Unsworth: Sunday's game is huge for everyone

Friday, 3 November, 2017 230comments  |  Jump to most recent

David Unsworth expressed his disappointment at Everton's 3-0 defeat to Lyon, the latest poor result in a sequence that stretches all the way back to the team's last victory on 23rd September.

The loss sealed the Blues' fate in the Europa League and allows them to concentrate on what is shaping up to be a battle for Premier League survival based on recent performances.

Unsworth, who oversaw his third game since Ronald Koeman was sacked on Monday last week, fielded another changed line-up that featured no recognised striker until Dominic Calvert-Lewin was introduced with half an hour to go.

At that point, it was still 0-0 and Everton were more than holding their own but Lyon finally opened them up 10 minutes later, with two more goals and sending off for Morgan Schneiderlin to follow.

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“I'm really disappointed with the result,” Unsworth said afterwards. “For nearly 70 minutes we were nearly perfect with our gameplan and created a couple of opportunities that we could and should have scored. To concede the first goal was really disappointing.

“But the effort and commitment was there. In periods we showed some nice touches and created a couple of opportunities against a very good Lyon team.

“But we just can't cave in the way we do when we concede a goal. That's something that we need to rectify very, very quickly going into Sunday's game.

“I say to all players I've coached and managed, when you concede, for five or 10 minutes you all come together and don't concede again.

“We've got to pick ourselves up really, really quickly. I don't like dismissing games, particularly games that you don't win, because you want to pick the bones out of them and have the time to work on things on the training ground. But we don't have that time, so we have to recover quickly and go again on Sunday.”

Everton face Watford at Goodison Park this weekend in a fixture that Unsworth rightly highlights as massive in terms of the team's morale and need for points.

Once again, there will be little time to dwell on defeat, with this next match before the international break coming fast on the heels of the trip to France.

“Confidence is a great word in football and you only get that from winning games,” he explained. “Unfortunately, over the period, we haven't done that enough. We need to do it very quickly, particularly on Sunday, which I think is a huge game. It's a huge game for the club, it's a huge game for me and I've left the players in no uncertain terms that it's a huge game for them as well.

“I'm sure they'll respond and I'm sure the Goodison faithful will get behind us all because we need them and we need three points on Sunday.”

 

Reader Comments (230)

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Mark Tanton
1 Posted 03/11/2017 at 06:58:58
I am quite that Watford will come and ruin the day on Sunday. We are in indescribably massive trouble if they do.
Kunal Desai
2 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:03:43
The goals we are conceding you wouldn't even see in a sunday park kick about. The club is an absolute circus. Watford will score atleast two against us. They have some tough physical players and they have pace in the forward areas.
Arnez Desmond
3 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:15:34
Bring back David Moyes to Goodison Park!
Andy Mead
4 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:18:49
Sandro must be even worse than we all think if he can't get a game up front instead of Siggy. No striker on the pitch, we have relegation stamped all over us if this goes on until xmas
Paul Setter
5 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:21:09
Think Villa two seasons ago then Sunderland last season How is this worse?? Relegation all over it.
Christopher Marston
8 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:31:36
Did any one else see Willisms jump under the ball for Depay's header. Class defending!!
Frank Sheppard
9 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:32:12
DU says “Confidence is a great word in football and you only get that from winning games , Unfortunately, over the period, we haven't done that enough.”

3 games, 3 losses, we haven't done it at all ! Oh dear, muddled thinking or a bad interview ?
Tony Everan
10 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:34:33
We must start with the only 2 players who have scored this season Niasse up front , Rooney behind him .

The defence needs some leadership and on field organisation. I expect a lot more from Jags and Williams in this department.

All premier league games are massive now for the club , only 100% performances will do . The likes of Watford will se us a soft touch , it’s up to the players to prove them very wrong.

Kenny Smith
11 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:38:17
The longer this goes on the more the chance we have of ending up with Allardyce.

Make no mistake this is the biggest crisis at our club for 20 years. I don't know where we go from here. Playing with no striker is like having no goalie making it impossible to win games.

Andy Walker
12 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:42:56
'For nearly 70 minutes we were nearly perfect with our gameplan'

So perfect in fact that I had to completely change our shape and gameplay by making 2 I'll judged substitutions and we conceded 3. Still I'm a true blue so I'm the best man for the job.

Lee Gorre
13 Posted 03/11/2017 at 07:43:18
This club is amateur from top to bottom. Anyone watching the games live this season could see there was no Kevin Brock moment on the horizon, it was never going to turn around under Koeman, he should have gone weeks ago like Martinez should have gone much earlier than he did. Plan properly, sack your manager and have the replacement ready, don't put someone out of his depth in charge and just slide inevitably out of two competitions, when galvanised by a new man at the helm that could have been different, just like we could have beaten Utd in the semi with a team playing for the manager.

I expect to lose the Watford game and be further in the shit making the job even harder and less attractive. Again if this had been planned properly we would have had more chance of a manager we want/need not someone like Allardyce who can just dictate the terms that may have long standing consequences going forward.

Unsworth has for me been very disappointing - its been like Koeman Mark II, same shape, same dull tactics and bizarre selections.

Stephen Smith
15 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:01:27
10th (TENTH) defeat by the 2nd of November. Anyone know if this is a club record? Scary times indeed.
Geoff Evans
17 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:06:32
Blah de Blah, Blah de Blah, and so it goes on, Everton 0, Watford (at least) 2.

Easiest team on fixed odds to predict. Clough couldn't save this shite if he had Ferguson as his number two.

Championship mid table team at very best.

Steve Harris
18 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:20:00
Really disappointed with Unsworth, I know anybody would of struggled with that squad but think he's bottled it, he knew he only had 3 or 4 games to get the job but his team selections have been quite baffling. Playing 3 defensive midfielders and no striker against Lyon really was bizarre
Rob Young
19 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:22:20
Andy #12
to be fair the plan might have been to contain them and change it on 60 mins? That actually worked. We gave little away and Gueye should have scored.
DCL, the only available striker, came on and we went for it (sort of).

I think Pickford was poor for their first two goals.

We're shit, have no confidence and no strikers.

I actually believe we are more organised under Unsworth.
In all three games - including Leicester City.
Baningime is a bonus in the last three games and I reckon Kenny has done fine.

I don't want Allardyce or Dyche (Moyes II).
As long as we have no-one else I would stick with Unsworth.

But, who the hell is going to be in charge of transfer in January?
Surely not a caretaker- or temporary manager? Any of the same people that were responsible during the last transfer window? Pfff.

Let's face it, we somehow have to make the best of it until January an see what happens then.

Tony Abrahams
20 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:32:12
I thought people were supposed to pull together during a crisis? Mismanagement equates to a bunch of players getting strung together every week, which is the most obvious thing that has got to change right now. Do this and we will get out of trouble.
Bob Parrington
21 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:32:21
I received a message from the "Echo" . of course the "RS Echo" just now, here in Australia with lousy 'cking headlines, such as Everton are the laughing stock of Europe and so I sent a response .

"You should be ashamed of yourselves for this lack of support for one of your clubs when it is struggling. Shame on You! Shame on YOU! Shame on YOU!

Effing Pricks. If you live on Merseyside please stop buying this shite newspaper!

OK, we might be short of the mark just now but, hey, we'll get our mojo back and GGF all of those who are laughing at us now.

Yours truly, Really pissed off!

Ian Jones
22 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:38:02
So not a good result. The game plan seems to be what a few on ToffeeWeb realise. Keep it tight defensively. Take no chances (either end!). Then, if we are still in with a chance, as game wears on, put a sub or some subs on, perhaps open the game up going forward. Was working quite well until Martina went off and used up one sub. Slight change of defensive shape required at half time. Second half started brightly, a few reasonable chances to score.

Then Schneiderlin comes in and makes what seems to be a reasonable interception and helps knock it through via a richochet, making it a great throughball!

Could consider it unfortunate. Williams perhaps a bit too slow to react as he appears to hesitate before Traore finishes.

However, perhaps if Schneiderlin stays on his feet and doesn't slide or slides with his left as opposed to his right, tbe ball would have gone in a different direction

I could also be a little critical of Pickford for the second. In the old days goalies, although probably mad for doing so, would go into those challenges, spreading themselves, often head first. Brave but stupid :)

These days they stay on their feet and hope to use them to clear the danger. I think Pickford probably had time to take a different approach. May have got clattered .

Victor Yu
23 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:42:04
Is it just me or does anyone think Unsworth doesn't fancy foreign European players?

He clearly favours Davis, DCL, Lennon, McCarthy, and Beni over Besic, Sandro, Vlasic, and Klaassen.

I know Sandro hasn't been at his best but at least he would be a better option upfront then playing someone there out of position?

Liam Reilly
24 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:44:01
It wasn't a tough group Bob and we've 1 point from 4 games.

Worst performance from an English side in the history of the competition.

Anything other than 'laughing stock" is putting a blue tinted stint on it.

Bob Parrington
25 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:54:07
Ian - We were woeful in the first half. We made it look like they had 14 players on the pitch.

For the second half we came out with a different persona and looked quite good, except that we have nobody with an eye for goal. We need to build on this but we need a proper recruitment program. Hopefully we can scrape a few points before the January window, 'cos we don't want to go down to the Championship L.

Bollocks. In 64 years of supporting the team this has to be the most disjointed group that's been put together but some of the youngsters seem to have a better attitude.

Schneiderin and Sigurdsson were way off the mark for this game but I was impressed with Benni and with Lookman when he came on. They seemed to be the only 2 with the confidence to take a player on. Shit, what did Koeman do to the team? I apologise for supporting him.

Tony Marsh
26 Posted 03/11/2017 at 08:59:14
With each passing week the promising young players are being exposed to this crap and will end up ruined. I am all for blooding the kids in the first team but only when the first team is in a good place and playing well.This situation is tragic enough without heaping added pressure on the young lads. Yet more ineptitude from the board and the management.

Unsworth is not to blame for this mess but last night and last Sunday at Liecster he went a long way to proving he isn't ready for this job yet. Not sure he ever will be. It's a shame because I like DU. I think we all do? It is now time to stop the shenanigans and put who ever it is in charge so the players have a permanent focal point.

It's gone on too long now and should of been addressed after the Atalanta debacle. It is pity full to watch now. Almost like standing over a hospital bed watching a loved one fade away.

We've gone past the blame game now it is we need need rescuing pronto. I don't really care if it Big Sam or Fireman Sam anyone who can end this shite will do for me.

Ian Jones
27 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:00:51
Hi Bob. Not suggesting we were much good in first half but would't go as far as woeful.

You mention you were impressed with Lookman when he came on. Was he that anonymous in the first half.

:)

Ray Roche
28 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:07:48
Tony, yes, I think we all like Unsworth and, in a way, I'm sorry he has been "teased" with the possible promotion to Manager, he doesn't seem ready to me either and I would be very disappointed if, when a Manager IS appointed, he feels the need to leave the club. We would be a poorer club if Unsworth left after the sterling work he has done with the U23's.
It should have been made clear that his spell selecting the team etc. is purely temporary and his role is a caretaker one until a Manager is appointed. Maybe he would have been a more relaxed figure on the touchline.
Chad Schofield
29 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:16:48
I thought yesterday's game plan was pragmatic - stifle them in the middle, get wingers to back up fullbacks and play a false 9, win some free kicks and build from there. I think he rolled the dice too early, but then had we conceded and he made the last two subs reactively, he would have got as much shit.

Schneiderlin should be ashamed, he let us down massively.

Not sure what anyone wants him to say. A loss Sunday and he'll likely be gone... I just don't see how anyone would have done better other than arguably last Sunday's game playing into Leicester's hands first half.

Alan J Thompson
30 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:25:46
Tony(#26); Bollocks, what do you want, the players who got us in this mess? Unsworth, or any new manager, has your way of not playing the "kids" or sticking with the slow, old, useless brigade.

What we should have done in the last three months means nothing as the squad we have, kids and all, is what there is to work with until January and who do you think we'll attract then to a relegation threatened club? Those who came for our "Big Name" manager? And a second rater who has escaped relegation with other clubs will work these "wonders" again before moving on pockets bulging? No, pull a management, coaching team together from those within the club with managerial experience, I can't see anything or anyone better.

Andy Walker
31 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:35:19
Rob 19, if his gameplay was to keep it tight for 60mins leaving us 30mins to make a concerted effort to try and score in a game we HAD to win to remain in Europe, his gameplay was baffling.

I don't think you set up to keep a game tight for 60 70 mins in a game you have to win, unless you think you are massively inferior to the opposition. Maybe he thought we were inferior, in which case that lack of belief would be transferred to the players.

Whichever way you cut it, Unsworth who I liked as a player, is not ready to manage us in my view.

Ray Roche
32 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:36:13
Alan, whoever we appoint, if it's from outside the club, they need to be in pretty damn quick so that they can assess just who needs replacing, what can be done with who's left, and target who they want to bring in. Bringing a new manager in in January and letting him spend the serious money that NEEDS to be spent would be farcical.
Kim Vivian
35 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:50:06
Tony (33). Well said, mate. I was going to post will someone please do us all a favour and put PW out of his misery.

These are trying times to be an Evertonian (not for the first time) but some people just make it worse. Thing is back in the days of M Walker we didn't have the I/net and ToffeeWeb to heap misery on our shoulders.

Andrew Ellams
37 Posted 03/11/2017 at 09:54:56
We are in a terrible state right now and just don't see how it's fixable. The playing squad looks shot to pieces, nobody knows where the next goal is coming from, Klaassen and Sandro signed in the Summer and probably finished at the club already and if the snakeoil salesman dream team of Allardyce and Kenwright is the future then the future is not bright.
Eric Paul
38 Posted 03/11/2017 at 10:00:29
As Duncan Ferguson was part of the 1st team coaching staff why wasn’t he put in charge, with Unsie assisting him. What is his role at the club
Rob Young
39 Posted 03/11/2017 at 10:05:39
Andy # 31
I see where you are coming from but honestly, I do believe we are currently massively inferior to Lyon,
So, in many ways it was also damage limitation in my opinion. Although I personally would have started DCL (or even Sandro) with Sigurdsson in place of Schneiderlin.

