West Ham United vs Everton

Friday, 11 May, 2018 56comments  |  Jump to most recent

Wayne Rooney is ruled out but Theo Walcott has a chance of returning after missing the draw with Southampton

Everton bring the curtain down on a sorry 2017-18 season with a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United on Sunday.

With European qualification long since removed as an option and fears of relegation also in the rear view mirror, the Blues will be playing for eighth place and the extra couple of million pounds that will earn the club over a finish one place lower.

A win for Leicester City and anything less than three points for Sam Allardyce's team would see the Foxes leapfrog them but there is also the question of pride at stake and the need to provide Everton's long-suffering but committed travelling support something to cheer.

The Blues have won just three matches away from home all season in the Premier League, a symptom and consequence of the malaise that gripped the club after all the optimism of last summer.

Article continues below video content


All three of those victories have come under Allardyce but there has been precious little joy under the former England boss and speculation over his long-term position continues unabated, with The Mirror running a story today on their back page that the 63-year-old is facing the sack. It could very well be that this visit to East London marks Allardyce's last match in charge of Everton, with further change on the horizon once the campaign is out the way.

It might also have seen a second swan song from Wayne Rooney as he considers a move to Major League Soccer and DC United but he has been been ruled out with the minor knee injury that precluded his involvement against Southampton last weekend.

If he does indeed up sticks for America, his last involvement in a Royal Blue jersey will have been the 63 minutes he played at Huddersfield a fortnight ago in what was, at least, a rare occasion when Everton were full value for their away victory.

Theo Walcott, who also sat out the 1-1 draw with the Saints, has a chance of overcoming a thigh complaint and playing but he will be a late assessment. If he is also ruled out, it leaves Allardyce with the same pool of players from which to choose as last time, with the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate also still out.

There are likely to be changes to the starting XI, however, given Allardyce's criticism of those players whom he tasked with stepping into the breach last week but failed, in his opinion, to deliver.

By implication, it means that Yannick Bolasie and Nikola Vlasic could find themselves back on the bench and they could be joined by Tom Davies, despite his stoppage time goal that denied Southampton three points.

Given Rooney's absence, that could present Davy Klaassen with his first Premier League start since October and a belated opportunity to demonstrate that he has a future at Goodison Park regardless of who is in the dugout next season.

Interestingly, this final day clash is a meeting between two managers who are taking on their former clubs but without the certainty that they will remain in their current posts past this season.

Despite having fulfilled his own remit of keeping the Hammers in the Premier League, a feat that was confirmed beyond doubt with their win over Leicester last weekend, David Moyes has no guarantee that he will be kept on.

He could, however, put a glossy picture on his achievements at the London Stadium if he can put one over Everton for the first time since he left Goodison five years ago. If results go his way, the Hammers could finish in 10th place with a win on Sunday.

West Ham ground out a goalless draw with Manchester United on Thursday evening and given that Everton are notoriously limited when it comes to creating chances and putting shots on target, there is a danger that this could end up similarly bereft of entertainment. Last-day encounters, when the pressure is off and summer beckons, have been known to throw up surprises, however, so you never know!

If you need a hotel room for the game against West Ham, check affordable hotels in East London recommended by TravelMag.com.

Other hotels close to the stadium are the Holiday Inn London Stratford or The Premier Inn Stratford, both available from £100 per night.

TravelMag also shows the best ways to purchase tickets on this article. Plenty of affordable seats are still available for the last game of the season, albeit in the home sections as Everton routinely sell out their away allocation.

Kick-off 3pm, Sunday 13 May, 2018
Referee: Graham Scott
Last Time: West Ham United 0-0 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Klaassen, Bolasie, Walcott, Tosun

 

Reader Comments (56)

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Ian Linn
1 Posted 12/05/2018 at 07:04:10
Very odd season, looking like we'll achieve 8th by playing very average football.

Moribund - my favorite word, sums us up nicely.

Looking forward to 2018/2019, COYB

Darryl Ritchie
2 Posted 12/05/2018 at 07:10:54
I don't think it would be possible to have a more meaningless match. The two most disappointing clubs in the PL, ending the season with more questions than answers. I hate it when good enough, is good enough.

