McNeil stars as Everton hold their nerve to finally win

Dwight scoring is what we can celebrate but the first half was poor — it underscores Dyche's poor coaching of this team.

What is crucial is that we are not off the bottom come the takeover. Dyche fighting for his future. This helps, but when you dig down into the performance, it is still far from acceptable.

I suspect that he knows his days are numbered and he is now playing for personal pride. Good luck to him but I will have no difficulty waving him goodbye.

Then it was 'back into shape', everyone bar Dom in the final 3rd, and we invited pressure.

A great goal by McNeil at the start of the second half lifted the gloom. We moved the ball much quicker after that and another excellent strike by McNeil deservedly clinched the points.

Let's accept that and move on and enjoy the excellent goals.

If we had him from the first game of the season, we would have been on a minimum 10 points, maybe 12.

The lad can find a pass and is always looking to pass it forward.

Brian 11,

Dyche keeps us guessing, we don't know everything he sees, and we see things from a different perspective, but sometimes the guy is so one track it sucks big time...

David McMullen 2: ‘Some good moments in the game Dwight scoring is what we can celebrate but the first half was poor it underscores Dyche's poor coaching of this team.”

Short and to his point, but not even a single word on how things turned round in the second half and that Dyche had a large hand in that for exactly the same things that he is lambasted and lampooned on here when things go pear-shaped: set-up, substitutions, reacting as the game unfolds.

David believes, not unreasonably, that Dyche had a “poor” first half, but he does not have the – what is the right word? – decency and fair-mindedness (or generosity) to give Dyche a pat on the back when he gets it right.

Have a pat on the back, Sean Dyche, and enjoy your curry.

Neil Lawson 5: “What is crucial is that we are not off the bottom come the takeover.”

Erm, that's a head-scratcher or a "What The Fuck?"

Choose either "off the bottom" or "not on the bottom".

Mistakes are understandable when still in shock from a comeback win!

To be honest, that was what I thought happened but I wanted to check in on you to see if all was okay, but like me you went down with "Dear Lord, we've made a comeback and won"-itis.

We are so much better with him than without him.

Having taken the lead, it was critical we did not repeat the mistakes of the Bournemouth debacle by chasing forward in search of more goals. The compact shape of the team in the closing stages made it very difficult for Palace to find a way through.

Branthwaite made a huge difference in the centre of our defence. His very presence lends confidence to those around him. He made some vital interceptions in deep areas and was calm in possession.

Mangala has given the team more composure in central areas. He has the knack of finding his way out of tight situations with quick feet and short, simple passes. There is a question about the best partner for him. At the moment it is Doucouré but Gana or indeed Garner may be better options in the coming weeks.

McNeil is in fine form. I remember some on here not so long ago questioning what Dyche sees in him. The player answered that emphatically today.

Lindstrøm was indeed awful. Throwing his arms in the air after losing possession was the antithesis of the philosophy Dyche has tried to instil in our squad. We cannot afford a player performing reasonably well one week, as Lindstrøm did last week at Leicester, but showing completely the wrong attitude the following week.

Ashley Young was very good today. Making the game simple, finding the right pass, being in the right position to make a clearance or interception are underrated elements of the game. Many fans say they don't want to see Ashley Young's name on the team sheet before pressing the case for Roman Dixon who offers fantastic pace but has yet to master the fundamentals of a full-back's role.

While that is understandable in a 19-year-old with just two first team starts under his belt, unless or until we have the luxury of being able to take risks at the back, I am sure Dyche will stick with the tried and trusted campaigner. So he should.

Absolutely spot on. Dyche never given any credit. Many would have you believe that when we win, it's despite him even if he makes important changes.

Ndiaye – amazing; Mangala – purposeful and confident; Dwight – hungry; and Branthwaite – well what can you say? Welcome back, son, you've been missed terribly.

There were snippets of improvement from other team members, but I think Lindstrøm really suffered today for whatever reason, and his performance wouldn't have done him any favours with his confidence; I hope that it's only a short-term issue.

But as already stated, a win is a win, so on to the next game and let's keep the climb up the table going. Well done, lads. COYB

Everton has made the break from the bottom of the table. Hopefully it will continue.

All that was needed was Keane to come off the bench and score for the Matrix to really collapse in on itself.

Hold on to him whatever happens. He's the difference.

That's 85 games - 22 goals and 22 assists.

Only Napoli and Everton have played him as a right-winger or right-midfielder — why? It is not his best position by a long chalk.

However, it has certainly given Jack Harrison a kick up the arse, to know he's now got
competition.

Yes, Branthwaite, welcome back my son! I don't know what he does, but he makes Tarkowski better too.

Mangala looks class. Ndiaye is a bag of tricks that keeps me interested. Harrison much better today. Young been good last 2 games.

Pickford has to learn to defend his 6-inch box better, lesser keepers manage to take pressure off but he invites it by not dominating balls right under the bar.

I do hate it though when we sit back and let the opposition dictate the game. We got through it this time, but have come unstuck previously and will do so again playing that way.

He actually reminds me of Vlasic. He's had a few brilliant strikes on goal that unfortunately the goalies have saved, he gets in dangerous positions but so far his final pass has been lacking. His general work rate and strength are below par too.