Anyway, I must admit might be slightly biased in favour of Unsworth as I prefer him over Dyche and Allardyce (why is Howe not being mentioned at all?).

I can't see any realistic solutions to our problem at the moment so I thought the game plan yesterday was acceptable. To have gone for them from the start would just as likely have resulted in us getting beat by the same scoreline , I reckon.

Alan Fordham
41 Posted 03/11/2017 at 10:24:46
The team put out was strange, think we'd all agree that, but I'm not for putting much/any blame on Unsworth; it's going to take a hell of a manager (and time) to sort out this mess. As a small positive Banningme, Kenny, Lookman are a credit to Unsy as he's getting more from them than we've seen from most other players
Steve Guy
43 Posted 03/11/2017 at 10:38:46
I have to vent. This “team” is serving up some of the worst “football” I have seen in over 50 years supporting Everton. Absolute disgrace. No heart in this squad at all. We are in a fight to get 40 points and I can’t see this team having it in them to battle it out. I have no confidence in getting anything at home to Watford on Sunday. Moshiri needs root and branch surgery on the club from top to bottom. Billy Bullshit and his cronies have stunk the place out for years now and need to go NOW. Buy them out Farhad. This isn’t just down to Koeman; mismanagement from all levels has got us to this awful situation. We go down and we will do a Leeds .no shiny stadium or European football probably ever. I never thought I’d say it but if Allardyce can keep us up get him in. It’ll be crap, but the alternative is much worse. Kenwright OUT !
Raymond Fox
46 Posted 03/11/2017 at 10:48:31
How are Coleman and Bolasie progressing?

Stating the Watford game is huge is stating the obvious is it not, especially for David.
Its time for Moshiri and the rest of the board to step up to the plate, Moshiri in particularly if we lose against Watford.
There needs to be changes to the structure of the club internally, maybe not at this moment wait till results have improved.
Kenwright needs to step down from whatever his role is for starters whatever happens, he's had his time.

Bring Allardyce in on a 18 month contract and implement whatever changes he wants to make, he'll probably also want his own assistant brought in.
DU and Joe Royle can still be useful and give them the inside information of what they think of the players characters, abilities etc.
That's the best strategy I can come up with anyway, you may not agree but we cant afford to dither about.

We need to find players somehow in January for the positions where their badly needed, that's going to be easier said than done and will probably cost plenty if we can.
We have obviously performed badly on top of poor results, but in the League we have got some of our most difficult games out of the way.

Although I've said many times that we are not a top quality squad we have enough good players to get us out of this mess, largely caused by Koeman but add others inside the club who have screwed up also.

Looking again at the squad plus one to three additions, there's no way we will go down. I'd like us to add Barkley to our squad too if possible.

Pat Kelly
48 Posted 03/11/2017 at 10:54:06
Must be the first PL Club in history to decide to start a season without an experienced striker. Penny pinching approach by Kenwright and Moshiri will now cost them big time. You reap what you sow.
Eric Paul
49 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:00:00
I think Ross could be the answer to our striker problem when fit
Chris Corn
50 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:06:21
It's shows how desperate we are when people expect Bolasie and Coleman , who have suffered two of the worst injuries a top player can suffer, to come back and make an immediate difference . The irony is many thought Bolasie was overpriced and poor before his injury .
Craig Walker
52 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:13:41
I looked at two starting XIs for Everton in two of the worst periods that I can remember in my time of supporting Everton.

When we played against Wimbledon in THAT game in 1994 under the much-derided Mike Walker (our worst ever manager) the team which started was Southall, Snodin, Unsworth, Ablett, Watson, Stuart, Horne, Ebbrell, Cottee, Rideout, Limpar. Which players out of the current squad would you take in place of that line-up?

I also looked at the team which lost 3-0 against Middlesbrough in the 2002 FA cup quarter final under Walter Smith which was the nadir for me : Simonsen, Pistone, Stubbs, Weir, Unsworth, Clarke, Gascoigne, Gemmill, Linderoth, Radzinski, Moore. I actually think that team is also better the current one but it has the same deficiencies - players past it at the back, no craft in midfield and an ineffectual attack. I only think the goalkeeper position is stronger now. Sigurdsson is no better than John Oster or Niclas Alexandersson and we paid £45m for him. I didn't like Gemill but he was twice the player that Morgan Schneiderlin is. DCL just will not score goals at this level. Baines is past it. Williams is awful. The problems are everywhere. We've gone from not being happy about being thumped in derbies and not turning up in the big games to dreading a home fixture against Watford FFS.

When you factor in how much we paid for our current squad and what the expectations were over the summer then it makes it the most depressing time to be a Blue that I can remember.

The managers we are being linked with is grim reading. I really don't know were we go from here as a club.

Luke Welch
53 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:24:33
Can’t blame Unsworth for that showing. I think Koeman has done a lot of damage, and players he brought for his project, are shell shocked he got fired. Of course not really being involved in Komans first team, and some completely ignored in Unsworths, I’m sure their bags are half packed already. But will a 3rd manger in such a short space of time really settle the players into a team?
Ray Roche
54 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:31:48
Eric#49

I think Barkley will solve Tottenham's midfield problem when Delli Counter buggers off to Real Madrid...

Brian Wilkinson
60 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:51:59
Funes Mori got some flack, but I would have him in this back line in a heartbeat, add to that Coleman and Bolasie and a striker.

Cannot fault Unsworth for not being able to field Niasse or Garbutt last night, I fully back his lineup and not selecting Baines, Jagielka and Rooney.

Sunday is a must win game and with his selection last night seems to back his saving certain players for Sunday.

We were as good as out before we kicked a ball so why not try something different.

Not many are expecting a win Sunday, but I think Unsworth will get it right this Sunday and get a win.

Nicholas Ryan
61 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:53:22
If Unsworth had been given his 'probation' while we were 6/7th in the PL and in no danger, he would have time to make mistakes, learn from them, and emerge as a pretty good manager.

However, all he can do at the moment, is pour water on a raging fire. He will fail, but it's not his fault. I think he knew he would fail, from the start; but did he refuse the job? No, he took the poisoned chalice, because he is a man of courage and integrity, and loves this Club. When [and I think it is when, not if] he goes back to the ranks, he should get a pat on the back from all of us.

There are rumours today, that Conte is about to be sacked, and Luke Shaw is to leave Man U. Get them both!!

Raymond Fox
63 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:56:31
Chris 50, where does it say anyone expects Coleman and Bolasie to come back and have an immediate effect?
Dave Wilson
64 Posted 03/11/2017 at 11:59:58
A lot of complaints about people jumping the gun and calling for Koeman to be removed after 18 months, Yet now we have Einstein's who proclaim Unsworth isn't ready because he cant resurrect the dead in a week.

I don't know who is the worst, The people who want to persevere with a manager despite eighteen months of awful performances and steadily deteriorating results, or the panic merchants who want to get rid of a guy after a week and replace him with Big fucking Sam.

Big Sam ?????? Are you sure ?

Dennis Stevens
65 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:03:35
Hear! Hear! Dave #64
Anthony Hawkins
66 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:04:13
@Nicholas #61 I hope this little adventure doesn't cost Unsworth his U23 position.
Bob Parrington
67 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:07:54
Liam #24. You're right but there's one thing in us thinking this way but a different thing when going public.

Two things from my view.

1. The Echo should frame their point of view in a more supportive manner rather than ""gloating""
2. Inside the True Blue confines, we should be getting 'fired up' and saying to ourselves (inside the team environs mostly) . let's grow some balls and show those fwits that we're here and we will overcome the shit. FFS we are Everton and we are coming out of this shit phase that the Dutch guy drove us in to. All players - grow some effin' balls and earn your 'ckin' keep!

As you might tell from this, I am still 'kin angry! (BTW not with you but with our team)

John Keating
68 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:12:21
I think Sundays game is everything, the whole season.
It is without doubt, even at this early stage, a must win game by any method and any way possible.
A loss or draw is totally unthinkable.
A youngster giving 100% is better than one of our established players performing at the standard they're producing so far.
Should the unthinkable happen and we lose again the alarm bells which are already ringing need to be joined by bells and whistles. We are already in relegation form and this should confirm it to all those who for some reason known only to themselves think we should wait until January to plot our escape.
The board have to act on Monday and we cannot afford to let this drift on another 2 or 3 games.
Joseph Terrence
69 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:12:29
Andrew, it's not as simple as "appoint a top manager." A top manager would have to actually be interested in the job in order for him to come. It beggars belief that so many on here think that top managers would actually want the Everton job. No matter how well it pays, the team is shit and no manager of any quality would want to take over this team.
Jason Bowen
70 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:16:12
Does anyone know what the fuck is going on with Sandro?
Im not having it that he aint in the squad because he's shit.
The lad has a rocket of a shot on him.
What is going on?
Soren Moyer
72 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:25:11
I like Unsy, but coaching the U23 is way different than managing in the premier league.

Also, no top manager would want to come to us at the present time. Stop naming names like Angelotti, Simeone, etc. as the potential replacements. Its absurd!

Andrew Ellams
73 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:25:17
Craig Walker, a coincidence I know but one name appears in both of those line ups and was connected with last night.
Neil Copeland
74 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:27:14
Joseph 69, I am not convinced that a win on Sunday will buy DU more time, I think the die may already be cast in respect of a new man.

I hope this is not the case though because there are positives in what DU is doing. My only criticism of him so far is that he needs a run of games with a settled side and he had the opportunity to do that. I do accept though that he has inherited a complete fuck up and needs to try different things. Whilst I appreciate it is difficult with the toothless tigers that we have, I want to worry less about the threat that our opponents pose and concentrate more on taking the game to them. Sunday is his first home game in charge, I am expecting to see a full blooded effort from kick off with a no prisoners taken approach. This will get the crowd fired up and have GP more like the bear pit that it should and has to be for every game. Anything less and I think DU can forget any aspirations of being manager in the long term.

Chris Gould
75 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:27:35
I am concerned that Unsworth is too matey with the chairman and players. He will do as he's told and may well be swayed by some of the senior players. I may be doing him a disservice, but it is only natural to lose objectivity with selection when dealing with people who have previously been mates/peers.

I also get the feeling he prefers his own U23's over the youngsters that were brought in by Koeman. I understand his reluctance to start Sandro, but why has Vlasic been ostracised? The kid has shown that he is more than capable and deserves a place.

I am hoping Unsworth moves back to the U23's sooner rather than later. He is not the man to take us forward. I want someone to come in and play a team based on form and ability. Selection needs to be made without any favouritism, pressure or interference.
How much control does Kenwright have over Unsworth?
I would suggest way too much.

Eoin Whyte
76 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:29:13
What surprises me is why the Everton faithful aren't up in arms about Kenwright's continuous involvement in the club!

Joins the board in 89 as the club begins to decline, becomes second largest shareholder in 99, majority shareholder and Chairman in 2004, and has arguably been at the helm in the most unsuccessful period in the club's history.

Bill Kenwright is not involved for the interests of Everton football, he's involved because of his own self interest. In the limelight, front of stage, where the theatre impresario has always wanted to be. Probably dreaming of a statue next to Dixie, or a stand named after him one day. As a result Everton Football Club, and the fans, pay the ultimate price. And not just Bill's theatre ticket prices! We've fallen so far behind our rivals in the last 28 years it's shameful. A diminished club, a small team mentality to match, playing in what once was a glorious but now sadly run down stadium.

Bill has been chairman for almost 14 years now. Do we really think a CEO would last that long in an unsuccessful business!? There's only so long you can pass the buck to employees. Cultures feed down from the top and the culture in our club stinks to the high heavens. We might have been grateful to see the end of the Johnson era, but is this really the alternative? Is this the saviour? Some will say "well he's spent a lot of money on the club", well some rich men spend their money on antique cars, why? Because it makes them feel good! Bill spends his money on a antique football club. Guess why?? Also this false sense of sentimentality is enough to break a man's spirit. "The people's club", the tears on Moyes departure, Wayne Rooney is an Everton son, and whatever bullshit soundbites the fans are fed this week. Spare us one, please... We've become soft.

It's unbelievable that Moshiri has stumped up the money to become Everton's majority shareholder, and Bill is still hanging around. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall during those negotiations. Farhad was probably represented by Jim White! (No relation thankfully...) Maybe we're all waiting for the pending arrival of Usmanov who Moshiri is happy to play second fiddle to. Or maybe we've become delusional and live in false hope, dreaming of the days of Ball, Labone and Young.

We've been shocking this season. I don't think anyone will deny that. But somehow I don't get the feeling this has come as a shock to Everton fans. We've been here many times before over the past 2 decades. We can point the finger at Koeman, Walsh, Martinez, and now even Unsy. I'm not saying they're not partly responsible but what about the man calling all the shots?

I don't have any personal vendetta against Bill Kenwright. He seems like a pleasant man who has obviously had a bad spate of recent health. I wish him and his family well. But it's time for change, for him to move on from Everton Football Club, and let the rest of us move on too. The sooner the fans start making those feelings heard, the better. So let's raise a toast, "to the Everton board and this weekend's Cup Final!" Oh no wait, it's not a Cup Final...

James Ebden
77 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:37:09
spot on Joseph @69
these people who think we can just appoint who we want and it will be rosy are on another planet.
they don't seem to comprehend that elite world class trophy winning managers wont want to rebuild us in a relegation fight, and would rather wait for a more lucrative offer from an established team fighting for European honours.

if you were Ancelotti, what would you do?!?! it's not a hard choice is it.