A win would be nice, but more than anything, I would like to see an Everton squad on the front foot, the entire game, playing entertaining football. The problem is, I don't think that Allardyce knows what that is.

Kunal Desai
3 Posted 12/05/2018 at 07:51:35
The strange thing about this season is we are likely to finish 8th, possibly one place below where we would have been expected to have finished come the start of the season.
Yes the football has been dire and the manager and certain players need to leave the club but what it does indicate is how dreadful this league really is and what a monumental task the club has of trying to dislodge any of those top six sides.

I'd like to see both Niasse and Klaassen start. Niasse alongside Tosun if Walcott does not make it. Klaassen in place of Schneiderlin.

Moyes hasn't beat us in five games, would be nice to keep the unbeaten run going against him.
As for Allardyce I expect the announcement to come out early next week that he will be leaving.
Moshiri needs to get a move along and make big descisions alot earlier to avoid any repeat of last summers fiasco.

Matthew Williams
4 Posted 12/05/2018 at 07:56:07
Same team, same formation, same football, same result... a draw and 50 points and eighth place.

Roll on next season!

Steve Ferns
5 Posted 12/05/2018 at 08:18:44
We might finish 8th, but we’re so far behind 6th. Last season it looked like we could make the leap with a big jump in the summer. Now it looks like it’s a season or two of progress to even get close.
Robert Leigh
6 Posted 12/05/2018 at 08:40:04
If Walcott is out, and even though it doesn’t suit us, I can see Sam going with a back five as they play that way too.

Pickford
Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Funes Mori, Baines
Gueye, Schneiderlain, Klassen
Niasse, Tosun

Can Dowell play now his season is over at Forest?

Tony Everan
7 Posted 12/05/2018 at 08:54:58
Steve 5

We have a lot to do just to get 6th and the way Arsenal turned us over this season it will be tough to get ahead of them.

What strikes me more is the 54 goal deficit between us and 4th place.

We have our work cut out . Over to you Marco.

Derek Knox
8 Posted 12/05/2018 at 09:23:34
Struggling to find any enthusiasm to even bring myself to watch, what will be the final game, of a forgettable, and hopefully never repeated season.

I just hope and pray, that this summer will see major changes at all levels within the Club.

Looking at the Table before, to check the permutation of a Leicester win or draw, should we draw or win, and the goal deficit, (-12) was a glaring reminder of how poor we have been, and yet, with a bit of luck, will finish in 8th spot.

While I appreciate whoever takes over will not be likely to guarantee instant success, I expect to see a more watchable, and entertaining brand of football.

Colin Malone
9 Posted 12/05/2018 at 09:45:53
Make no bones about it, Big Sam got us out of deep shit. I'm not sure if any other manager could have done what he achieved for Everton this season, but no way could I watch the horrible football that Everton have played under Big Sam.

The form of Rooney, Davies and Bolasie etc have dipped because of the Hoofball style of football we play.

So in a nutshell, stay Wayne, Go Sam.
Gareth Clark
10 Posted 12/05/2018 at 09:51:22
If Rooney is leaving - he’ll definitely start:

If not - this is my team who most deserve to start:

Robles to play his last game -

Robles
Coleman Keane FunesMori Baines
Gueye Schneiderlin
Vlasic Klaassen Walcott
Tosun

Pickford, Jagielka, Kenny, Baningime, Davies, Bolasie, Niasse

If Rooney is leaving:

Robles
Coleman Keane FunesMori Baines
Klaassen Schneiderlin Rooney
Vlasic Tosun Walcott

Pickford, Jagielka, Kenny, Gueye, Davies, Bolasie, Niasse

Eric Myles
11 Posted 12/05/2018 at 10:48:38
Any one else having problems with the home page being too large for the 'phone screen.?
Eric Myles
12 Posted 12/05/2018 at 10:56:25
And the comments / feedback form doesn't work.
Andrew Heffernan
13 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:10:29
Agree with you Kunal.