In contrast, Ndiyae – after years in the lower leagues – has strength to complement his talent. I know it's early days but I'm not too optimistic Lindstrom is cut out for the Premier League. He was worth a roll of the dice on loan but I'm thinking Preki, Vlasic etc.

Ndiyae though is fantastic. I'm bewildered as to why he struggled at Marseille. He's the kind of player we've been crying out to sign for years, decades even. Skillful and committed. Good job on that one Thelwell

"I'm bewildered as to why he struggled at Marseille."

I thought exactly the same... Did they play him as centre-half, keeper?

Maybe you're on to something. Maybe sub goalie?

Play with the belief and conviction of much of the 2nd half and the season will be promising.

Fair play to Young, he turned up and played very well again, and Dyche got his changes right at half-time.

This is hopefully something to build and learn from.

The result was massive, and now to sort the Skunks out.

Dwight, really well-executed goals. Dominic, where were you today? Ndiyae, you are a star in the making. Glad to see you back, Jarrad!

I think the reason so many of our midfielders struggle playing out wide is because most of them are Number 10s.

McNeil was never a wide player, reminds me of when we wasted Bilyaletdinov out wide under Moyes. Harrison again not a wide player.

Lindstrom probably better again as a Number 10.

That's just the way it is but I am glad Dyche is now playing Dwight in the middle, the lad should be scoring 10 goals at least playing in that role.

I got picked up on a typo yesterday. However, you are correct. Pickford does need to command his 6-inch box and when he has mastered that, he may consider extending it another 210 inches.

It would be good to have a keeper who is not only a shot-stopper but who can also catch a cross off his line.

I was praying we signed Iliman Ndiaye when hw was at Sheffield Utd, there he was playing as a No 10 and looked the real deal. Strange how Marseille didn't work out but he could become a real talisman here and boy do we need a few.

A right-back is essential in January and I hope the takeover has gone through so that we can add real quality there. A striker, a back-up left-back (young, high potential ceiling) and a quality central midfielder too with Doucoure and Calvert-Lewin hopefully being moved on.

I believe in Thelwell; ultimately, he will be judged on who he has signed but you have to remember that he's competing on the Premier League's smallest budget so any quality he gets through the door will be against competition.

He deserves a shot with some financial backing. I choose to also think about the players he clearly fancied but struggled to get over the line: Minteh, Gnonto, Gibbs-White to name a few. Some of whom were coming into their prime and very good players. I think he will dip more progressively into the South American market with some cheddar behind him.

First half was poor, but Dyche responded and got it right this time. There's a good team there somewhere, and the manager seems to be working it out slowly but, with Branthwaite back in, then it should settle the defence.

For the record, I'm not adverse to a bit of booing, we get behind the team 100% and deserve to show some emotions. I'm not clapping a pile of shite.

But see the difference when we see some quality (great strike from McNeil, more please) the celebrations are like booing in reverse x 100.

Imagine the scenes if we can turn Newcastle over next week. UTFT!

As to positioning, I wouldn't be too concerned about the right wing versus attacking midfielder thing. An attacking trio of Ndiaye, McNeil and Lindstrom has a nice look about it me. It's not like Lindstrom would be rooted to the flank anyway.

But to be successful, these three need a very solid midfield base and overlapping full-backs. If you have that, Lindstrom will operate more in the half-space between No 10 and wing anyway – with the full-back providing the width.

In terms of midfield base, Mangala is starting to look quite good and we can manage without being particularly good. But Lindstrom would really benefit from a high quality right-back with a good engine.

I do not remember Mangala being such a tidy player when he was at Forest.

The last half hour was a nail-biter but Jack looked like a man who wanted his spot back. Words don't have the same effect as being dropped. Love to see a player not sulk but grab his opportunity when given. Benefits of having a larger squad who Big Sean trusts.

Newcastle just got run into the ground by City and have a midweek cup match. 3 more points, please.

Mind, I'm not sure he wanted to come here or was it we couldn't afford him or never tried hard enough to get him?

The shape, movement and end product is already growing before our eyes, a lot to like this week.

I know he is short of match fitness, but the lad needs to take on some spinach, he was knocked off the ball time after time, and was a prime contributor to the Palace goal.

Harrison made a huge difference (not something I thought I'd say). So three cheers for Dyche making the half-time call.

Pickford actually came out and caught a corner in the second half too!

I think we just couldn't afford Gibbs-White.

The headline price for these players is not always the issue – it's the terms of payment.

Hopefully the takeover is the game-changer we've been desperate for in this respect.

Thanks, whatever the reason he never came, I think he would have made a huge difference to our fortunes last season and so far this season as well.

Great win – lovely to enjoy a Saturday night and Sunday for once!

He's not immune because he's England's Number 1… you know Dyche doesn't want a 6'-1" goalie, he likes big lads. Sean likes giants all over the pitch and Jordan doesn't fit the narrative, but Dyche is forced to play him.

Please go back and watch the highlights from the Palace game that we won 3-2 when Dom scores the diving header and we invaded the pitch. The two Palace goals are the exact same shite we are still dealing with now!!!!!

First one, he doesn't leave his line for a cross in the 6-yard box, and second goal he tires to come out but is a shitbag and parries to someone. He has cost us soooooo many points, always has since the derby Origi crossbar debacle.