Joe Bibb
78 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:42:48
As long as Everton fans are happy with Corrupt Big Sam, Sean Dyche and others just as boring then we will never get back to where we belong.

We are supposed to have all this new money, we are led to believe we will have a brand new ground on the waterfront, yet we shop at Spar when other top teams go to Harrods.

I have been watching Efc for over 50 years and I never thought I would see the day when fellow fans want a manager who will only promise us not to be relegated. The History of our great club shows that the indignity of relegation has only happened twice, the last time over 60 years ago.

Everton need to go for Top Mangers, we pay top wages to Managers and Players and all they offer is 40 points and no Cups.

If you fans keep asking for safety football and no relegation then you will get the Depressive and dour failures like Koeman & Moyes.

We call those across the Park as the deluded ones but they aim high they demand success, we on the other hand accept mediocrity.

Big Sam or Sean Dyche will only get us to be last again on Match Of The Day, listed next to the Wba, Whu, Stoke's of this world, who all have no League Winning History like ourselves.

I feel embarrassed to be an Evertonian when I read some of the comments by so called fans on this site.

Neil Copeland
79 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:49:34
James, agreed but my fear is that if Allardyce were to come he may well prevent relegation but, assuming it is a short term appointment, who picks up from there? When you look at teams he has managed previously and saved them from the drop, where are they now? I think I am right in saying each one has gone backwards. I am sure that the boards of those clubs had a post Allardyce plan but still ended up
In a mess.

If we have to go that route I would much prefer Dyche because I think he would at least be mid term and build a platform for the future. Who knows he may end being the best manager we have had.

I think whoever becomes manager including Unsworth represents a high risk. I accept that some are higher risk than others but not a lot in it in my opinion.

Dennis Stevens
80 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:53:29
I struggle to see anybody who could, or would, come in & rapidly change things for the better. Unsworth is in a better position to do so & to replace him will mean a further loss of time that we just don't have whilst a new manager gets to know his squad. We could be weeks along & no further forward.

The terribly unbalanced squad we now have will make it almost impossible for any manager to produce a winning team. I already feel greater dread of relegation than on the last day of the season in '94 & '98!

Neil Copeland
81 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:54:42
Sorry, meant to finish post 79 with; which is why we need to be looking longer term otherwise we risk no progress at all and face the same problems all over again.
Joe Foster
82 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:54:58
Any January spending will probably be reliant on how much we get for Barkley.
Alan McGuffog
83 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:55:42
Joe where do we belong ? I too have been watching for well over 50 years. The last thirty have been shite. The 1970's also.
Andy Walker
84 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:56:47
Rob 39, fair enough. For what's it worth and I never thought I'd say these words, I think Allardyce is the one to go for. Hopefully he can stabilise the situation and lay the foundations for a younger better manager to come in next year.

He is a hard worker and a serious analysis and tactician from what I've read about him, but I'd never have wanted him as our manager 3 months ago. Times change hey.

John Keating
85 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:57:15
Joe. I'm a "so called fan" supporting them longer than you.
Let's be honest what top manager are you talking about that would even consider taking us on in our present state ?
You mention history, well, we should all learn from history. History tells us that if you can't score goals, can't keep a clean sheet, have zero confidence within the team, have absolutely no sign of getting out of the rut then chances are you will get involved in a relegation fight.
I would right now have dour, boring football but getting points on the board than open expansive football that looks great and losing 5-4 every week.
You may well be embarrassed by "so called fans" on this site but give me a "so called fan" every time than one who thinks a top manager would jump at the chance to coach these players in our situation.
Possibly the "so called fans " are not the deluded ones
Alex Mullan
86 Posted 03/11/2017 at 12:59:14
Sandro is the new Niasse.
Neil Copeland
87 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:01:38
Alex, does that mean he has given his locker to Niasse?
Andrew Clare
88 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:03:16
Joe,
I'm with you all the way.
We have had too long being a mid table team and unless we make the right managerial appointment it will continue.
Our board has lacked ambition for too long.
Jim Lloyd
89 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:03:47
Joe, you might well be angry but you've slammed fellow Evertonians as "so called" for supposedly wanting boring football, and not being true to the great club we've been.

As with John, I've been supporting the Blues longer than yourself, though that doesn't mean I've a more valid opinion. It's all about opninions but not about calling fellow Blues for theirs.

I THINK THAT IF eVERTON fOOTBALL cLub came calling to one of the top managers, they'd either laugh their heads off or leg it out the backdoor.

Sam Hoare
90 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:05:55
I like Unsworth. I think we are playing a little bit better and have had sod all luck.

But ultimately its results that matter.

Last night was a dead rubber masquerading as an opportunity. Lyon are a good team in excellent form. We are a mediocre team in awful form.

The league is what matters. If the team play well and win on Sunday then I hope the board will give Unsworth some more time. I have little desire to see Dyche or Unsworth in charge and little belief that they would certainly do any better. If we lose on Sunday then sadly the audition is over and I hope we go for Tuchel or someone who can do more than 'make us solid and hard to beat'.

Colin Glassar
91 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:12:20
Sam I agree with you but do you really think the board are actively sounding out top of the shelf managers?

I suspect that they are in their usual state of paralysis hoping things will work out by themselves and if not then go for the easy options of Dyche or Big Sam.

I despair.

Chris Jones [Burton]
92 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:13:38
Just taking stock a mo...

Prior to the start of the season no expert pundits were saying we'd be in the shit by October. And at the opening of the season I, like every other Evertonian, was really disappointed we didn't take all three points against Citeh. We really ought to have. And we remain the only team this season to not finish up losers in an encounter with them, a team that's been ripping up trees.

Ours was essentially the same team/squad as we have now. Yes there are deficiencies (#1 being the absence of a top striker) but we're the same side that drew with Citeh, but we've since had the stuffing knocked out of us (see also Chelsea, as one observer said yesterday "From champions to a rabble in 6 months").

As even the knobhead Robbie Savage noted last night, if Gana had taken his chance the evening would likely have turned out very differently. Likewise if the ref had awarded us a penalty against Leicester, as we deserved...

I don't have my head in the sand, I know we're in the mire, but I think a big of luck (which must come) could change a few things. I've seen enough from Unsworth's brief spell of having been put in charge of a defeated unit to think he's doing a much better job than RK would have if the roles had been reversed. I'd be happy to see him in charge until the turn of the year. Don't blame him for being dealt a shit hand. Give him some TIME.

Tom Bowers
93 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:15:06
Scoring goals has been the problem an everyone at the club and all the fans know it.
When Lukaku made his plans known Everton board and mamagement should have acted immediately and they didn't or just took the position too lightly thinking what they had would get them through.
They had nothing as it has proved.
Mirallas and Lennon -back numbers.
Niasse-11 million-not even a locker.
Sandro-8 million, 3rd division standard.
Rooney way past his scoring best.
DCL too inexperienced and Dowell the same but sent on loan as ''unrequired''
Then recently they are supposed to have said they almost had Giroud and maybe even Costa.
Hindsight is 20/20 but Everton have paid the penalty for bad management at every level.
The Watford game will be as tough as all games this season because the mindset is there and they are half beaten before they start.
Some of the youngsters have been doing well but they need the big names to improve their games so that at least defensively we get the chance of one point in the Prem. games.
Ben Collins
94 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:20:25
Joe, I am with you mate. You have to pay big bucks to get big managers. The manager is going to get you more points a season than a defender or even your new flash striker, so it stands to reason that you have to spend big on getting him out a contract, on a big wage and given a big budget. This can obviously go wrong as per Koeman, but nothing is a given when recruiting players or a manager. Clubs cut their losses on expensive signings all the time (using a crystal ball .see Klassen) but have to outlay again and move forward, so must we when it comes to appointing a new manager.
It is safe to assume that the job of enticing a top manager is getting harder as we continue to loose, but we cannot settle for a relegation savior specialist.
Neil Copeland
95 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:21:12
Chris 92, I much preferred the original non edited version - pubdits, I think you may invented a new word, most pundits I hear sound like they have been on the ale all day!
James Lauwervine
96 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:22:24
Some of the stuff on here about Unsworth is disgraceful. I can only assume some of you are pissed or just mentally unstable. Post 14 FFS, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Unsworth was thrown in at a moment's notice to a job where he is working with players he didn't choose who were low on confidence and then immediately faced three tough away games in a row. We are undoubtedly playing better under him (okay it couldn't have got any worse) and, for me, were unlucky not to get something out of last night's game and the Chelsea game. Even Leicester, apart from the nightmare first 25 mins we played reasonably well. We should have had a pen so could have been at 1-1. I think the match would have changed dramatically from that point. Then a sickening flukey own goal. Just like the flukey ricochet for the first goal last night.

The players, manager and everyone at the club must feel the world is against them and, however much they are paid, they are human beings and are subject to the same doubts, insecurities and emotions as the rest of us. I admire the fact that Unsworth had them all laughing and positive in training - good for him. He's trying to change the mood and he's taken on an extremely difficult task. He also has me properly shouting and supporting the team again. I think we are one result away from a real change in mood around the club and I pray for a win on Sunday. Unsworth deserves it. It will transform the international break. If we lose and Allerdyce shows up I will be totally gutted. Let's get behind the boys on Sunday and beat these Z-cars copying bastards.

Andrew Clare
97 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:26:53
I don't want Allardyce, Dyche or anyone of that ilk managing our great club. We had 11 years with one like that and look how grim those wasted years were.
Brian Harrison
98 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:33:27
Jim Lloyd

So you think that any top manager would laugh his head off if we asked them to manage Everton. So can you tell me how a manager that has won the Champions league took over a Championship club at Newcastle.

That is the problem with this club as I have said many times on here we have never shown any ambition when getting managers. None has had any success in winning the top league. I know Martinez won the FA Cup before coming here but he also got his side relegated.
I have been going to Goodison for 65 years and have a season ticket for around 50 years, and in all that time only 3 managers have ever won anything 3 in 65 years appalling.

Richard Lyons
100 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:36:07
Craig Walker #52 - "the most depressing time to be a Blue that I can remember... The managers we are being linked with is grim reading."

My sentiments exactly...

And Dave Lynch #55 (re post 14) - "if you don't like the content or rhetoric then don't read it...simple." Are you suggesting we predict whether the content of a post is going to offend us, before deciding to read it??

Moderators: there have been enough complaints about post 14 - please delete it. While I can sympathise with the passion, such language is, I hope, beneath our dignity.

Oh, and PLEASE, not Big Sam. Why would anyone want a crook in charge? How is he even allowed to get any job in football after bringing the game into such disrepute? Why, we could have Sepp Blatter as honorary chairman too!

Scott Ewers
101 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:36:11
A hundred comments in, 90% of them so, so negative. And you wonder why the Echo publishes the garbage it does. It's just echoing the comments on this forum. I've seen someone on here say that our group was one of the easiest in Europe... IIRC when the draw happened it was pretty universally considered the hardest group. Not to say we shouldn't have done much better, but if you're going to be critical at least be honest. And some of the other comments on here are shameful coming from so-called supporters.

So what do we need to do against Watford to turn this around? We are home. Take a more aggressive shape from the first kick? I think that if we can just get a ball in the net first we will do great from there. So let's be aggressive from the first and see what we can do. Sitting back and waiting for the worst isn't working. Get some scorers on the pitch, and tell them to go for it!

As for the manager, you guys are smarter than me on this one. Let's just be sure that it's someone who will take the job with a positive mindset, someone who will seek to return us to glory rather than just saving us from relegation. We're too good for that mindset.

Peter Cummings
102 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:36:42
Yet again one half a shambles the second a vast improvement until the red card and a total collapse, we could/should have been two up before the very good 'Lyons' scored, think I have might mentioned this scenario several times ago, and on Sunday we WILL get three points, Nil Desperandom folks
Jim Lloyd
103 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:39:19
I can tell you loads of things Brian, but I can't mind read.

Stan Schofield
104 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:39:45
People said give Koeman time, and we did. RS supporters said (and are currently saying) give Klopp time (despite many calling for his head last season). Similar with Guadiola at City.

So why not give Unsworth time? There's no guarantee that the likes of Dyche or Allardyce will sort us out. There's also little point in hiring an 'elite' manager on the salary of a Koeman or Klopp, not unless we have the resources to attract 'elite' players to go with the 'elite' manager.

For me, the bottom line is, we either retain Unsworth or bring in the likes of Dyche or Allardyce, rather than go for some 'elite' foreign guy.

Until we become a club that doesn't sell it's best players (Rooney years ago, Stones, Lukaku) at the drop of a hat, there seems little point in bringing in any top ('elite') managers. It just looks futile, raises false expectations, and is very expensive in relation to the risk of failure.

Tony Marsh
105 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:41:52
Andrew @ 97
I agree we don't want another Deadly Dave type but if Big Sam comes in we are talking a 6 month contract with most likely guaranteed safety.We can part ways in the summer and go again.It is worth it for peace of mind mate. We can't afford another experiment like we are doing with Unsworth. We need ten wins at least to stay up..Its not who we want at the moment it's who will come,
Tony Hill
106 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:44:50
Great credit goes to Unsworth in any event. He has behaved bravely and in the interests of our club and must have known he was on a hiding to nothing. Even if we get beaten on Sunday, he deserves our gratitude.

I do not think he is the right man for us but he is a fantastic Evertonian.