At the start of the season I honestly didn't believe we would finish higher than seventh for the simple reason there were 6 better squads in the league, with experience of finishing in those 6 places repeatedly.
Roll on the season and the only thing thats shocked me (bar the loss of a striker who could score) is how hard work we made standing still - missed with appalling tactics/line-ups by Koeman, no blame to Rhino as he barely stood in, and honestly, while I never liked Sam, his style, or honestly believed we would be relegated - one thing was clear.

This was going to be a wasted opportunity of a season to build experience and challenge for those higher positions.

There have been worse periods and squads but not sure we've been in this position with cash to spend. We need to make the right appointment, the right purchases (unlike the last close-season) and we need to push on. We will NOT, regardless of who we sign, manager or player - finish higher than 6th because once again there will be 6 more experienced and better paid squads above us; what we need to do is develop, over time, with the right structure - this is not going to happen overnight.

A good manager, with a vision or a plan, that suits fans expectations, and a chairman that will back him will be a start - then maybe a bit of togetherness and support from a united fan base; only then can we start moving forward.

COYB

Brian Harrison
14 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:12:56
I can never remember me being not interested in an Everton game. I really don't care win or lose, I am more interested in what happens in the next few days. There is no way the supporters will change their minds over Allardyce a change has to be made.
Brian Harrison
15 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:12:56
I can never remember me being not interested in an Everton game. I really don't care win or lose, I am more interested in what happens in the next few days. There is no way the supporters will change their minds over Allardyce a change has to be made.
Kim Vivian
16 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:15:14
Brian - I concur 200%!
Eric Myles
17 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:44:55
Home screen fixed now.
Eric Myles
18 Posted 12/05/2018 at 11:47:31
Juno to last hyperlinks not working though.
mike barrett
19 Posted 12/05/2018 at 12:13:45
Gareth,rooney won't be playing...he's injured..
Nev Renshaw
21 Posted 12/05/2018 at 13:31:13
They say one player doesn't make a team but since the departure of Lukaku we've really hit the skids. Unless we make some exceptional purchases for next season we're going to be served with more of the same shite. It's soul destroying being an Evertonian.
Jamie Crowley
22 Posted 12/05/2018 at 13:37:37
Oh my God Moyes v Allardyce in a nothing to play for, meaningless game.

Somebody shoot me.

Thing is if Allardyce even gave a shit, he'd trot out an attacking line up and bomb forward, showing the fans and owner he can change and will change in time.

But everyone and his dog knows that'll never happen.

May 14th at 8 am he'd best be gone.

Tom Bowers
23 Posted 12/05/2018 at 13:39:40
Yep, it really doesn't matter anymore what the result is tomorrow, after all even if they were to win the chances are that it will be another unimpressive showing.

The quicker it's over the better so they can get on with getting things lined up for next season.

Practically all the games tomorrow will be snoozefests as most issues are already settled.

Jay Harris
24 Posted 12/05/2018 at 13:53:51
For the first time in over 60 years of supporting the blues I don’t care about the result of this game.

I am so disappointed at where the club is at right now after 20 years of the conman I feel indifferent.

As someone else said Moyes v Allardyce in what is likely to be the last game for them both at their current clubs is likely to produce a boring stalemate instead of a firecracker of a game.

I’m joining the players I have my flip flops ready at the front door.

Ajay Gopal
25 Posted 12/05/2018 at 14:44:38
Lookman scores once more for Leipzig, excellent t finish. I don’t want to get too excited, because things are never straightforward for an Everton fan, but with a good coach and good players around him, he could be the 1 ‘find’ from the Koeman/Walsh era.
Richard Lyons
26 Posted 12/05/2018 at 14:50:36
Remember the way we played in the final game of the season in 1986 vs West Ham? We had just been pipped to the title (actually, the double, FFS) by the RS, and this was a game to decide the runners up.

West Ham were third, probably their best season ever (Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee at their best). I recall we played really well and beat them 3-1; Lineker scored twice, with Trevor Steven adding a penalty. And of course, we went on to be champions again the following season.

Don't suppose we'll get a game like that tomorrow...