Please go back and watch those two palace goals from 2022…. he is the root of many of our problems. He's in a team full of absolute world class players for England, maybe the best squad in the world right now, so he gets bailed out and looks okay but he's not!!

He took Sunderland down and nearly has taken us down a few times but we got bailed out by the lads up top. He is however excellent at penalties and the Maddison penalty save kept us up.

But I'm done with him and, if we can get £50M for him to maybe keep Jarrad or Dom, then I would. He would be okay playing for a team who maybe have a lot of the ball and aren't under pressure often, like Man City or Arsenal etc.

But we are shite and our full-backs are shit and we let a lot of crosses into the box and we stay under pressure for most of our games. He isn't what we need and never has been.

I agree and there are a few erudite and respected posters on here who are in our camp.

But that one yesterday wasn't down to him.

Some people say this position would suit Ndiaye, and it might. McNeil also proved that he's better with the game in front of him (he didn't play as a natural Number 10, at times though?) but I think both of these players can give the team a lot more than Lindstrøm can, playing out wide, so I'd like to see how he performed as a Number 10.

McNeil and Ndiaye rotate and switch positions on and off during the game. They have done since the first week of the season.

Dwight starts as a No 10 but switches with Ndiaye on the left at times during the game.

I think it's been mentioned by a few people on this thread that these three players could rotate their positions, while I also found it interesting what Robert said @36, because I've still got hopes for Nathan Patterson if Dyche is prepared to slowly keep changing our style of play.

I have never been convinced by him yet his stats do tend to support him. I was brought up watching keepers who come and catch or clear crosses and who, generally, aim to inspire confidence in the defenders in front of them.

Pickford is a character and has turned in many outstanding performances, yet you always feel that there is a clanger awaiting.

I hate the "batting away" of shots which has led to too many opposition tap-ins. However, it appears to be the modern way which I just do not understand.

I don't know how good or otherwise Virginia truly is but, in all the games he has played last season and this, he does appear to be calm and safe and not afraid to come for a cross.

Pickford will not be dropped until such time as his performance levels become consistently unacceptable, but if an injury or suspension were to keep him out, I would like to think that, if Virginia, and not Begovic played well in his place, that he would be allowed to continue.

And yes, if someone wants to pay £30M for Jordan, I won't be crying. That said, he will still win us a fair number of points. He is the definition of an enigma.

I also see that there is potential to do something slightly different with this team. But it means a different set-up altogether. [Please bear with me, I'll keep it short and await any response.]

How about using a 3-4-2-1 formation? (And I'll include a couple of links at the end.)

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Branthwaite
Harrison Garner Mangala Ndiaye
Lindstrøm McNeil
Calvert-Lewin

Virginia, with a right-back (Young currently and one of Patterson and Dixon) and Mykolenko on the bench, with Keane (for now), Iroegbunam, Gueye, Doucouré, Armstrong,
Beto (later to be Broja or Chermiti).

In the transfer window, I'd love us to pick up a right-wing-forward to help us out.

Here's a couple of links:

Footballizer-Academy

Jobs in Football - Tactics

I look forward to anybody's thoughts at all regarding this.

Do you really think any club would pay £50M for Pickford? We would be lucky to get half that in my opinion; Chelsea might be interested.

I don't think Pickford is in the top six keepers in the Premier League: Ederson, Allison, Raya, Martinez, Vicario, Onana and even Pope are better than him.

I have always said he reminds me of Grobbelaar – capable of fantastic saves, but also capable of silliness and stupid mistakes.

I think we've got a genuine game-changer in him.

But, as Jack Convery [24] and myself on the match day thread have both said. He is not a winger, though he has been played as a winger on both sides, where he hasn't performed well, with all due respect to someone with immeasurably more talent than I with a football.

If he is to be played, he needs to play in a role that suits him, as I posted @51, or to sub out McNeil when he fatigues.

Also, he needs to get some conditioning work done ASAP, similar to how Anthony Gordon developed himself. This however, I doubt he'll be able to do much before the last dozen or so games of the season (in order to be full effective), or he needs as many meaningful minutes as possible.

All of the other keepers you mention have far, far less to do than Pickford week in and week out as they are playing for teams who control matches where the ball spends most of the game up the other end of the pitch.

It would have been interesting to have seen them playing for us over the past few years. I don't think any of them would have coped. I also don't think any of them would have made that save against Chelsea.

That's what I wanted, the team, the manager, the fans all delivered. To come back and win from going behind well, we know what the opposite situation feels like.

I want to keep it happy and positive so I'm not talking about individual performances but I will say that I'm not convinced Ndiaye, McNeil and Lindstrøm are a strong enough unit or threat to start too many games together.

All offer something different and it's about finding the right combination to benefit the team. It's a nice headache / problem to have. It's been far too long since we had competition for the attacking positions.

I'm hoping Chermiti a quick recovery to put pressure on Dom and add to more good attacking options.

Yep, sure is about opinions, the Chelsea save from a couple years back was indeed top-class, but you are stretching it to say none of the other guys could have made that save.

I'm sure you could make a video of Pickford's best moments and I could make a video of his worst. He is a good shot-stopper but is lacking big time in other areas.

I disagree having nothing to do for a lot of the game makes it easier, it would actually make it tougher to stay focused.

Pickford is definitely looking more unsteady so far this season. But, I agree with others, that he was not to blame for Palace's goal.