Tony Marsh
107 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:48:05
James @ 96
Apart from the abuse aimed at Unsworth which is not nice in all fairness I could of picked a better last night with the squad we took over there. Think this is were the hostility comes from. He did the same last Sunday. Unsworth has been under huge pressure but he has blown it mate. Not up to the task sorry.
Tony Marsh
108 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:53:37
Did Ronald Koeman take Davey the Dud Klassen back to Holland with him ? If so can we have our money back or Bill Ron for the waste of space. To think BK Mr Everton himself allowed that bell end Koeman to basically swap Lukaku for Siggy
and Davey the Dud.. Jesus wept..
Stephen Davies
109 Posted 03/11/2017 at 13:58:18
Tont # 105.
In terms of Allardyce that would be the ideal situation.
However in reality I don't think that will happen.
He has said recently thst hes tired of doing the same thing ( firefighting) and wants a greater challenge and being tempted by the right offer.
He will want at least a 3 yr contract and it will be he who will be calling the shots but there may well be some compromise in the end.
Were in a tight spot, no question.
Mike Gaynes
110 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:04:49
John #85, bravo. You are absolutely right that the calls for a top manager are simply unrealistic.

Chris Jones Burton #92, I'm no pundit, but I did post here a couple of times after the window closed that we'd be in the relegation zone in October. I did not expect that we wouldn't be able to straighten ourselves out or that we'd plummet out of Europe so quickly, but I can't be the only one who saw the early schedule and the failure to replace Lukaku as major issues.

James #96, agree. I've repeatedly expressed the opinion that Unsworth was unqualified for this job and his "interim" should be as brief as possible, but some of the commentary about him has been way over the top. Nothing about this situation is Rhino's fault... he was put in this position. Now he needs to be returned to his previous job as quickly as possible.

Scott Hall
111 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:05:37
Are people really having a dig at Sandro. Seriously? He's an off the shoulder striker with pace who banged 14-goals in for a mediocre Malaga side last season. We pipped Atl. Madrid to get him and we were all made up.

The reason he's not playing well is because of the retarded system we play where he is effectively asked to be a winger playing with DCL or Rooney as his one and only link up partner who's generally 50-years away from him, and no decent central midfielders to work off. He's on his bleeding own out on the wing running down dead ends.

You don't sign Slash for your band and put him on drums.

If the morons that selected our team week in week out, firstly played people in the correct positions, secondly played a system for more than one game, and thirdly played said players in their correct positions in that system for more than one game... then maybe we might start to see some cohesion. We've not played the same players in the same system more than bloody once!

I was all for Unsworth getting a chance, but as feared, he's turned out to be a 'jobs for the boys' manager. His mates Baines, Jags and Rooney are untouchable. No wonder they want him to get the gig.

I'm miserable.

John Keating
112 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:06:47
Stan. You are correct. People quite rightly asked to give Klopp, Guardiola, Mourinho, even Koeman, time.
The big difference is that none of those Clubs were third bottom, couldn't score or prevent a goal. Had a team with zero confidence and no sign of changing anything.
Nobody, in an ideal situation, I would imagine would want someone like Allardyce near us.
We would all like the team playing attractive football and challenging for European CL places.
Unfortunately we are in a situation that needs rectifying sooner rather than later. I don't believe we can wait until Christmas, next window or whenever to stop the rot.
I reckon by that time we would be too far gone and our position might be beyond repair.
This season is well over and we need to concentrate on getting ourselves safe. We can look again next close season to get someone long term but right now it's all about survival.
I would welcome anyone with experience of these situations to come in until the end of the season.
People are talking about 3-4 wins will see us in the top half. I can't see a goal or a clean sheet never mind a point !
The longer we leave this and keep talking about top class managers in our present situation the more dire it becomes.
Roger Helm
113 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:13:13
The Moyes years were wasted? As I recall, he took us from perennial relegation candidates to respected top six level, and into the ECL. People need to stop dreaming about us being a big club, attracting the top managerial talent. We are well below the big clubs in England, with whom we used to be on a par with 30 years ago, and we have a squad that is Championship quality at best.

By all means get snobby about Allardyce, as if football was ever a game for saints, but don't complain when we turn into a Sunderland or a Villa. We need an experienced, capable, tough manager, able to organise poor players into a useful team. Who else fits the bill? He has said he would like the job.

Raymond Fox
114 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:15:50
Too many have their head in the clouds, its ok saying we should be aiming for top 6 in the future, that's the easy bit. Then we have we are too good for this manager and that manager, too good we haven't won anything since Adam was a lad.
So you sign a so called top manager, what about the players you also need.
Have we ever signed a player the usual top 6 clubs also wanted, have we retained a player that they wanted.
A big resounding no to both of those questions, we've tried to do it on the cheap and found it does not work. There needs to be really big money spent to compete and up to now we have not shown the desire to do so.

Its not top managers we need, its top players.

Soren Moyer
116 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:29:40
I'd say sack the board first!
James Ebden
117 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:34:48
Roger, spot on.
Over achieved year after year on a shoestring and yet most here hate him. At times we played lovely slick football, and bar a dodgy decision from Colina would have been in the group stages of the CL.

I would take those days over our current dross at the drop of a hat.


People saying we are 3 points of 10th etc. great, you can read a table. Do you have a plan where those 3 points are coming from though, as our current squad don't look like they can fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

James Lauwervine
118 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:43:40
Tony 107, I don't agree. Yes, in hindsight, he got the set-up wrong against Leicester but I could see what he was trying to do and things could have turned out very differently if not for a refereeing error and a flukey own goal. At Chelsea they had to bring on the big guns to try to see the game out because we were all over them second half. Last night he very nearly got it right and but for a stroke of bad luck at a key moment we could have gone on to win a very difficult game for any team. He's been thrown into an extremely difficult situation and has shown some real signs of progress to me. I just can't see how he has blown it or is not up to it on the basis of these three games. We can all pick nice teams on paper and muse about what great managers we would be but he has to train them, motivate them, figure a plan and get his tactics across in a clear and coherent way. All of this with players he didn't pick and some of which he will barely know. He's made mistakes like any manager would and is under huge pressure that is not of his making. He needs to be given a chance - at least until the new year.
Dale Rose
119 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:54:02
Give him a go until the New Year. Things are improving, we have had some terrible luck, but we have got the players. It isn't a new manager we need but a new striker. Dont know who is about, at the moment who would be willing to come here. This being the problem, we could end up with more overpriced shite.

Unsworth has been left in a terrible position. The man is doing his best, and coming under constant fire from some people on here. Support him to do his job and turn this around, which I firmly believe he can.

Scott Hall
120 Posted 03/11/2017 at 14:55:51
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. That's the fun of a forum. So let's remember David Moyes' opinion of Everton through his quotes:

"It's been an enjoyable 11-years. But onto bigger and better things."

"It's like taking a knife to a gun fight."

"I wouldn't stand in the way of a player when a club like Manchester United comes calling."

"People say I've not won away at these bigger teams. But nobody mentions the draws. Nobody talks about the incredible, outstanding draws we've managed."

I am adlibbing somewhat because I can't be bothered to look his quotes up directly but the sentiment is the same.

How about some memorable results?

Everton 0 - 4 Bolton
Everton 1 - 6 Arsenal
Arsenal 7 - 0 Everton
Everton 0 - 4 West Brom
Shrewsbury Town 2 - 1 Everton
Everton 0 - 1 Reading
Man City 5 - 0 Everton (that's when they were shite)

My opinion on David Moyes is that if Everton bring him back then I'm done. Call me a part-time supporter or whatever but if that's the ambition of the club then I won't be a part of it.

Ian Hollingworth
121 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:00:48
No ambition from the board.
Club still run by bungling Bill.
It really is fruitless us all debating who the manger should be / will be, as it really does not matter with the current set-up.
We sell our best players at the drop of a hat and buy inferior players to replace them, if we replace them at all.
Joe McMahon
122 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:01:12
James Ebden (117), Moyes did not win at Anfield in (I think) 12 attempts, no win at Man U in 11 attempts, Chelsea or Arsenal.

I may be wrong but the Colina goal was an equaliser. We would not have been ahead on aggregate. Even If (and that's if) we went into the group stages, we would have been going in against the big guns of Europe with Marcus Bent, James McFadden, Tony Hibbert and Kevin Kilbane.

David Moyes has 11 years of winning nothing at Everton, and sacked 3 times since in 3 years.

Tom Bowers
123 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:02:04
There are lots of and's if's, but's and maybe's about this season but the bottom line is that they are in a crucial position that needs to turned around quickly.
This club still has lots of great talent just waiting for that catalyst to make them a competitive team again.
The problem of course is that at the moment and until January they really have no means to get out of the malaise due to the lack of a real strike force and support from midfield in the same area.
Koeman did get his sums wrong early but nobody in their right mind should start hurling slag at Unsy.
He has been thrown in and although there has been some slight improvement in attitude the underlying problem keeps letting them down.
He is between a rock and a hard place wondering if to persist with the youngsters or bring back the big money earners.
Everyone has their own version of the starting eleven but no matter what it is, without scoring you cannot win. If they get a new man in and he gets to sign players in January and then produces results he will get all the praise but Unsy doesn't have that luxury at the moment so back off him please.
Dave Abrahams
124 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:02:43
This might sound daft but have the players been got together to discuss how they feel about the crisis,has the managers, Koeman previously and now Unsworth shown the players the video's of how bad and gutless they have played, will Unsworth pin the notices of last night's game up on the notice board, of how the team is being ridiculed by the media, particularly David Maddocks in the Mirror, a Liverpudlian taking the piss out of them and our club posing as a reporter but taking great pleasure in our predicament.

If he hasn't he should have and ask the players to respond to the criticism by having a fuckin' good go on Sunday for ninety minutes, not thirty or forty like in every game this season, show us fans some pride and fuckin' passion for once, earn your money and be men not powder puff show ponies, fight and graft and we will roar you on for ninety minutes, you fuckin owe us that at the very least.

James Ebden
125 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:04:16
every team loses games and has shock results Scott. I bet Chelsea didn't expect to be turned over by Palace the other day ?!

I also didn't say I wanted him back, purely that his solid top half football was far more preferable to the cack being played at the moment.
And didn't RK basically tell Lukaku he had to leave to get better? Surely that's worse. The reality is if Utd make a bid for one of our players, that player is going. No player is going to turn them down to stay with us. Moyes was just being realistic. Something some of our fans struggle with because they cant see very well through the rose tinted glasses.

Derek Knox
126 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:05:14
In many respects I feel for Unsy; he has been basically thrown in at the deep end of a cess pit; but having said that, he has proved that the job is more of a Herculean Task; than fulfilling his dream job.

Like I have also said on many occasions, we have a decent group of players; but totally unbalanced in terms of cover for all positions.

The new manager, whoever he is, will have to not only be a Football man, but also a psychologist and motivator.

Again for all the desire in the world, I think at this moment in time, is beyond Unsy.

Which poses another dilemma, can he return to the U23's?

I know he did before; but that was after only one game, with an established side and a win.

I can't see a high profile manager; possibly risking losing his touchline credibility; with, what is fast becoming a poisoned chalice.

I would rather have Dyche for the mess we are in; but doubt whether he would even be tempted.

Please not Big Spam.

John Davies
127 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:05:23
Scott Hall @ #111. Totally agree with your comments mate. 100% spot on. I've been supporting Everton for 50+ years and have never been so disillusioned with the club. Idiots everywhere you turn. We're in real trouble and unfortunately David Unsworth is not the answer.
Neil Copeland
128 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:08:19
I think overall Dave Moyes did a decent job with very little resource. In my opinion we kept him for too long because BK couldn’t find the right person to invest in the club. There is no doubt that we have gone backwards since he left despite us having the investor on board now. However, I certainly don’t want him back. Like most if not all on here I don’t know who the right person for the job is but the decision has to be taken with future plus here and now situation taken into account.

To me, now is an opportunity for Moshiri to shine. Come on Mr Moshiri show us your worth. Show us your real ambition by putting your money into our great clubs future, we need you so pull your finger out and get it sorted!

Kim Vivian
129 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:08:23
In case it hasn't already been mentioned, as a matter of interest for anyone who's on 'Manager watch', and if you've got access to it - Wolves (Nuno) are live on sky this evening if you want to check out how they play.
Charles McCann
131 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:16:33
Unsworth made a mistake in last nights team selection playing Sigurdson upfront on his own. He is far too slow weak and off form However his team selections have been an improvement on Koemans. Bringing in Baningime has worked well and also Kenny had a good game last night. Besic also did well in right back when he came on.

Going out of the Europa league may be a good thing so we can concentrate on climbing the table.

It’s a difficult situation that unsworth finds him in with having such an unbalanced squad. There are maybe four players who are all really only suited to play in Barkley’s no. 10 position. Rooney, Sigurdson, Klassen and Sandro. None of these are as good as Barkley so hopefully he is back playing soon and now with koeman gone maybe signs a new contract.

If we lose on Sunday then I’m afraid we will probably have to get someone in with a bit more experience to manage us out of the relegation zone.

I like Unsworth and feel he has done some positive things but maybe working as a no 2 to Sean Dyche would be a better option. I don’t understand why so many are against Sean Dyche. He comes across really well when interviewed and is doing a great job with a Burnley team that doesn’t have players of the highest calibre. The style of football he has Burnley play is fairly good too. Not sure the top class manager people are calling for like Ancelotti or Tuchel would work well with our team and it’s a definite no to Davey dour or Allardyce for me.

Derek Knox
132 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:18:45
Thanks Kim will run the rule over him, to see if he comes up to TW Standard.

Nino Esposito Santo, and the choir in the background sing; Who's for a game of dominoooooes!

Brian Harrison
133 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:18:48
Lyndon & Michael

How come you haven't had a poll over who most on this site would like to be our next manager. Seeing as we had a poll on who wanted Koeman to stay, so why not 1 for who is to replace him. We certainly know 2 of the candidates.

Kim Vivian
134 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:25:18
Brian - Ha, I thought you actually said "who on this site would most like to be our next manager" I would have said Steve Ferns but got it on the second reading!

I expect we will see that poll at some point from M & L.

Having said that - who on this site would make the best manager?

