd at half time and paraded around this pitch with his World Championship Trophy.

Then got his darts out of his pocket so the fans could see what 3 points looked like.

An additional ten points to my FFL Team before a ball is kicked tonight! 👍👍

Good for you Rob. By God you need them!

Just had a quick look Rob. I had thought you meant a fill in for Palmer who is playing I see. How did you get the extra ten?

crap match this

Wolves are horrendous at the back

Goaaaal.

It's crap but Wolves are losing so y'know

We're running away with the breakaway basement league and we have a highly winnable game in hand against the teams below us.

Wolves manager playing 'Win, Lose or Draw' during a break in play. Danny Baker in the crowd fuming.

I'd forgotten about that gobshite twat Baker...Thanks Liam

Are Wolves now the only fans who believe that the Premier League is as corrupt as fuck?

He was on the news the other day Paul. Selling all his vinyl.

Probably to young hipsters who think paying 40 quid for 'Rumours" on 12-inch makes them hepcats.

oh crap

Is he bankrupt? Who the feck sells vinyl these days? Awful by Sanchez

Shocking goalkeeping that.

Chelsea play with a lot of huff and puff if you know what I mean.

Poor keeper that Sanchez.

Glad we have Pickford, despite his belief he can punt the ball 60 yards on a plate for Calvert-Lewin.

First thing I thought when I woke up this morning was 'at least I don't have to listen to Dyche anymore'

Or watch him rubbing snot onto his forehead

Liam #136

You and Sean aren't together anymore then?

#137 Snot...you sure?

No Brendan, he'd taken me as far as he could

Brendan, congrats on your grandchild

What was it like having gravel whispering in your ear Liam?

No whispering with Sean. Front to back as quickly as possible. No build up.

Thanks Paul #140

And all the other well wishers.

Ended my "Dry January"...not unexpectedly I suppose.

Good for you Brendan

Liam, that sounds so right

I'd kill to cut his hair

2-1 Chelsea

That's more like it 3-1. Hammer them

Trump looking handsome

Looking forward to Trump trying to re-take the Panama Canal.😄

We'll do it if we choose to

I think 4 more wins makes us safe. The goal difference is worth a point and I don't really see any of those teams below reaching 33 points.

Davey Moyes the miracle worker!

Paul # 122……..all my subs will come in.

That 4 point buffer should help rebuild some confidence and Wolves, Leicester and to a degree Ipswich have difficult games to come.

Wolves defence is dire. They’re shopping goals like Southampton.

Colin, four more wins means a minimum 32 points, that’s a minimum six wins for Ipswich and wolves. Add in another win or two, a couple, or more, of draws and we’re away!! I can easily see the four below us losing again this weekend, so a draw at Brighton would be very nice!

Rob, we are going there to win mate!

Good stuff Rob. I0 is nice.

Brighton are all over the place Neil. Nice win; next a crap loss followed by a draw another loss and so on. Win yesterday means that they will not win this weekend. 3-1 and this time DCL gets 2.

Fecking freezing here yer English and Welsh jessies moaning about a little wind and snow and "freezing" temperatures.. -25F tonight! and worse tomorrow with "dangerous life-affecting" temperatures.

Jessies.

Paul, where are you? Chicago? I’ve been there in Jan and it is effing cold, the windchill off the lake is horrendous. A much drier cold than here though. It’s the constant horrible fucking dampness that gets you heater.

I fancy us against Brighton, probably because of the new manager bounce and their unpredictable form.

Yes Neil. You got that right. Come in summer for the Puerto Rican girls on the beaches. I'll pack a hamper.

Jeez you fucking feel it when you cross a street that leads to the lake. Inhuman! And all day we've had Trump's inauguration and he's on a stage right now with 20,000 rednecks for the theatre of signing an executive order to either pardon or commute the sentences of the January 6 ('day of love') 'hostages' thugs, criminals, and extreme-right scum.

Rob,

Couldnt agree more

The two teams immediately below us have mustered 16 points from 22 games. if we got five more wins they would have to improve vastly turn that on its head and get 22 points from their remaining 16 games. One of them might possibly do it, but is it possible both will ? I don't think so.

I have said all along that I think the panic button has been unnecessarily pressed and we will be stuck with Moyes come May. We should have been spending our time choosing the right manager. Just surviving is not enough. We'd have done that anyway.

I'm looking up now. I think Harry potter will deffo drag W Ham into it by trying to play out with those clumsy donkeys he has and there is genuine panic at OT and Spurs. Only if Moyes can bump us up a few places and get a bit more prize money will his appointment, for me at least, be justified.

I'd have rather spend the money on players.

Paul @ 159, and to think the US claims to be a country of law and order.

Colin, are TFG lining up a return for Carlo?…………

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave the club in the summer, with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso the favourite to replace the Italian. (Ondacero - in Spanish)

I hope not, Rob!

Sickening Steve mate. I just noticed that my green card has expired. I'm expecting a knock on the door and six armed ICE men charging into the house. I'd be a hero but wrong demographic sadly.

At least our U18s are in control.

And the Kelly Coates/5Live love in with the shite.

If we had decent money to spend, we should lock a couple of Lille players in their hotel rooms and get them to Finch Farm in the morning

Great stuff and down to 10