Come to think of it, the Palace coaches' tactics at corne, particularly from our left, were well planned and executed. They could easily (with a bit of luck) have scored 2 more almost identical to the one they scrambled into the net.

Sean Dyche needs to check out this weakness. Personally, I'd like to see O'Brien in there somewhere to provide extra height and strength. But I'm unsure as to which position to trade off to achieve this. Right-back?

I agree about the right-back and O'Brien situations; and as such, see the formation I dreamed up @51.

Get rid of the rightt-back problem all together; yet keep Young, Mykolenko and either of Patterson or Dixon on the bench alongside Keane.

Then play a 'box four' in the middle as shown, with Harrison and Ndiaye either pressing, tucking in, or attacking when and where needed.

Both have engines, and Ndiaye I think always looks knackered after 65-70 minutes, but is like a Duracell Bunny. (nb: Other batteries are available!)

Anyone who has played in goal would know that there is usually an understanding with your centre-half as to who should challenge for what as most keepers thoughts are letting in a powderpuff header because he went for a cross his centre-half/defender should at least have been making difficult for the attacker or blocking him from getting near the keeper if he comes for a cross.

Martyn was great even if it was frustrating not to land him at his peak — we were apparently his first choice.

People are going all the way back to 2018 again and even 2017 at Sunderland for shit's sake, as if he hasn't saved us about 20 points and two relegations in the past three seasons with one incredible save after another.

I used to keep track of how many points he saved with stops nobody else could make versus how many he gave up with mistakes or short arms or whatever, but when the proportion reached about 6 to 1, I decided it's not even worth the debate any more.

People gonna think what people gonna think.

You have to have trained with it, and you have to be willing to accept the mistakes and goal errors that come with the transition. I strongly doubt Dyche is willing to risk that right now.

Regarding O'Brien, per Transfermarkt he has never in his career played right back. At Lille, he did occasionally play in a three-man backline.

He is England Number 1 for a reason.

Me dad stayed at home and I took my lad to a uni open day. The come-from-behind win was fully expected.

Great to see Branthwaite back.

Yes, I said myself that he wasn't to blame – the cross was too deep beyond the far post for any keeper to claim.

I'm sorry if my opinion upsets some but he doesn't command his box, that's a fact, by the way, not just my opinion.

He's Number 1 for England because he's a great shot-stopper and they have a stronger defence but we are very different.

Personally, I would prefer Pope.

They'd carry Onana on their shoulders along the East Lancs Road!

I'd like to see him back involved with the club in some capacity, but that isn't pining.

Mike, you have to have the right centre-backs. I played that system for years. Two ball-playing and one who mostly took responsibility for the aerial challenges. And very fit, hard working wing-backs.

This just conceded possession and put us under more pressure. This was probably down to Sean Dyche and his tactics but it could easily have cost us.

In the second half, Pickford came out to collect several crosses so maybe it was an instruction that he received at half-time. If so, why doesn't he come for crosses more often?

Is Harry Maguire the best centre-half, Shaw the best left-back??

Yeah the bastard. Voted player of the season by his Mackem team mates and their fans. Short-listed for Young Player of the Year and draws interest from several Premier League clubs. All prepared to make him the 3rd most expensive keeper of all time.

If it wasn't for him, the Mackems would still be playing in the top flight.

The bastard tried to take us down too, using the same plan of pulling off world class saves every week. Didn't work though. He just got named our Player of the Season three times on the bounce!

That`ll learn him. It's a bit harder to get Everton relegated…

We've had our first league win of the season, a cause for some small amount of positivity, and a huge amount of joy to some of us, but for others all they can do is search and search to find a way, yet again, to slag one of our players and turn positives into abject negativity.

It's pathetic, and I'm sadly beginning to accept what some say about Evertonians – and ToffeeWebbers in particular.

Like many old fogies on this site, I long to see our beloved Blues rise up again at least one more time before Judgement Day and I pray that the new ownership does all the right things to help that happen.

The squad at the moment is a mish-mash of good players and not-so-good players who struggle with consistency, as well as a formation that doesn't really gel.

Dyche may not be the man to take us there but he is honest with what he says and I am sure he knows he is treading a thin line.

His horror show at Anfield a few years ago seemed a turning point and, since then, positives have outweighed negatives but he will always have a blooper in him. He's a "stopper" rather than a well-rounded goalkeeper… but he wasn't at fault for the Palace goal.

I think there's some justification for that. I'll also repeat – he wasn't to blame for the Palace goal – and I'm absolutely delighted we won.

Regarding Pickford, are you saying he has saved 20 points in the last three seasons or 20 points in each of the last three seasons?

Seems a huge difference to me!

Yes, he isn't the most commanding of keepers but over the last few seasons he has been key to us not being relegated so I'm happy to see him "between the sticks" for us.

The one area I do have a little concern this season is he does seem to have lost some control of his emotions.

It was definitely a weakness when he first joined us but, after the Origi fiasco, he seemed to sort himself out. This season, though, there seems to have been a return of some of his histrionics with his shouting and gesturing.

We do see some of their play in highlights but that will likely not give a true picture. Ok, some of us also do manage to watch some full games which gives us a better idea.