Soren Moyer
135 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:27:02
Davy Moyes!? NO FUCKING WAY!
Dan Davies
138 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:29:54
Gus Hiddink?
Brian Harrison
139 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:31:11
Kim

I guess there would be quite few people on this forum who would like their name included. I think it might be interesting to see who would come out on top. Mind maybe as well as Allardyces name and Dyche name we should also have a none of the above candidate.

Jim Lloyd
140 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:36:46
I seem to remember that it was Moyes who left us, not us getting rid. I don't think there's a great deal for us, in bringing back a manager who's been sacked from his last 3 clubs. I think Moyes did well for us all told but it's time to move on.

With due deference to those who believe we should get a top class manager in, my hope is that we get Sean Dyche in. It seems to me that we have to basically rebuild this club up from the foundations yet again. I think Dyche would make a good manager for us and I hope that Mr Moshiri gets shut of the Kenwright crew and brings in a professional Chief Executive with his own people to make up the majority on the board.

I think we're in the basement and trying to get to the posh suites at the top, in one bound. I'd rather we went up floor by floor.

Paul Holmes
141 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:37:57
I wanted Unsworth to do well,and after the Chelsea second half I had high hopes but that team selection and tactics for last nights match against Lyon proved Joey Barton was right on talk sport after all (on management credentials).Unsworth,Joe Royal and John Ebbrell (all in France) fucked it up big time !.
To play Sigurdsson as the centre forward (no shots on target) was a disgrace,and to put Kenny from right back to left back when Besic came on,meant we had two full backs playing in the wrong position instead of just one (Besic),unbelievable.They try to make you think that you have to be a mastermind to be a manager,but in reality management is keeping things simple for the players,something Koeman and Unsworth do not know how to do.The centre forward last night was a simple decision (rooney rested,Niasse unavailable) so DCL,Sandro or the U23 centre forward,it was that simple,but not for our mastermind managers who think they know best ! (results say they don't).
Gio Mero
142 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:49:43
Pick your best XI and stick to it. Make the players accountable and soon they will play like a team. That's all we need.

Quality hopefully we'll buy in January (sorry Baines, Schneiderlin, Williams and Holgate to name a few regular starters).

For now Niasse has to play as we do not have a striker.
Soren Moyer
143 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:52:52
Why not make an agreement with Tuchel, if we still were in the pl come next summer, he could become our manager? To answer my own question: because our current board is bloody useless.
John Keating
144 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:53:36
Of course it is wrong to slag Unsworth he is only trying everything to get us a result with the shit he has been left with.
Pocchettino, Guardiola or anyone you can mention could come in tomorrow and not fare any better in the short term.
I cannot slag Unsworth or the youngsters but every single so called experienced first teamer is an absolute coward and not one are fit to wear our shirt.
Unfortunately we have what we have and someone has to get the best they can out of them I just don't think one of the fancy dan managers named can do it in the time available
Gordon Crawford
145 Posted 03/11/2017 at 15:55:19
Joey Barton, that's hilarious. Yes Unsy didn't cover himself in glory with his team selection, but this isn't his doing, the blame sits solely with the board, Ronald and Walsh, they should all be giving the boot.
Whoever takes over as manager, will have to work miracles.
Paul Holmes
146 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:02:19
Maybe Unsworth should have listened to his own intelligence not voices from other people who have not got a clue,that would be a good start.Sigurdsson as a fucking centre forward (no shots on target) instead of DCL,Sandro or the U23 centre forward for starters !.Football is simple these fuckers try to make it harder than it actually is,square pegs in round holes managers.
Robert Workman
147 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:11:45
Is Sunday's game really massive? I would say that the following game away to Palace is more important, even at this stage a 6 pointer. Watford are on a decent run. A draw would not be the worst result. However a win at Palace is a must.
Rahman Talib
149 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:21:18
Everton has a deep and serious problem and Unsworth is not experienced enough to overcome it.

I am for Allerdyce or even Moyes to step in

Gordon Crawford
150 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:26:30
If Moyes enters the scene then Bill will be delighted, that would be the ultimate kick in the teeth for us fans.
I really can't believe that people want him back. That smacks of no ambition.
Stan Schofield
151 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:26:47
The situation that we're in is no more dire than it's been for the last two and a bit decades. It just seems more dire when looked at relative to the perceptions generated by Moshiri & Co (including that Russian special forces hitman, Ryazantzev). Our expectations were raised to expect more than just the usual mediocrity, but we should be used to being at least a bit sceptical.

It's OK having high hopes, but high expectations can be realised only if we have massive amounts of money, which apparently we don't, and won't unless a mega-billionaire (as opposed to your normal everyday average billionaire) gets on board.

In the meantime, we could if we really wanted, attract another high-profile manager with an exotic foreign name, so long as we offered enough cash, such as £6M/year. It's surely a no-brainer for a lot of them. If they're successful, lots of money and loads of plaudits for doing the impossible (making us good), and if not, parting ways with a load of money anyway followed by another lucrative job.

If we do that, we need also to stump up the money for top players, and to stop selling our best players to our supposed competitors. But again, we can do that only if big money arrives.

Some on here have commented that Liverpool don't tolerate shite like we seem to do. Well, in fact they're not so different from us. They win sod-all these days. Their supporters can take the piss as much as they like, because all it does is divert attention from how shite they are compared to how they would like to be. and like us, they don't have the financial muscle of Chelsea and City.

I believe that is the root of our issues, money, nothing more, nothing less. With enough money, we can attract and retain the best players.

Dave Abrahams
152 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:35:43
Robert (147), every league game from now on is massive, we are fighting to stay in the premier league and if we go down it will be a very long time until we get back up.
Jon Withey
155 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:51:35
Ambition is the new passion - what a vacuous word.
Jim Lloyd
156 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:55:19
Money, money, money, it's a rich man's game! Was that Abba?

Anyway, whoever it was, I don't think just money will do the trick. It certainly helps but if we're not careful we might just spend our money like Randy Lerner did and end up relegated, or that feller from Sunderland.

Strange that Sunderland one. I remember me dad telling me as a kid that money doesn't always work. He said that Sunderland were a big club and spent lot's of money but got relegated.

I think we are in a bad position now, not just because expectations have been raised but also because we have to work with what we have until January and even then, there is no guarantee that good players are available or would want to come here.

At the Summer window, we were in a better postition to attract players but we went with the ones we brought in and, so far, we haven't gelled as a team (bit of an understatement!) and a number of our players look absolutely shell shocked.

I think we just have to think about now, rather than say that were not too badly off compared to other seasons; and for me the signs are worrying that we are in danger of losing too many games to pull back the deficit we'll have in January.

There's a few reasons I think this but the main one is that the players need to have some certainty and stability as from now. we also need to see our players given a massive moral boost. Whether that's giving Unsy the job, or anyone else, bringing in a degree of stability is a must.

It was hard enough for Man City to attract top players, even with all their money; and they also went through managers at roughly one a season. That's with being one of the richest clubs on earth.

So, I think we need a man in now and for me, that man would be Sean Dyche.

Alan Bodell
157 Posted 03/11/2017 at 16:57:10
It's fireworks night this weekend so plenty of stuff to load into the team coach Watford turn up in, well it helped us in our last time of distress back in 1994, Vinnie 'hard man' Jones would have shit hiself getting off the pitch that day had they beat us .oh, just me reminiscing.
Thomas Rigby
158 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:18:47
The Board,the manager,the Director of Football even the players come and go but the fans will always be here.Understandably we have differences of opinion in a situation like this but we must come together on Sunday.
We need Goodison at it's best...non stop support and encouragement,forgive mistakes,roar them on non stop.
Glwadys Street remember Kendall's half time team talk against Bayern Munich telling the team to attack and the fans would "suck the ball in the net "

The team has lost all confidence...so expect nerves and respond by making it clear we are 100% behind them.
Turn Goodison into a bear pit .
Let defiance be the message from all us.

Mark Morrissey
159 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:18:58
So I was forced to run for the hills the other day. I was told to do one and that " I didn't get Everton because to do that I have to learn to hate all things Liverpool " Well I've never subscribed to that view given that my family are all from Liverpool and a few of them on my sisters side support the other mob but I'm back to say again, Benitez is the man we need.

Yes I know I don't get Everton but having supported the club since a lad and lived through the highs and the lows from Catterick to Koeman I think I am qualified enough to know what a good football manager looks like and also what a shit one looks like.

He is the man who could save our bacon and take us beyond what the ginger one gave us. Yes, I know he made a comment about the size of the club but I didn't give a toss when he said he it and I am not the sort of man who is bothered about people calling me names nor my club. It's this sort of sentimentality that has left us where we are today.

Mr Kenwright, ring the fat Spaniard and get him to Finch Farm. I'm ready for the abuse again but if you're happy with the shit currently being served up by our boys in blue and you can't forget a bit of name calling then for me you're just as lily-livered and pathetic as Blue Bill is sentimental.

Football is a business and we've seen plenty of people switch Everton for the RS and vice versa. It's about time we saw another. If he turns us down then fuck him but if he says yes, well I for one don't think we'll look back. Get Rafa!

Jim Lloyd
160 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:21:55
A good choice Mark, if he'd come.
Michael Ward
161 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:29:30
Let's be honest here. I wanted Unsworth to do well, I really saw a lot of promise in the first game against Chelsea where despite losing I thought we were the better team overall. Leicester less so, we may have dominated possession etc... but that is the way Leicester play, we could say there were situations we were unlucky but at the end of the day I think Leicester deserved to win, Lyon the same.

A few things seem evident to me.

Calvert-Lewin - He has a lot of promise but doesn't offer enough at this level yet. In an ideal world we would have him out on loan at a 'lesser' premier league team or upper championship team (Probably his level at the moment) or be giving him time off the bench. He isn't offering enough as an outlet and his goal return is poor. Not all his fault given the struggles of the team but still, I think it's time he took a break from the team. His performances are going backwards. We have 3 'proper' strikers in and around the first team, Dominic, Sandro and Niasse. Only one of them has proven themselves at a top level in the past and that's Sandro. I would start him at Watford and for the foreseeable future, rotating him with Niasse as and when needed.

Kenny - I was calling for him to start as much as the next man, but at this point in time he is just not up to it, his passing is erratic, he is making errors in defence and is caught out of position too often. He again, in an ideal world, would be out on loan somewhere. Holgate at RB, despite all his failings is better suited to the premier league and has more premier league experience in that position at this point in time (In an ideal world Holgate would also be out on loan learning his trade as a CB). Martina should be his backup and Baines' backup on the left.

Lennon - Way, way, way past it. Unsworth has played him every game. That is a big negative against Unsworth in my book. Lennon looks out of shape and only gets in the team to help cover for Kenny behind him. It is no coincidence that Lennon and Kenny both switched to the other wing last night. It's because Unsworth doesn't trust Kenny. Not to be Kenny bashing but Kenny seems to have been instructed to play very narrow defensively almost as a right sided CB, with Lennon as RB. That is why he finds himself in positions like where he scored the OG against Leicester. In Lookman and Vlasic, we have 2 young quick wingers who are willing to put the effort in going forward and backwards. Wingers are notoriously inconsistent anyway so if there is one position in the team we can afford to blood youngsters it is here. I would have them as first choice wingers rotating with Mirallas who is the next best option.

Gana/Schneiderlin - Gana is our new James McCarthy, Schneiderlin is meant to be our new Gareth Barry. I don't think it is any coincidence that Gana's form has dropped off since Schneiderlin came into the team. Basically Barry was the real DM and Gana was meant to close down and harass. Schneiderlin is a sort of half way house between Barry and Gana, he likes to get about has pace but doesn't have the nous or passing range that Barry has. Another blot on Unsworth's copy book for me was expecting Gana to be the 'proper' DM when we played Leicester. He doesn't have the discipline. I find it ironic that despite us all saying look how many defensive mids we have, we only really have 2 'proper' ones and one of those is Beningame who Unsworth has just promoted to the team. The other Schneiderlin, is desperately out of form and should be dropped. We have McCarthy, Besic, Gana who are more of the 'terrier' type midfielder offering little going forward. Letting Barry go was a massive, massive mistake. As expecting a kid to fill that role is a big ask, as unlike the winger the main thing you need there is solidity and consistency.

I could carry on with my 2 pence worth but, in summary, Unsworth like Koeman is getting the balance of the team wrong and that is out main issue. The team is too one dimensional with not enough movement between the lines and as a result both the defence and attack get isolated all the time. Unsy has spoken a good game but hasn't backed it up. The best thing he has done is bring Beningame to the table.

My team for Watford. (4-1-2-3)

Pickford
Holgate Keane Jagielka Baines
Beningame/Schneiderlin
Davies Sigurdsson
Vlasic Lookman
Sandro


Mike Oates
162 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:34:20
Can I respectfully request that Williams, Holgate and Schnederlien not be let near an Everton team in future even as substitutes. Williams is now past it, Holgate will never be a centre half, too small, cant mark, doesn't command, doesn't communicate and repeatedly loses his man. Schnederlien has completely given up, had enough, doesn't want to know. He cant read the game, cant tackle, and has the biggest sulk in the team by a country mile. None of them are good enough for Everton and possibly throw Besic into the frame as well.
Alex Mullan
164 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:40:15
Every time I see Holgate play he makes a glaring error. It's like starting 1 nil down. He has potential but he should be sent on loan to make these mistakes in the Championship.
Denis Richardson
165 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:42:37
Slightly off topic but thinking about this last night, what is it with Everton and strikers? We seem to have an allergy to them.

Under Koeman, Martinez and Moyes (stretching back 15 years!) I can only think of one season where we had at least 2 decent strikers in the first team squad and that was 2007/8 with Yak and Johnson. Otherwise we've had one at most or often none! It's just incredible when you consider virtually every other team has at least 2-3 in their senior squad every bloody season (RS apart now but their AMs are good). Most of that was down to Moyes and his never changing 451 or 460 formations.

