Tentative, disjointed, scrappy and costly… but Everton win through

I believe we will be on the front foot with a 3-4-3 which is a much more progressive system.

Where that will work in the prem with the players we have got I don’t know but let’s take one game at a time.

Not sure I agree it is a decent lineup. Four of the back five are calamity Jane's. Any one of them could score an own goal, concede a silly red or pen, or all three. Or maybe all four do all three. If Mason was still here instead of Branthwaite it would be a perfect nightmare back five.

Interesting that Armstrong is in and Doucs out.

Plus Broja and Lindstrøm might just be making up numbers, as they were both reported as injured earlier.

There are 2 recognised full backs. Three recognised Central Defenders. Two defensive mids. Two midfielders and one forward.

Oh but now they're showing picturs of Dyche as if he was still here....

He's Gone. He's Dead To Me!!!

If we are guessing, then Peterborough boss must be as well.

Important thing is how high up the pitch the wing backs play. Hopefully they push right up.

Armstrong and Ndiaye should enjoy a bit of freedom too with plenty of cover behind them.

Lovely change from the Condescending Bull Shit From Dyche.

Then the line up with three centre backs and two full backs, and two of the eight of an allowed nine on the bench being goalkeepers with our number one number one nowhere to be found.

We started pushing the ball around better than has been seen even allowing for the opposition without finding that telling final ball and until Armstrong's ball well put away by Beto the best chance had fallen to Peterboro'.

Brian Clough, whilst reflecting on England's exit from Euro 2000.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes."

I would think it'll take a few training sessions to start forgetting Dyche's methods.

The interim guys used some bench warmers and it showed.

I thought Paterson and Armstrong did well but we only looked lively when Ndiaye was on the ball.

Still too may poor passes in the final third

Good that Armstrong, Patterson and O’Brian got a run out but we need to sign a couple of players this month.

Send Broja back, loan someone else from Chelsea for one.

10 days until Villa.

So, onto the topic that will focus attention.

But is bloody Moyes again know, and we have to play Liverpool twice!

He'll make some mistakes but he's an all action type who can bring a bit of energy.

It's a trade off that we haven't previously been willing to accept. We'll see what happens next.

Overall, a positive day but a worrying one too.

The squad is constantly picking up injury after injury, the loss of Broja now as any kind of option means we can't afford to release Beto on loan also, which I believe was planned.

The talk in BBC commentary of Moyes coming in was very worrying. That would not create the ‘feel-good factor’ that we need.

I hope I'm wrong but I think Broja is done here now.

Such a shame really.

Two players and a positive manager could really turn this team around and even make Goodison, a very happy place again, before she finally closes her doors for good.

But will we get them? Is the biggest question right now!

And he's a Kenwright acolyte (I've recently met him and criticised Kenwright to his face, to which he told me "Do you not think Moshiri is the sole problem?!!") who will no doubt cite that he "gets" Everton, and all that to me means that he should never get past the paper-sift of applicants, if he's so minded.

While it wasn’t an exciting game, I was pleased that we tried to play joined up football, passing the ball 5-8 metres to each other, playing triangles, being patient.

It was unfortunate that when the final ball was played it often went to Beto who was awful, the ball just bounced off him. He took his goal well enough, although he looked offside to me (I haven’t seen any replays of it).

Armstrong has promise, although he played it rather safe. Patterson attacked aggressively but showed defensive flaws. Virginia looks very competent. Mangala looked more comfortable with the new style of play. O’Brien was steady.

Quite a few players were tired and getting cramp by the 80th minute; I guess there is a lot more work involved when you pass the ball progressively up the pitch and run into space, rather than stand and watch the ball go over your head.

352 is back (3 central defenders, FFS!).

Moyes might return.

More injuries.

Keep Armstrong in and play Patterson right midfield in a 451 and I would feel a bit better. Make 2 or 3 good signings and I would feel a bit better still.

But we won COYB!

We won’t go down with Moyes, reset in the summer.