Pickfords has his faults but overall I don't think I would swap him, except maybe for Raya or Sanchez who stood out as very good keepers even before they were signed by Arsenal and Chelsea.

Your histrionic posts are doing that job all by themselves.

Sean, As you say elsewhere, Everton players read ToffeeWeb and Tarkowski says he's just read your post at #84 and he's now also going to pay £150 for his match shirt every game so that he's also entitled to call the ref a "fucking wanker"; and if the ref goes to book him, he's going to remind the ref that he, James, paid £150 for his shirt - "which is more than you did, ref, you fucking wanker". What entitlement buying a shirt gives you.

Loads old enough to know better shout the odds all the time here it's like gratuitously ripping into players, managers and fellow fans is an addiction. Massively weird

What's wrong with "I disagree because " or "I thing the player has these faults " etc.

I'm not keen on the insults ya gormless melts

Some of the language and abuse filling the air around me aimed at our players when the Palace goal went in was disgraceful.

And I was sat in the house watching it on my own..

Football is traditionally a working class sport. I think we all grew up hearing foul language inside the ground.

As I've got older, I understand it as long as it doesn't get too abusive, especially in front of young children.

Everyone is entitle to air their frustration, just have a look around and don't use tw@t or the c-word.

Spitting is unacceptable.

But I think the worst was the Suarez biting incidents.

I don't get offended by a bit of swearing. It is natural, but there are lines to be drawn with regards to personal, targeted abuse in my opinion.

Spitting is unacceptable.

But I think the worst was the Suarez biting incidents.

I don't get offended by a bit of swearing. It is natural, but there are lines to be drawn with regards to personal, targeted abuse in my opinion.

Dave #77, you were sitting next to me for the worst moment of his career, so for you, my friend, here's the number. My little spreadsheet shows him saving 21 points over the past three seasons, or 7 points a season.

That's a net number, so points won or preserved with stops that few keepers in the world could have made (or none, like Chelsea) versus points dropped through mistakes. They had to be moments that actually made a difference like Anfield. I wouldn't have included the recent howler against Spurs because we weren't getting points out of that game anyway.

The thing is, without those 7 points a season -- with an average keeper -- we're relegated long ago. So I believe that he deserves more credit than any other player for the fact that we are still in the Prem.

Sean K., various posts, stop with the complaining already. You can say anything you want. People disagreeing with you aren't trying to shut you up. Even when you say ridiculous things about there being club moles on the site posting propaganda. Nobody can disagree with you without being a paid mole, huh? Silly.

Mike the Mole

Brilliant

Thank you. I'd missed that

The robbing fucking wanker shitbags.

Spitting isn’t a good look but, I think once the body starts producing a lot more saliva through exertion, then it would surely be against a players human rights, if he wasn’t allowed to spit it out, Sean, but I can understand you getting a cob-on with the kids playing in the garden, if you’re playing in a £150 Kit!

Simon H@51, that’s a very brave team you have picked there mate. I think Patterson might suit playing as a wingback, but I’m not sure we have got anyone to play up and down, on the other side.

Do you take into consideration his temperament for instance and I don’t mean just this season he’s been at it for the last eighteen months at least ranting and raving, Tarkowski told him to button at least twice at Goodison Park last season, Doucoure and Young had a go on Saturday.

Those long kicks of his straight to the opposition ‘keeper or defenders giving them possession and putting us under pressure, those sliced kicks into the crowd with his right foot.

You think he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world while I think he is over hyped by a lot of Everton fans and is a good shot stopper but will never be great because of his failings inside the six yard area game after game so it’s down to opinions.

I don’t think I used to spit when playing five aside football indoors either, so it must be something to do with having to do a lot more longer running, because you definitely had to be hard, when you was playing in our five aside game Sean, trust me!

The only racket sport I was any good at was squash.

You make things up. I smiled when you put “no” in upper-case to add extra stress to your mistake/fabrication that JP never comes for crosses. Have a quick flick through the Palace game again, you’ll see him doing just that several times.

You stretch things to extreme limits that more often than not tip you over into yet another fabrication. ”He took Sunderland down”. No he didn’t. Sunderland used twenty-plus players that season who named him (or the fans did) their player of the year.

We’ve had this conversation before, but you do seem to suffer from delusion and whacky fantasy. You’ve mentioned club “moles” before but you’ve gone up a level on this thread. What follows is what I think of now as Kearnsism. Christine F might be a “club mole” because she is “trying to sensor [sic] the internet!!”. “Just saying”. CF was not trying to censor the internet (interesting concept), she was instead objecting to some language which she is reasonably entitled to do and would be prepared to bring cases to MK/LL if she felt that was appropriate (the mods/eds encourage us to do this Mr. Kearns, are they censors of the internet also?).

Then there is this revelatory gem to savour: “There is [sic] also a few club moles on the site who spit propaganda and whatnot regularly” (are you one of then Mr. Kearns if this is the evidence, as you yourself “spit propaganda and whatnot regularly”?). Can I ask why you think Everton FC would infiltrate “a few club moles” into ToffeeWeb? Do they get paid? Are they given coaching on how to ToffeeWeb (a verb now as well as a name)? This is nuts. Do you act in this deluded manner in other walks of your life? Was Trump shot by Biden? Did Alexander the Great kill his dad? Did Tommy Smith put the bets on in Tony Kay’s name? Did September-11 really happen or was it created by [fill in the gap] _____ ?”