Over the years we've had to make do with the likes of DCL, Niasse, Kone, Valencia, Anichebe, Bent, Straq, pensioner Ferguson, pensioner Campbell, Chadwick, Vaughan, Radzinski, etc leading the line. Even quite a few games starting with no recognised striker and a crap midfield!

Why can't we just buy 2 half decent strikers for a change? They don't even need to be earth shattering, just a great work ethic and some pace - there are loads in the championship that are miles better than what we currently have in the squad, never mind on the continent.

Stan Schofield
166 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:48:12
Jim@156: Your dad was right that money doesn't always work. Merely THROWING money at a problem ensures nothing. However, I think it's a necessary (but not sufficient) condition for getting to the top of the PL and sustaining it. You need money, and you need to spend it wisely. We just spent £150M on fairly good but not top players, but it wasn't very wisely spent from the look of things.

Looking at the PL over the last 15 years, Man Utd have won the title 6 times, Chelsea 5, and Man City 2. Chelsea's and Man City's performances show a marked improvement after Abramovic and the oil sheik, respectively, got on board.

Our average league position is about the same as Spurs, apart from the last few seasons, and only 3 places below Liverpool. Our average points are about 58, compared to Liverpool's 68. Of course, Utd's, City's and Chelsea's averages have been significantly higher.

So the sustained top performers are the richest. Like we and Liverpool were in the 60s when John Moores and Tom Williams injected the necessary cash.

It seems to me that the talk from Moshiri and Ryanazentzev 18 months ago about the 'project' was not commensurate with our actual financial capabilities.

Nigel Munford
167 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:50:48
I think we need Red Adair!
Alex Mullan
168 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:51:09
I'd pick this vs Watford: back to basics 4 4 2, nothing fucking fancy. We've been trying to much fancy shite this year, multiple number 10s, false 9s, midfielders up top. Back to basics and win whatever the cost.

Pickford

Kenny Jagielka Keane Baines

Vlasic Besic Davies Lookman

Rooney Niasse

Neil Copeland
169 Posted 03/11/2017 at 17:52:34
Mark, good post.
Nigel Munford
170 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:00:59
I keep hearing names thrown in the ring for our new manager, but to be honest we aren’t that attractive a proposition at the moment are we? Why would Rafa come, he’s quite comfortable at the barcodes, Dyche, again comfortable at Burnley, Silva has a project, as has the Wolves manager. Then there’s the currently unemployed managers, usually sitting on a fat severance package, well they are if they’d been employed by Everton FC, so they’ve no need to rush into a new challenge. So where does that leave us? Promoting from within, with David Unsworth, at least give him until Christmas and then maybe Santa will have the answer, as long as we’ve all been good this year.
Neil Copeland
171 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:06:46
It’s looking like Keane will be in the squad tomorrow. I am hoping that the infection which he picked up in September against Sunderland has been largely responsible for the drop off in his form. Hopefully when he is fully fit he will be back to his best.
Des Farren
172 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:18:56
It may be a "huge" game for Unsworth but hardly for most of the players. Why? Their contracts are already agreed. Why would Schneiderlin, Baines, Jags, Mirallas, Williams (I could go on) lose a nights sleep if we lost,let alone be relegated.

This was also the case during the Martinez era. Players lose games and are unconcerned because they know they will be considered blameless,particularly when manager is under huge pressure.

We are depending on these players,irrespective of who is managing them. Do you have confidence in them to get us out of this situation? I don't.

Jim Lloyd
173 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:30:23
Yes Stan, it'd be pretty hard to compete without it and Leicester proved the exception to the rule; but I think in general, those with the best players, are those with Money. Even with money though, it's taken Spurs until last season, after Lord knows how many managers and a fair old dollop of money off Joe Lewis.

The masterstroke was bringing in Pottechino form Southampton (we were one manager too late there!) As you said though (or I've said...forgot now!) it is money that attracts managers and players but it isn't just money.
Liverpool are one of the biggest spenders since the PL began but they haven't yet become top 4 certs, so it isn't Just money, as I see it.

If we make a change now then I think, the first obvious priority is, for me, ensuring our survival. How we do it with the best chance, is a matter of opinion on here but a matter for decision upstairs.

If (big if in my view but well worth a try) Benitez is approached and agrees, I'd have no problem at all with him taking over. I just don't think he'll leave NUFC with the likelyhood of a takeover and a lot more funds in the offing.

I don't think it's wise to leave unsy in charge on a week by week basis but I don't have to make the decision, it's just my opinion. Of those who might be tempted, I look at Sean Dyche as a decent choice. In my books, the best choice unless I'm wrong about the top managers.

This is our first year at having and spending big money, and we haven't been the wisest in doing so. But we're not the first to do so, as all those now in the top six have shown.

So I think, if we stay up, the we will spend more and we will learn from our mistakes.

But the scary thing, is I am not confident in us staying up.

Derek Knox
174 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:32:26
Nigel 167, no time for dancing mate, besides Ginger (Rodgers, not Moyes) has well moved on. :-)
Ian Lang
175 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:32:27
I’ll get behind the team but truthfully I have zero confidence in this team to drag us out of this mess. No matter what team selection, formation, tactics nothing seems to work. I honestly believe Watford will tear us a new asshole on Sunday. They should of been out of site against Chelsea and if they play like they did and take their chances we’ll Get a hiding. We all seen How this team gave up and downed tools as soon as that first goal went in against Lyon but you Just never know though in football we might beat Watford, and go on a 10 game winning streak and we’ll be all heading down the Winslow for a nice pint wondering what all the fuss was about
Neil Copeland
176 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:40:35
Derek 174, took me a moment or 2 - nice one!
Phil Walling
177 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:43:59
Stan @166. It's not just having the money, it's how it is spent. SOMEBODY (?) pissed Everton's against the wall !
Stan Schofield
178 Posted 03/11/2017 at 18:49:57
Phil, I said basically that @166.
Mike Gwyer
180 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:07:07

Speculate all you like regarding who you want to manage Everton, but it's crystal clear that we probably have the worst defensive setup to ever play at Goodison Park. I mean ever. No manager can pick a solid back four from the posse of shit that we have. I mean as CB's, its Jags, Williams or Keane, pick any two you like and I guarantee you the opposing team will just fucking laugh, then score lots of goals and just laugh again. Our full backs are even more depressing, but sadly as funny as fuck to the away fans. Would any new manager want the likes of Baines, Martina or Holgate. Seriously? What manager in the EPL would pick any of those? The midfield is equally fucked up and the forward line is no longer a position required at Everton FC.

So, for some all we need is a new manager? For me you reap what you sow, so lets see how it pans out with the horror show that Koeman has left us with, but I think you will see it's far more than a new manager we need. Far more.

Lawrence Green
181 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:09:28
It's all about the money, not necessarily the money spent on transfers but the wages we pay to our players. I don't know for certain but I would imagine if you are in Baines' or Jagielka's boots, both loyal servants to the club and they suddenly realise that the club are spending money like there's no tomorrow but did they get their share or an increase in wages?

Likewise when Rooney signed reportedly on a ridiculous wage, did that one signing prevent other strikers from arriving at Goodison because they wanted parity with the top earner at the club?

Some of the younger talent may be on relative peanuts in comparison to the new arrivals does that help to motivate them to give everything to the cause - to be fair they don't appear to have been adversely affected.

Then there is the dream which the club sold about trying to break the top four, each new signing was probably told they were the final piece in the jigsaw yet each of them individually and collectively have failed to deliver out on the pitch, why should that happen?

As someone said elsewhere the begining of the campaign was solid if unspectacular but as soon as the Transfer Window closed we fell to bits and haven't yet recovered.

I wonder how many of our new arrivals have relegation get-out clauses in their contracts?

Alan Stubbs argues that Everton FC lost its morals during the summer and forgot that it was the people's club perhaps he's got a point but it still doesn't answer the many questions raised against every single board member and the owners actions as to how we got in such a ridiculous position so quickly.

I'm hoping that Stubbs' comments are not a broadside against the current owner as returning to the spendthrift days of the Moyes era is not a solution either, particularly if the man at the helm happens to be a certain theatre impresario.

Tony Hill
182 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:09:31
Thomas (#158), I couldn't agree more. At least we now have something to wake us from the coma we've been in for far too long, even it is the fact that we're in a mess. It's our mess and everyone else can fuck off - I can't stand the smug fuckers tut-tutting and telling us what's we'd better do.

Roll on Sunday.

Soren Moyer
183 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:20:48
Not sure whether to laugh or cry! We must be the only team in the history of football to have gone backwards squad-wise after spending £200m.
The team we have right now can't even compete in the championship ffs!
Jim Lloyd
184 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:33:31
Mike,

We need a new manager because of all what you have said! We need a manager who come the 1st of Jan has identified and will get players who will give us a chance. In my view that's a left full back, a centre half who is moble and frightens the opposition...not us!, probably a right back as well, as Seamus could be out for months yet.

We need at least one other goalscorer

Don't you think that the rest of us fans don't know what a crock of s=hit we've got.

We're speculating about managers because we all know we need one...but have different opinions as to who.

The thing is, we haven't got a manager, certainly not one who is permanent.
And every one of us are well aware of our shortcomings,
Hence the discussion on the best way of repairing the damage...if it's possible.

David Israel
185 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:34:04
Much as I respect Unsworth, I think too many people on here as just as obsessed with his future as they are with the team's predicament. Whether he gets the job or not - very unlikely, I'd say - is not the problem.
Tony Hill
186 Posted 03/11/2017 at 19:49:29
I do hope Baningime starts on Sunday. A real Everton player in the making, what a delight to see him turn and face the opposition and then make quick, clever, incisive passes. It's instinctive with him, he had it in the game when I first saw him for the under 23s against the RS.

He's got a natural football brain and a cool temperament. I have to say, if Unsworth does nothing else then his development and blooding of this young man will still, I think, be a serious legacy (he's been with us since he was a child, of course, so he's a testament to our whole youth system).

That's what we have to hang on to: there is a core of mostly young players just waiting for the right manager.

Don Alexander
187 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:08:31
Three points at the weekend is nowhere near as vital as signing the best manager possible, vital as three points would be. I'm more confident of waking up with Kylie on Sunday before that though.

It's rightly said that the trophies tend to follow the monied clubs and that's why I'm now not expecting much better from Moshiri than mid-table, because his reported fortune is more or less mid-table in comparison to other clubs, and eight clubs have better and bigger grounds, making us mid-table again, but with one of the least fit-for-purpose, crumbling gaffs in the league.

That said, what worries me most is that Moshiri cuts and runs. If he does that our club's in serious, potentially terminal decline as far as I can see.

Phil Walling
189 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:23:52
For no particular reason, I see Sunday's game as the bellwether of our season. Beat Watford and all will be well, lose and there is little hope. (Don't ask about the draw!)

The bookies have us as 6/5 favourites and as they are rarely far wrong and as a sign of good faith, I've risked my usual score.

I know Unsy won't let me down - although I do worry a smidgeon about his players !

Kim Vivian
190 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:25:51
I don't know what might occur with Nuno (Wolves leading Fulham 2-0 at the mo - both goals from set pieces) but we could do worse than look at this fella at Wolves...

"Leo Bonatini has been involved in at least one goal every league game for Wolves at Molinuex, scoring six and assisting three in seven matches!" - that from the BBC site - and he just scored a wicked header for their second, so that's scoring 7 and assisting 3 in 8 matches now

Wolves look pretty competent, Organised, decent movement, crisp passing and disciplined. Tell you what though - it's not so bad down here in the Championship. Quite entertaining this match. Might be just what we need for a season.

Lawrence Green
191 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:27:15
Romelu Lukaku talking about why he joined United and his current teams chances of winning at Stamford Bridge also mentions his former club Everton. Is this what is really wrong at Goodison the team being too afraid of losing rather than going out to win?

When I used to be at Everton – and no disrespect to Everton, the team that nurtured me – we were always playing not to lose against the big teams. As a striker, I would play sometimes with two defensive midfielders as wingers. There would be no service, everybody would be thinking about closing back and not conceding first. I would stay on the holding midfielder and we would defend with nine. Here it is different, you play to win and you get more service. The pressure is bigger but it is something I wanted. Now we go to Chelsea and we go for a win. That’s a good feeling. Sometimes we would go to Chelsea and be happy with a draw and I would be fuming because I wanted to win.

Paul Kossoff
192 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:29:46
Rob, why is Howe not considered? Probably because we are 18th, and Howe,s team are 19th has something to do with it.
Chris Leyland
193 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:36:34
Lawrence, interesting comments from Lukaku. Shame he hasn’t been paying attention to his new team’s tactic of late, which are playing dire, defensive football to try and avoid losing. This might explain why he hadn’t been able to score for the month of October, 6 games on the spin? I’m also not sure whether Rom was awake or not during the turgid 0-0 between Man U and the shite an Anfield that started his barren run when his team stuck 10 men behind the ball and left him isolated 40 yards up the pitch in a clear attempt to be happy coming away with a draw?
Chad Schofield
195 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:43:32
One thing to think about those calling for Fat Sam is nobody's going to let him near the cheque book... And we desperately need players in (the tough) January window.

Would Dyche be afforded a sizable budget? What players is he going to attract, especially if we're still faltering.

I don't see how now, unless we really could get Hiddink, is time for more change. Otherwise change just before the hefty Christmas fixtures.

At least with a veteran manager there's room to mentor Unsworth (but there seem to be a lot of ex-blues doing that at the moment).

Neil Copeland
196 Posted 03/11/2017 at 20:52:52
Lawrence 191, I think Rom sums us up nicely no wonder he wanted out and also explains his comments about our lack of ambition.

Both of our previous managers would re-assure us before games against the top clubs away from home that we were going there to win. Well they were clearly deceiving us and now we know why our recent record against those teams is so poor.

It would not surprise if those teams got wind of our master plan and raised their game accordingly. The RS must have loved going into a derby knowing they would not lose.