I can't remember a side taking to the pitch only hours after the manager had been sacked, so from that perspective it was a credit to the players that they managed to navigate what could have been a tricky tie, although Peterborough didn't provide a great test for Everton on the night.

Nice postgame comments from Seamus, who went from preparing to start the game to suddenly running it. He was very complimentary of Armstrong and O'Brien in particular.

Agreed Mike and I thought the two of them looked cool on the touchline together.

Armstrong and O’Brien both looked good.

The future is blue,

Nice easy opponents who went quietly meant we are still in the hat.

The thought of Davey Moyes fills me with a dread I have never experienced. The Mackems made that mistake and have never recovered

Can’t wait for the season to be over.

Sean, there is no way Ipswich are taking Sean Dyche over McKenna and Southampton have just appointed a new Manager.

The commentator we got today was amazed we had sacked him. He rolled out the usual 'saved them ', 'worked miracles' stuff. Then considered that the players and supporters would be a bit flat as they all supported him.

Dyche will sell his low goals conceded, his xG (when it suited), the limitations of the squad he had. Basically he'll do what he always did - focus on the things that benefit him and blame others for everything else.

None of the top teams or currently successful outfits like Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham, Newcastle or Villa operate like this. The whole, ‘they get the club’ thing is embarrassing and will just perpetuate the jobs for the boys, failure ethos that runs right through the club.

It was not the best of games, but it certainly was a lot better than the shite we have had to put up with.

I thought O,Brien was excellent, saying we only had Beto and Broja, I could not see how else we could set up for the game, Baines and Coleman barely 3 hours with the team did well.

The biggest two pluses, we are in the hat for the 4th round and Dyche finally gone.

Get the new manager in and a couple of players through the door and we should be alright, Garner and Iroegbunam close to a return a big plus.

Happy Days.

It will be a regressive move.

Personally I will always consider last season to be one of the most inspirational managerial performances I have ever seen. With two point deductions, the entire English league structure stacked against us and a lame-ass roster including schlubs like Danjuma, Gomes, Godfrey and Holgate, Dyche not only pulled us to survival but did it with room to spare. And the RS left the league title at Goodison, a memory we can cherish forever.

He will be back in the league, maybe the next time somebody is in relegation trouble and needs a kick up the ass.

What we need most right now is an experienced manager with a solid record of success under tough circumstances.

(And no, I don't mean Moyes...)

Did Brian Clough have a bastard son with Peter Taylor perchance?

Here's hoping!

Personally, I want Thomas Frank - I like his structure, planning and attention to detail. But, the timing of this announcement makes that very difficult.

Not impossible though. This is the Premier League and the main language is money.

If it was true that football was all about players, then why have a Coach? Trying to make them feel like they’re in the best position/mental space to perform IS the Manager’s job.
Players do improve under certain Coach’s; Kalvin Phillips would not have any England caps if it wasn’t for Marcelo Bielsa, and Jack Harrison would not be ‘playing’ in the Premier League (he actually looked quite good when he came on tonight…. L1 Posh, oh yeh)

Just so relieved that the garrulous bald fuck has gone, he should have gone in the Summer. Credit for the last day survival, obviously,.
I actually think the points deduction last season helped him focus in a strange way, it wasn’t a hindrance or something ‘really difficult to navigate’, without the points deduction, he would of taken us down(controversial opinion!).
But, shame on you for your fearful and cluelessly out of touch stubbornness that has made us one of the worst teams in the division this season.

Just so relieved he’s gone, thank Christ for that………..wait a minute who’s coming back in? Oh……….for FUCKS sake.

As for Fat Sam, it has been a very, very long time since he coached attractive football. He left Bolton 18 years ago. Most of what he has put on the pitch since then has been butt ugly.

And if he can make a lucrative living in the Prem, so can Sean. He'll be back.

That ain't Friedkin's fault by the way - no, the fault was implemented decades ago by the most bogus owner/chairman/share-holder in our otherwise proud club's history.