Your ”club moles” seem to be people who disagree with you Mr. Kearns; the rest of us would in all likelihood call them people who disagree with me.

As I understand it, you can call Pickford “a shitbag” because you splashed out “150 quid for a home shirt”? These shirts are $101 or $107 on evertondirect (cheaper from Castore for the most part). Two things. Some people could be forgiven for thinking that you did not buy said shirt (fucking moles). Also, how on Sheedy’s earth is buying a home shirt a green light to abuse JP or anyone? Am I allowed to abuse the short twat even though I do not have a home shirt? Where do the possibilities end Mr. Kearns? What else does this magic 150 quid shirt allow me to do? “Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach”.

“No I'm saying James Tarkowski was my influence… I paid for a shirt just like he did but he gets to say profanities and I don’t. He’s a hero and I want to do as he does”. Erm. Well, JT did not pay for his shirt Mr. Kearns. Life is shite, isn’t it? JT gets to swear like a trooper because he forked out for his shirt but you can’t do this because of fucking moles like that Christine Foster. What’s she like Sean? Would you jump over a cliff Mr. Kearns if JT did? Would you throw soup on a Van Gogh if JT was an underground “Just Stop Oil” commando?

I’m not quite sure why we had that abrupt switch to spitting but at least we can agree that spitting is not a good illustration of the beautiful game and the “beautiful football” that we play. Mind you Sean, JT likes a good gobby spit and you “want to do as he does”. I’m interested. Did you try to call that radio station again after you could not get through that one time? What was that biographical diversion all about?

Sean, there are no “moles” on here. It’s all up there in your mind. But if I am wrong, answer this question please: why would Everton FC plant moles on ToffeeWeb?

Trying to get Calvert-Lewin on goal with a 70-yard half-volley never works. Ever. The ball just comes straight back. Please stop doing it, Thomas Turgoose.

He's a good keeper. No more than that. Best English one, but the competition is weak. He's miles behind the best ones in the Premier League: Ederson, Allison etc. He's probably more suited to international football as the aerial game is less common.

Queen Olympias surely hated King Philip enough to do the deed for her son. Pretty hard to believe Alex knew nothing if they needed to claim the throne right after the deed was done.

Don't put anything past the puppet master democrats either. The Clinton's have more bodies than Oblock.

Unless Usmanovs influence is still prevalent and the club is channelling the ghosts of Felix Dzerzhinsky and Lavrentiy Beria to manage dissent.

Probably not very likely tbh.

Moles but they aren't from Everton....

Adolf was a kopite - his brother who lived on Stanhope street regularly took him to Mordor when he visited. It's where he got the idea for Lebensraum after getting the pocket of his trench coat filled up with piss on the Kop.

He shouldn't have had his rolled up copy of Bild hanging out of it I suppose.

I travelled up to Liverpool this weekend for very different reasons. Me and my cousins laid a stone on my Grandmother's grave at Allerton. Just up from where she was laid, was Rhys Jones's (Little Boy Blue) burial place. I was quite surprised as he grew up in Croxteth, so I would have assumed he would have been buried in the north of the city. But I guess his parents wouldn't have wanted him buried in a cemetery called Anfield.

We travelled around the streets of Speke looking at former houses (my mother's and my uncle's mother). Much talk of the old prefabs.

We then took my Uncle to Goodison to let him walk along the Gwladys Street where he used to stand. Then on to Bramley-Moore Dock. As you approach along Regent Road from town and she comes into sight, a sight to behold. She looks magnificent.

We snuck into the contractor's car park to get a close view until we got moved on.

The Liverpool weather was relentless and we got soaked. I'm still thawing out.

No, I deleted the spreadsheet last spring once survival was assured again because frankly I was bored with the debate. And no, I didn't consider temper or distribution or claiming crosses, I considered only what I mentioned -- great saves versus mistakes, and whether they impacted points won or lost.

I have argued in the past that, generically speaking, commanding one's area is not a requirement for greatness. Of course traditional English fans highly rate that, but some of the best in the world -- Ederson, Oblak, ter Stegen -- don't do it. I watched a lot of Clasicos. I don't think I ever saw Casillas or Valdes or Claudio Bravo come out to claim high crosses outside their 6-yard box. Yet they were considered apex keepers in their day.

It definitely is all down to opinions.

Sorry you did not make the match that would have lifted you up but hope that the long weekend and Birmingham has been healing and restorative (for your uncle too).

I haven't seen the dock emerging into her full bloom. for over a year now Danny.

And Marx developed his theory of false consciousness after listening to kopites spouting how great they thought they were. He'd just stand there and laugh and tell jokes - had everyone in Thiers.

Paul 114, Valspar mate.

My dad grew up in Walton but moved to Speke after coming home from school one day to find the house had gone courtesy of the Luftwafe! He moved to Bray Road which is still there I think. He used to talk about the prefabs all the time.

One man's c-word is another man's adverb.

My better (non-scouse) half still laughs at how my dad described a piece of furniture he didn't like, as 'c**t of a table'.

Christine, I'd love to discuss Everton with you if I get the chance. Get yourself over lady.