Jesus, as I type this the more pissed off I am getting. I will count to ten and calm down - the board must have known about our approach to those games. The club really needs to re-align it’s focus and not accept going into games hoping for a draw or narrow defeat, simply not acceptable.

I hope Moshiri reads Rom’s comments and thinks fuck me I didn’t invest all that money for this. I won’t be holding my breath,

At least with DU I think we know he will do his utmost to get the players fired up and go for a result.

The remit for whoever our next manager should be that second best is not good enough. Regardless of whether or not we have the players to do it, the mentality has to be right. Anyone who does not adopt the right approach should be told to fuck off - from the board right down.

Mick Conalty
197 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:03:49
Just watching MK Dons on telly against Hyde Utd., they"ve got a big guy playing upfront built like a
brick shithouse and a very good player, where is Walshy.
Neil Copeland
198 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:04:47
Chris 193, I fully understand your frustration with Rom and his mouthing off but his comments could help us if Moshiri was to take them on board and set about doing something about it. As I said in my post above, I won’t be holding my breath.
Raymond Fox
199 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:05:12
Its a fallacy to repeat that we have spent big this summer.
We sold £97m worth of players and bought players valued at £142m.
That's a difference of £45m, which could be seen as big for us but not a fortune in the grand scheme of the Premier League.

As pointed out before by others if Barkley had signed for Spurs and the Niasse transfer had gone through we would have spent nothing.

Not a big club mentality for me.

Kevin Tully
200 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:09:05
Don't like all this talk of 'it's a Cup Final' from Unsworth. He seems to be have been bitten by Betty's lad with his "the very best fans" bollocks at every presser. Not for me I'm afraid.

The choices that seem available aren't all that enticing either. I'm turning to drink. Goodnight.

Bill Gienapp
201 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:17:24
Unless he's just looked beyond hopeless in training, I don't see why you don't give Sandro a run of games. He was a legit talent in La Liga last year - no one seems to remember, but getting him for 5-million this summer was seen as a tremendous coup. He has by far the highest ceiling of our current strikers.

Most have already written him off, but I don't feel like I have any sense of what he can actually do. His playing time and tactical role have been wildly inconsistent. The times he has started have often been matches like Chelsea, where the setup gave him literally zero chance to succeed.

Given that nothing else seems to be working, we need to be looking at ways to maximize the existing talent we *do* have in the squad. If there's even a chance of getting Sandro on track, it could be a game-changer.

Tony Hill
203 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:29:41
The crowd can make a difference - see Palace and Leicester in recent years - and we'd better wake up because it's never been more crucial. That's why it's important for people to admit how much shit we're in, because if we don't we will continue to look on proceedings in quiet desperation, letting the decline happen.

Goodison can save this shower of shite, regardless of the manager, by resurrecting the noise and the will to win. It all needs to start straight away.

Neil Copeland
204 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:30:56
Bill, the games I have seen Sandro in he looked like a chicken with no head and struggled with the pace. I am a bit disappointed that he has not turned out for the U23s to help him adapt and get some game time. I agree with you that he must have something based upon his La Liga record though.
Steve Ferns
205 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:32:21
Paul Kossoff, and why is Howe 19th? Because he goes to win every game. Not working out very well is it.
Roman Sidey
206 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:32:47
I'm going to get a lot of grief for this, so please read on before jumping down my throat. I have changed my mind and think sacking Koeman was the wrong move at the time.

When he was sacked I was in the camp somewhere in the middle. I wasn't celebrating it, but I knew ("knew") it was necessary.

However, I (stupidly) assumed the club would have a replacement lined up before making such a big move. They either didn't, or they did and such a candidate has not agreed to the move.

All that aside, the main reason I am doing a 180 on my Koeman stance is that the players have not improved since his leaving. If you look at other clubs' results after a change in manger, they usually show some sort of improvement over the following month and eek out a result or two. We've lost all three, without looking like having the ability to compete or win them.

The players are garbage, and the club has sacked a manager to spare a group of senior players who are the wrong side of 30, can't trap, hold or pass a ball to save themselves, and have been visibly declining in quality for the better part of five years.

In no way am I trying to take all the blame away from Koeman. His time at the club was always going to be brief anyway. But, in a season or two when the likes of Jagielka, Baines, Williams and Rooney are either playing in the Championship or their backyard, I think the club is going to regret putting so much stock into an aging playing staff that has (Rooney aside at his peak) always come up a yard short when it really mattered.

Derek Knox
207 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:33:08
Watching Wolves v Fulham, that Jota who we could have got for about £7-8M, looks a good quick player, as are all the Wolves side.

Good blend of home and mostly Portuguese players.

Anthony Jones
208 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:43:47
#206: Nonsense. Everton have looked more threatening in the past 3 games than they did under Koeman.

The guy was inflexible to the extreme. He dropped players who were in form and stuck stubbornly to his narrow "systems" regardless of who we were playing.

Coupled with his terrible PR, he had to go.

Tom Bowers
209 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:47:22
Roman, I don't necessarily agree but yes, in a perfect world a new man might have been lined up but the Arsenal debacle seemed to show that he had no idea what to do next.
Perhaps letting Lukakuu go before having an adequate replacement and an 11 million target man without a locker was also a bad move. Who was responsible for the Niasse situation, only Koeman.
Okay Niasse may not be the ideal man to come in but he does give some strength as the target man, certainly not DCL , Sandro or Rooney.
As I said earlier it's hard to see the situation changing no matter who is at the helm given the lack of firepower available.
We may have to bite the bullet even more until January.
Kim Vivian
210 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:47:48
Look allright, Wolves, don't they Derek. Bonatini - 10 goals in all comps this season I think and yes, Jota useful too.
Tony Hill
211 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:47:52
Steve (#205), it's because he can't organise a defence.
Jason Wilkinson
212 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:49:46
Roman, Sorry pal but you are wrong. I can't say what is truly the problem at Everton but Koeman was sulking. He sulked when he couldn't get Giroud.

Unsworth is a novice coach who has made broad and sweeping changes. Sadly for him it hasn't worked.

I believe we will see a power struggle break out in January between Moshiri and Kenwright. Only if the Victor spills the beans will we understand the rapid decline fully.

Paul Holmes
213 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:51:52
After reading these posts up to 207,i now realise that nobody has an answer,posts like Holgate should play with keane,holgate should never play in the first team,williams is rubbish,williams is our best centre half,jags is our best defender,keane is a bad buy ,keane should play instead of williams etc etc..
Our message boards are the same as the management,nobody has a fucking clue what to do for the best that we all agree on,hence lies the problem.
Imo get a manager in,play one system that the players understand and play the same players week in week out so they get used to each other,win or lose.Playing different systems ,different players every single match is the fucking problem !.
Roman Sidey
214 Posted 03/11/2017 at 21:58:41
Fair chat, Tom. I do think that Koeman wasn't the only one dealing with transfers so a lot of that blame has to be shared amongst the board, Walsh and Koeman.

Koeman was definitely responsibly for leaving Niasse in the wilderness, but let's not forget how most people felt about the big man when he first signed. And even now, he seems to have one good performance and a lot of bad ones.

Like I said, I was originally content with the sacking, but I withdraw my support now seeing how the club has dealt with it.

Anthony Jones, We've had 7 shots on target in the three matches since DU took over. If that is your idea of threatening then I assume you were on the edge of your seat during the Moyes days. Yes, Koeman had to go, but the timing of it hasn't turned out to be very good, has it?

Roman Sidey
215 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:09:16
Jason, if you can't say what the problem is, then it is pretty useless saying that someone else's opinion is wrong. If my bosses sold my best player and then I missed out on my target replacement, I'd probably sulk too.

My post was littered with acknowledgements that Koeman wasn't right for the job, and I certainly don't think I'm an expert. I'm just saying that sacking a manager is a massive decision, and if things are still the same afterwards, then perhaps the problem is bigger than that.

In my opinion, the existing playing staff (those in the squad before this season) is as much to blame for a lot of Everton's problems as any manager.

Jason Wilkinson
216 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:10:37
Paul #213 I have not seen anyone knocking Pickford. I think he is the only consistent player we have. Williams, Jagielka, Baines and Rooney deserve the stick they have got as their performances have been poor for experienced pro's.

We have been too harsh on some of the youngsters at times as all young players thrive on confident team performances.

The new outfield signings however !!! Well whoever bought them needs to put there hand up and then fuck off.

I can't work out what's wrong with Shniederlin and Gana as last season they both looked capable. Maybe Gareth Barry made them look good.

Mirallas, Lennon, Barkley and Niasse have had too little game time for me with Ross still injured.

I think most on TW are suffering from the effects of Moshiritis (like Kenwright"s bullshit but more believeable.)

THE period between the plethora of signings and Sigurdsson coming worried me as it looked very similar to when Walter Smith came and Peter Johnson snatched his cheque book back after an initial spending spree.

Laurie Hartley
217 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:14:58
Phil # 189 - I hope your optimism is rewarded and you get a collect on your £20 ;)

I only saw the highlights of the Lyon game off the official site. If that was the best bits all I can say is - Blimey we are in dire straits.

I think Unsworth will play mostly senior pros against Watford and hope that professional pride will kick in.

Steve Walsh - tap this bloke up with a view to signing him in January.

Target Man

Don Alexander
218 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:17:25
Roman, I think you make a good point, as does Jason. Koeman WAS effectively sulking but I guess he bought into the top-four in three seasons bollocks when he joined us, assuming there'd be a net spend to sustain such a project. How wrong was he to believe that?

Without the three signings he always said we needed he must have realized he had a mountain to climb. When the fixture list came out he must have seen that mountain as Everest, and too much for any side, nevermind one with so many new signings and still such serious shortfalls in recruitment.

Looking at it some might some day think he did pretty well last season with squad he had. I did, but I expected at least one proper centre-forward to be signed as a minimum regardless of the other positions that also needed reinforcement.

What most disappoints me is the way the team plays despite the early, full, preseason Koeman didn't get last year. In fact the whole team seem to me to be physically unfit in comparison to other teams. That's unacceptable and sad to say Unsworth's youngsters seem similar. If that's Koeman's fault it's unforgiveable. It certainly isn't the famed Barcelona way.

Maybe Kenwright employing such top professionals as Ferguson and Jeffers as unqualified coaches has something to with it too, but what do I, a mere fan, know?

Jason Wilkinson
219 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:31:59
Roman, I'm not criticising your opinion (apologies if that is the way it comes accross) Koeman did what I believe is unprofessional. By sulking he had basically given up by default and has blamed Walsh for his own failings since he left.

I believe Sigurdsson was 100% a Koeman buy and he has stunk the place out. Shniederlin too.

I don't think the board could continue to work with him. Unsworth has been given an opportunity and this maybe another failing by the board.

Roman Sidey
220 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:39:06
Don, that last paragraph just sums up Everton for me in the time I have supported the club. Giving jobs to people to learn their trade. That for me is what the lower leagues and u23s is for. Fans go on and on about Nil Satis Nisi Optimum when it suits, but if that motto is worth the paper it's printed on, a club like Everton would not have a first time manager with four professional senior matches under his belt in the dugout. Nor would they have a first team coach who is also in his first professional coaching job.

I guess my main disappointment is just that: the club seems to be accepting a situation like not having a qualified managerial staff. Maybe the club motto should be "If we go down, we go down together".

John Davies
221 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:40:18
Roman #206. Really good post mate. Totally in agreement.
Roman Sidey
222 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:49:46
Cheers, Jason. I really liked your post at 216 too.

I agree that Sigurdsson was probably a Koeman buy, but let's face it, that seemed like a pretty good signing at the time. People point to the price, but that's the price of football in 2017. He's not hit the ground running as you'd want from a record signing, but I do think he is a tremendous footballer.

Much the same as Schneiderlin; most Everton fans were calling for that signing and were happy enough when it was made. He hasn't hit the ground running either. I think it's a mix of being a January signing, which can be difficult for some players, and also playing central midfield in a team that is so unbalanced. Remember he has had a handful of matches that he has absolutely shone in.

I try to spare the younger players from too much criticism, but a couple of them I just don't think have what it takes - mainly DCL and Holgate - and 12 months ago I was saying DCL would be a super star.

Don Alexander
223 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:54:52
Jason, and some others, I suspect all of the players signed under Koeman believed they'd be in a team with all the required parts. I believe Koeman thought so too.

Sigurdsson would be bonkers to have signed knowing that he'd have nobody of any worth as a forward to pass to. He's had a very good career, acknowledged across the board, with potentially years left as one of Europe's best no.10's but he needs a target man like a knife needs a fork.

Without one he looks as anyone should expect, pointless.

Pete Clarke
224 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:56:49
Quite a few of us have mentioned that we need that Kevin Brock moment. I personally think we need the Anders Limpar ( Stuart ),Barry Horne and Hans Segars moments and we need lots of them.
Jason Wilkinson
225 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:57:14
The board currently resemble the characters from the Wizard of Oz.
Kenwright is the lion, roars a lot but a shithouse at heart.
Moshiri is the tin man, no heart and talks shite to his mate Jim "talkspunk" White.
Walsh is the scarecrow, he just happens to be along for the ride.

The team play like the munchkins and we are all hoping it is just like the film and we've all had a collective bad dream after the tornado.

Roman Sidey
226 Posted 03/11/2017 at 22:58:32
So who's Dorothy, Jason?
Jason Wilkinson
227 Posted 03/11/2017 at 23:04:19
Toto's ma of course. You never seen the film?
Derek Knox
228 Posted 03/11/2017 at 23:05:33
Sorry Kim 210, been off the site for a while, what impressed me was the running for each other in all positions, each player knew almost instinctively where each would be.

The other things that I noticed, were there were very few passes that didn't find their target. It appeared at times that Wolves had more men on the pitch than Fulham; but that was like I said before; they move as a unit.