Well, I have many friends who support other PL leagues and I can reassure you that a good number of them would happily take JP off our hands and they include supporters of Man-Utd, Fulham, Chelsea, Brighton, West Ham, and Palace. My close Monaco mate would love to have JP as well, as would my Leverkusen supporting graduate teaching assistant this year.

He comes up in conversation fairly often - as England keeper too, needless to say - more often than not because of posts like yours with the list of mistakes-waiting-to-happen (and even that oh-so slight faint trace of praise had to be painted over) that for you are second-nature, but not for me.

You have this list that you are clearly pleased with, so what was the point of the made-up shite about other teams?

Would you also provide us with your empirical base for claiming that JP has cost us more points than he has gained? If you are not able to do this, then like much else your view is mere supposition that can be called bullshit.

"Look at what other teams supporters think. "

I did. You are wrong.

Not saying they are bad or good, it’s just a part of the online world now. But I’m aware of it.

Also someone above pointed out I misspelled the word “Censor” earlier… very funny as many of you on here confuse “to” and “too” regularly and it winds me up as I quite adore good grammar. But I never say a word about it because I’m polite and this isn’t pre-school. But since someone had a go because I misspelled a word I think it’s hilarious that many people confuse “to” and “too”. Just saying like.

Without these things, your post is just like any other of those on here that can be challenged for what they say about each aspect of JP's goalkeeping.

So who on ToffeeWeb are the club moles?

Name and shame

Also I don’t have any specific names, I’m just stating that this is a common practice online for major businesses. I suspect ours (EFC) would be no different, in fact if we didn’t have moles online I would say we are behind in the times and we really should. Accusations are serious and I wouldn’t point a finger, just say that some ppl exhibit certain traits that I recognize from stock forums where moles are common place. Wasn’t looking for a whole ordeal about it mind you, just letting ppl know what I think and what happens on the modern day internet.

Sean, have you never been told two wrongs don’t make a right?

I think that is a false equivalence based on two things being ‘businesses’. I don’t see how EFC would gain significant financial revenue by having employees patrol the fan sites just to argue with other posters.

What would they have to gain? This is Everton we only make losses- cash, points, managers, DoFs, games, leads, players, boardrooms, owners prospective, unannounced and actual, security videos and the Chairman's picture. And nobody should mention the deeds to training grounds we now lease.

Still, Europe next year,eh. Now who said that?

I went to Wembley with my then wife and son in 2009, it was the semi-final and we were enjoying the sun the beer garden at the Green Man. Suddenly all hell broke loose as two lads started fighting. Evertonian on Evertonian. One was clearly a boxer, so there was only one outcome. The best thing being, they were mates in the same group!! Once over, they shook hands and rejoined their mates and carried on drinking!!

I make spelling mistakes, usually when I'm posting on my phone.

We are massive Sean and not just that majestic new stadium towering above the northern docks. Our support base is second to none. Sold out every week home and away, with a very lengthy season ticket waiting list. Let's paint the city blue.

As I said earlier, We took my uncle to Goodison yesterday and let him wander around. He got very nostalgic looking at the time line. Way into his 70s, h and approaching 80, he remembers being rammed into a packed 72,000 Goodison.

I'm going to do my best to get him a ticket for a final trip to the Grand Old Lady of English football. He hasn't beeni for 30 years.

3 points behind Manchester United and the FA Cup to come.

Never stop believing the seeming impossible.

Sorry but just laughed hysterically, believe the impossible, since Mr Ancelotti left it's been nothing but and perhaps we should change "A Grand Old Team" for the theme music from the Great Escape and somebody on a motor bike leading the teams out although I remember when it was rumoured we might sign a McQueen and his team mate Jordan from across the Pennines.

Down the valley, onto Scottie, then turn right onto Boundary Street, and once you go across Vauxhy, (all for you this Christine!) and reach the top of the little brow, then the breathtaking view (for us toffees) of Bramley Moore, sits right in front of you….. Singing WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED!!!

I also enjoy the tune 'Holes' by Mercury Rev (...dug by little moles)

Hopefully this doesn't mean the dust of rumour blows in my face and the cloak of suspicion covers me.

Sean K - I believe you are correct about online corporate moles, disinformation and AI bots. But think you may have hit the nail on the head when you said if Everton aren't doing it they are behind the times. I find it highly unlikely that a dysfunctional operation like ours has even thought of it.

This is the club that had a summer temp send out thousands of season tickets to the wrong people, beacause no one thought to tell them you need to match the address on the envelope to the one on the letter.

However, maybe I am being naive and the club has a fully functional, embedded cadre of propaganda personnel controlling the narrative.

Getting to Lime Street was a nightmare. No entries everywhere, no right turn here, no left turn there.

Hopeful for Newcastle. I think we can turn the corner. Let's just get the ownership sorted so we can look forward. I love Everton, I love our heritage, but we need change to progress.

Let’s be honest here if Pickford had not have played in the games he did we would still have had a goalkeeper playing and he might have come off his line a lot more and calmed the defence down instead of ranting and raving at them, but that is just another opinion.

Let’s hope the calmer Pickford who came out a bit more to claim three or four crosses carries on like that and a lot of very nervous fans will relax as well.

The club needs to start moving right now and we need to start claiming all the north side of the city, as far as Victoria St, and into Mathew St, right now.