Hope we don't draw them in the FA Cup until we have regrouped, reinforced and are remanaged.

Jason Wilkinson
229 Posted 03/11/2017 at 23:20:40
Listening (mainly on the radio) most pundits still hold EFC in high regard as a club. Most stating that to join the club would be a step up for players and managers alike.

So why is that even with the buying power and reportedly competitive salaries on offer no one seems to want to join Moshiri's revolution?

Are all the top names waiting for Bill to fuck off or is it more likely they have developed the "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude like we have over the stadium debacle?

Lukaku's recent comments won't help in this regard either. Fucking gentleman's agreement!!! Niasse might be shite in comparison but he's got way more class.

Terry White
230 Posted 03/11/2017 at 23:22:21
Pete (#224), for those of you that remember 1958, we need a Bobby Collins moment.
Pete Clarke
231 Posted 03/11/2017 at 23:29:46
Six years short of my birthday that Terry so don't Remember the Bobby Collins moment but would like to know what happened .
The only moments we're getting right now are bad moments so will we get that break . Do we deserve it ?
The senior players have got to stand up and do something.
Dave Evans
232 Posted 03/11/2017 at 00:01:05
This is a coaching problem. Stay rational this can be fixed.
Clive Mitchell
233 Posted 03/11/2017 at 00:06:07
Nervous as hell for Sunday. We've got to get behind the team and somehow stay behind them when things don't go well. The side I'd like to see is Pickford Kenny Keane Jagielka Williams Davies Gueye Schneiderlin Baningime Rooney DCL Niasse. No use playing the lightweights, we've got to tackle everything. I'd love to have McCarthy for Schneiderlin if we had the choice. Desperately need Seamus and Ross back too. COYB!
Chad Schofield
234 Posted 04/11/2017 at 01:21:44
#233 Clive, not sure if Watford will let us play with 12... But it might help change our fortunes!
Clive Mitchell
235 Posted 04/11/2017 at 01:32:48
Chad, I thought it looked a strong side.
Roman Sidey
236 Posted 04/11/2017 at 01:41:57
Chad, he named Jagielka and Williams, so it'd be like/worse than playing with 10.

Jason, I dare say the issues with attracting big name managers is partly what you state about Bill. It may even go further to Elstone as well. I imagine if the likes of Ancelotti met either of those two they'd be pretty unimpressed.

Another issue could be related to what Berbatov came out and said the other day about Spurs. When they put in the bid for him he'd never heard of them. It is one thing for pundits (mainly British, sorry to assume if wrong) to hold Everton in a high regard, but I'd hazard a guess that the club doesn't touch the peripheries of a lot of continental football people. Not saying that nobody knows who Everton is in Europe, but they probably don't hold us as high a regard as Utd, Chelsea, or the RS.

Terry White
237 Posted 04/11/2017 at 03:08:07
Pete (#231), you are excused for not knowing. Lost the first 6 games of the season, signed Collins, won his first game 3-1 at Maine
Road. Was the beginning of the new era, before the end of the season we had signed Alex Parker, a wonderful right back, Brian Labone and Derek Temple had played their first games. I think we actually finished in 16th place in a 22 team league but more was to come in the following seasons.
Kim Vivian
238 Posted 04/11/2017 at 08:47:21
Morning Derek - Heading for bed by the time you posted that last night!

I was thinking exactly the same about the FA Cup during the game. If we were drawn against them, as it stands, it would be a nailed on loss for us.

They did play a very continental type of game with lots of possession and patient play from the back but when they broke forward it was quite incisive. It could of ended up about 3 or 4 - 1 (Fulham did make chances) but I read that Wolves now have, I think, 8 clean sheets in 16 games. As far as the other end of the pitch goes - a quote from one of the Wolves fellas after the game...

"Nuno is very in depth tactically and we're reaping the rewards.
It's good to have a variety of different ways of scoring goals. It's nice to have been involved, but the important thing to the team to keep winning...".

Nuno could be a viable candidate for us based on what I saw last night. I am unsure what the latest gossip is on that but it is impossible to say, of course, how good a fit anyone may be, and as has been pointed out over and over again - it's a car wreck that any new manager will be walking into.

I will be extremely surprised not to see them in the prem next season. My fear is though, that we might pass them going the other way!

Clive Rogers
239 Posted 04/11/2017 at 10:09:05
For god’s sake Unsy, don’t pick Lennon again. You’ve picked him three times and hawked him off three times.
John Keating
240 Posted 04/11/2017 at 10:19:24
It must be getting bad when the local rag is asking if it's Big Sam time.
Dave Williams
241 Posted 04/11/2017 at 10:28:46
Possibly more important on Sunday than which players are selected will be the crowd.
If the crowd make a noise from the start and encourage like we did in Joes " dogs of war" period then it will boost the performance enormously. This team needs us behind them not on their backs. Unsy has to send them out totally fired up and with us behind them we might score first which will then settle everyone down a bit.
Gareth Clark
242 Posted 04/11/2017 at 10:34:23
We have to put out a team that can stop the goals we’re conceding! But we also need enough up top to be able to create.

Therefore we HAVE to go 2 up top & a diamond in midfield:

Pickford
Kenny Jagielka Williams Baines
Idrissa Beningime Rooney
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin Niasse

Robles, Holgate, Schneiderlin, Davies, Lookman, Mirallas, Sandro

Neil Copeland
243 Posted 04/11/2017 at 10:44:15
Dave 241, spot on. I will be there doing my bit!
Paul Hay
244 Posted 04/11/2017 at 11:01:26
While I understand the disappointment and immense frustration with our current plight, I think that it's a bit unfair to slate Dave Unsworth as some here on TW are doing. David deserved his shot given his service and loyalty to the club and, not least, for the tremendous work he has carried out with the youngsters.

It is regrettable however, that he, or anybody else who takes on the responsibility of managing this currently alarming position we are in, is still working in a club that needs cleansing from within.

Many of us here who have followed Everton for decades (almost 6 in my case), have seen highs and lows - but for me, it's never been worse than it is at the moment.
As long as Kenwright and his cronies are at the helm, then our motto will never come to fruition. They're as useful as Anne Franks drum kit and, if FM is the real deal, he needs to buy him out and pack him off together with all the other wastes of space.

A total re-build from within is needed while doing whatever it takes temporarily to consolidate our Premier League status. If that means it has to be Allardyce for now then I could live with it - but nothing will change ultimately until a clinical clear out and overhaul is carried out on the entire infrastructure.
And Dave Unsworth is one of the very few I'd keep.

Jim Wilson
245 Posted 04/11/2017 at 11:57:13
Three horrible away games is not what you want as a new manager.
Almost certainly we would have done a lot worse had Koeman been in charge.
It is from now that we start judging Unsworth. It is never easy dealing with an away European game and then playing on the Sunday and I think Unsworth had this in mind with his team selection on Thursday.

Sensible management will keep us up. A balanced unchanged team will work wonders for us so staying clear of injuries is massively important.

We need some width in the team, we need a solid midfield and some pace. And above all good team spirit and fight with some luck.

Unsworth should be given the chance over the next 4-6 games which are winnable.

But Sunday is a very hard and important game so the tension is bound to creep into the performance which doesn't help.

If we can get McCarthy and Coleman back fully fit I will be even more confident. I think people are now realising how important McCarthy was to the team. Martinez played him when not fully fit and he has never recovered from that.

Tony Marsh
246 Posted 04/11/2017 at 12:14:07
Jim @. 245
I don't really want to have a go at Unsy mate but he has messed up big time. The first game was Chelsea's reserve team which we lost. The set up at Liecster was awfull but Lyon was embarrassing ., When have you ever know a top flight football team purposely play a game without a striker??

Sorry but a nice guy Unsworth may be but in Thursday he has exposed himself and the club to ridicule . Unsworth is completely out of his depth and should be stood down asap.

Jim Wilson
248 Posted 04/11/2017 at 15:37:10
Alright Tony. You may well be right mate and its the next 2 or 3 games which will confirm it or not.
But if he was thinking like me I didn't give a shit about Thursday. Personally I would have took the reserves.
Chelsea away is always difficult and we could have won that one.
Leicester I agree.
I think I am hoping Unsy will turn it round as I am shit scared of who Kenwright will pick to replace him.
One more bad appointment and we are really fucked.
Who do you think we should go for?
Dave Abrahams
249 Posted 04/11/2017 at 16:23:58
John (240), maybe they have heard something, a bit unusual for the Echo I know, but Alladyce's name is doing the rounds in Liverpool.
George Cumiskey
250 Posted 04/11/2017 at 16:30:01
Tony@246 completely agree mate , but sadly I think whatever happens tomorrow he will be in charge till it could be too late for anyone to turn it around.
Alan J Thompson
251 Posted 04/11/2017 at 16:48:32
Tony(#246); I usually agree with a lot that you post but seriously, " When have you ever known a top flight team purposely play a game without a striker". Should we start with Moyes doing so or just confine it to Everton not having or naming a striker this season for Europa League. You don't really mean Rooney, albeit he is one of only two goal scorers before Calvert-Lewin's Niasse assisted effort?

At least lay the blame at the proper door not at the bloke doing his best and at least trying something with what he has at hand.

Christy Ring
252 Posted 04/11/2017 at 17:31:28
Jim @245 Agree completely, and your spot on about McCarthy.
A win tomorrow is huge, it would take us out of the bottom 3, and would be a big boost for Unsworth's chances of getting the nod. I know it's unthinkable, but if the result doesn't go our way, I honestly think he'll be replaced, which doesn't make sense. He has made a big difference to our formation, a lot more positive selection, and he deserves more time. If the top brass replace him, a new man will need at least another month to do things his way?
By the way, Alladyce would be a total negative selection.
James Stewart
253 Posted 04/11/2017 at 17:36:20
Stupid to be going into another game with Unsworth in charge. Sleepwalking to relegation. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!
Colin Glassar
254 Posted 04/11/2017 at 17:47:41
NHS is a bit overworked just now James.
Andy Crooks
255 Posted 04/11/2017 at 17:49:29
Tony,and others. Revisit the thread " UNSWORTH: I FEEL READY TO MANAGE EVERTON" Check out post # 52. That post was made 24/10/17. A week is a short time when you like to rant.
Hugh Jenkins
256 Posted 04/11/2017 at 18:29:39
I keep reading statements on here (and elsewhere) like "managing the under 23s is entirely different to managing in the premier league".

The first thing I would ask is - "how do you know?"

Unless you have done both (and I am pretty certain that none of the contributors to this , or other sites has done both - how they cannot possibly know?

They can assume.

But, then again, any of us can always assume anything.

As I have said before, Unsworth has proven he can man manage a squad of players and organise them and train them to win matches.

In order to have done this, he will have studied the opposition on each occasion, assessed their strengths and weaknesses and planned his strategy accordingly.

Has he been successful at that?

Clearly he has, in fact, as successful as it is possible to be!

So now the question is asked, "why isn't he translating this into the first team?"

And that is when I begin to question the rationale of many posters on this and other sites.

Everyone has already identified that we have a shortfall of adequate personnel in the striker and left defending positions.

Unsworth has, so far, had three games in which to cure the malaise within the squad and rectify all other shortcomings, thereby producing a settled team with a winning formula.

In two of those games his squad has been reduced to ten men - through no fault of his, yet he was still expected to produce winning results against much stronger and more experienced teams.

I think the only man who could have managed to produce the results in those games that many on here and elsewhere appear to have been expecting, regrettably was crucified a little over 2,000 years ago, because barring a few miracles, I don't think anyone would have got better results with the players currently available.

I think Unsworth can turn this around - he has a track record for winning in the right way.

However, in order to do it, he is going to have to be given more than four games - but then again - so is anybody else.

John Keating
257 Posted 04/11/2017 at 18:32:08
We'll have to be quick on Monday morning or we'll lose Big Sam going back to the Hammers
Lawrence Green
258 Posted 04/11/2017 at 18:36:13
John #257
I wouldn't be surprised if we don't appoint a manager for a little while yet, I suspect the board and owner haven't yet got their ducks in a row.
Trevor Peers
259 Posted 04/11/2017 at 18:43:58
DU has changed his tune on SSN,
from 'our cup final' amended to 'my cup final' well that's more like it.

If we go a goal down he might be surprised that the crowd will be angry and silent, and not right behind him as he seems to think, understandable given the dross we've been served up since he took over as caretaker.

John Keating
260 Posted 04/11/2017 at 19:20:41
Think there's any chance we could get the team to Melwood for training during the break ? Pass, move, press, run, fit, score, defend, plan. Surely we could learn to do at least one of them ?
Lawrence Green
261 Posted 04/11/2017 at 19:38:36
We could send them to Melwood and we could make them wear bright orange shirts too, but why would we do that? Aren't we Everton FC and isn't there a song sung entitled 'we don't care what the other side do'? Sometimes it feels as if our club is little more than a diversion to be blasted and castigated in order to promote and glorify the team from the other side of the park. Come on Everton get your act together and start winning some football matches if for no other reason than to give the fans their sense of pride back.
Will Mabon
262 Posted 05/11/2017 at 04:28:26
Andy @ 255:

Someone once advocated posting carefully on the internet to me, as you may attach a label you can never unstick. Best description of it I ever heard.

Jack Convery
263 Posted 05/11/2017 at 11:32:58
The next manager has to be seen to be nuetral, so all the players accept him. The BK old boys brigade only divide the squad. We are not going to get the big name we desire. I do not want Allardyce. I would love Silva as he looks to me to be another Pochettino. However my oney is on EFC getting Dyche. We'll see.
Alasdair Mackay
264 Posted 05/11/2017 at 15:52:52
Despite the last 3 results - I want Unsworth to be handed the job full time.

The club needs stability and I have seen genuine improvement over the last 3 games. The squad lacks balance and is devoid of confidence, but the danger is getting sucked into a short-term fix solution.

RhinoIn.


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