Everton started using houses to start painting Muriel’s, Liverpool seem to have done it tenfold. Everton started putting up flags on the top of street lights on the streets leading up to Goodison, Liverpool have done it tenfold.

They have moles everywhere, so let’s sicken them by starting to put up those little flags all the way along both the Dock Rd and also Derby Rd, starting now.

Pickford is a world class shot stopper. If there is a better one. I havent seen him. Cant we celebrate that ? I mean, it is an important part of a goalkeepers job. Probably the most important. Yet its dismissed as "yeah he might be a good shot stopper, but" ....

We win a game conceding one goal. Its been universally accepted that Pickord was not to blame for that goal. Yet his name is dominating all the match day threads. Why ?

I simply don't/wont accept this shite about other goalies coming out and dominating their area's. None of them do. While most of them may come of their line slightly more often than Pickford. The days of Goalies routinely charging out to command their area have long since gone.

Jordan Pickord is coveted by many fans of other clubs. Thats a fact. Read the forums. They see him regularly frustrate their own teams. Look; If he isn't comfortable coming out for balls, then I for one don't want him to do it. I don't want James Tarkowski trying to be John Stones either. Despite his shaky start,. He is still the best backs to the wall defender in the league I want him to focus on being just that.

How about we focus on the things our players can do rather than spend every match day thread repeatedly raking over the things they cant.

If Mo Salah had signed or us instead of the shite I suspect we'd have match day threads full of people bemoaning the fact that he cant tackle.

Reading through the many comments on Pickford, one thing intrigues me…………maybe just maybe Pickford has been told by Dyche to stay near his goal line. There can no other reason why he won’t come pelting out from his line to the edge of his eighteen yard box? You never see Dyche, or anyone else screaming at Pickford to get off his line.

There are still Newcastle tickets up for grabs if you go on the official App / Website. I've just grabbed one. Also for the Fulham match.

Between Everton and family stuff, I might as well move home!!

Christine, that would be an honour. You talk the most sense on here unlike emotional fools like me!!!

There are still Newcastle tickets up for grabs if you go on the official App / Website. I've just grabbed one. Also for the Fulham match.

Between Everton and family stuff, I might as well move home!!

Christine, that would be an honour. You talk the most sense on here unlike emotional fools like me!!!

Agree, Pickford is a top goal keeper, end of.

While I can understand your frustration at fans coming on moaning about what our players cant do, I would imagine most fan sites would feature things they believe their players don't do. I would like to see Jordan command his 6 yard box a bit better but if he isn't comfortable doing that then its better he doesnt. I think despite me wanting him to command his 6 yard box, we were amongst the best teams at keeping clean sheets last season, despite Jordan staying on his line. I would absolutely agree there are not many if any better shot stoppers in the premier league, although I would pick Raya from Arsenal as the best shot stopper, and probably the best keeper in the Premier league.

I grew up in a working class area of Wigan and I never used the F word in front of my dad. He'd have kicked me out of the house if I had have done. I might be out of step but I raise our lad in the same way.

Understand your point but the brutality of what is capitalism in essence is

"People have short memories regarding Pickford."

Lefty by heart mate?!!

It is also the case that when a wave of criticism descends on what could be fairly called a shitbag post, the poster appeals on the basis herd mentality paranoia and perceived cancel/sensor culture oppression.

It is all just crappy performance art to avoid dealing with a mess created by the original poster's choice of language.

Or pusillanimous, which I believe is the origin of pussy. Although I may have made that up

No one said that they would report you Sean. No one (do go back and check). What actually took place was that Christine mentioned that she had done this in the past and felt it was appropriate to do so in particular circumstances. You, bizarrely, took this to mean that she was planning to report you. Even more bizarrely, you also made up your mind that Christine was a “club mole” (and a censor of the internet) because she drew attention to the ”reporting” function on this site, created, approved, and encouraged by Lyndon and Michael.

You are not a man more sinned against than sinning Sean.

Also, Sean (184), you might have a word with the orange one in these United States who ended up in deep water for the way he used “pussy” (as it were).

Sean, why not simply say that you believe that JP could be more assertive, in your opinion, in and around his area? Just a thought.

I have heard a good number of pundits make the same point over the last couple of weeks Rob.

I believe Jordan could be more assertive…. Either way let’s drop it and stop Tryin to goad people and politicize things. Not my thing sorry I’m not even registered to vote although I could be… I pay zero mind to any of that and my life’s focus stays on family and Everton.

Tutting is perfectly acceptable as long as it's accompanied with a slow shaking of the head.

Hope this helps mate.

But if they have any sense I'd expect them to have 'zones' similar to your ST locations now.

So anyone with a Gwladys Street season ticket gets first pick in the home end, anyone with a Family Enclosure ST gets first pick there, and if you want to swap locations you are in a waiting list until all eligible for that zone have made their choice.

Maybe they'll even introduce a new Boys Pen Zone named after our former Dear Chairman?

Although I do follow Hartlepools too.

I've always thought 'fanny' was used a lot in the USA, like fanny pack, or the band Fanny?

As in: “You trynabe fanny, yer scarse cant?”

Do they think you're being polite when you say "arse" instead of ass?

Johnny Craddock once stated "...and may all your Donuts turn out like Fanny's."

Me, I can't abide players who Fanny about in their own box - unless they're Newcastle players.