David Barks
27 Posted 12/05/2018 at 14:52:07
Lookman really is shoving Sam’s words right back down his fat throat isn’t he? “Not seeing much of the pitch is he”. Nah, just four goals, a few assists, regular starter in the final matches of the season. How’s that Bolasie doing for you Sam?
Ajay Gopal
28 Posted 12/05/2018 at 14:57:50
Sorry to turn this into a Lookman thread, but I really encourage fellow TWers to tume in and watch this match live Hertha Berlin vs Leipzig. Lookman has been a thorn in the opposition defence. He just had one assist for Leipzig’s 3rd goal. Very, very exciting. He is easily overshadowing Keita, who will join our lovable neighbors for a 45 million pound fee!
Alan J Thompson
29 Posted 12/05/2018 at 15:05:24
Robert (#6); I think Dowell has to wait for a transfer window before he will be eligible to play for our 1st XI.
Tom Bowers
30 Posted 12/05/2018 at 15:12:17
It's fair to say that Everton have and have brought in some really talented young players over the last 2/3 seasons but most seem to have gone the way of Ross Barklay for some reason.

Some of us will say that some burst on the scene and then couldn't rise to the next level expected of them and others will say they just came into a regime (Martinez, Koeman, Allardyce etc.) that didn't allow them the coaching needed to improve.

We all know some young players have what it takes to succeed immediately and others take time after being out on loan maybe.

People like Pennington, Besic and Lookman have done quite well with the clubs they have been with but the way Everton are right now it's arguable they would still be players that could play a part here.

There has been something inherently wrong with this Everton set-up as how else could so many talented players come together and have so many poor team performances in one season.

Yes, we can all look at some individuals and say they just aren't good enough or the manager doesn't give them enough playing time but there is no excuse for the lethargy and/or apathy they produced as a team far too often.

I don't know how many times I was watching them when I wanted someone to give them all a good kick up the backsides to get them playing with more intensity and urgency right from the first whistle.

Andrew Clare
31 Posted 12/05/2018 at 15:17:50
At last — the final game of very disappointing and embarrassing season for us.

Hopefully major things are occurring behind the scenes and we will all be a lot happier in the next few days.
Rob Halligan
32 Posted 12/05/2018 at 15:26:34
Seems Rooney definitely not involved tomorrow, or even next season. Sky Sports reporting he has said his final goodbyes at Finch Farm.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/11368928/wayne-rooney-said-his-final-goodbyes-at-everton-on-saturday

Neil Lawson
33 Posted 12/05/2018 at 16:04:41
Sad to say, but best result is probably a 1-0 defeat with no shots on goal. Anything that reinforces and hastens Fat Sam's early departure .

I am in Cornwall so unable to view. Will watch the surf rolling in. At least for 50% of the time it goes forward !!

Steavey Buckley
34 Posted 12/05/2018 at 16:21:32
Big Sam may go, but the players who caused the sacking of 3 managers will still be here, who ever is managing Everton next season. So I say all the luck in the world to the next Everton manager, who may try and turn the Everton squad into footballers of quality. Fruitlessly.
Darren Murphy
35 Posted 12/05/2018 at 17:07:58
Ian @ 1, I'm going for my favourite word I found this season mate. Shiteless
Tony Everan
36 Posted 12/05/2018 at 17:18:42
Dear Mr Moshiri , a wish list ;

A new manager,

A fitness / training regime and infrastructure that is top 4 standard. Staffed accordingly.

Lookman back,

A top quality attacker as replacement for Rooney.

A quality left back, ( tell them not to forget this time).

Sell Bolasie,Klaasen, McCarthy, Besic, Mirallas and replace them with a top top top quality central midfielder.( Break the bank or unlikely but preferable Walsh finds us a diamond). Or even more preferable Beni or Davies step up, but that maybe a couple of seasons away.

Offload Williams, keep Jags as cover, buy a quality left sided centre Half.

Then we will improve. The amount of improvement will depend upon the quality we bring in and maybe a breakthrough season for one of our young stars.

Oh, I nearly forgot, a new 60 000 seater stadium on the waterfront.

Please add /delete/amend as necessary.

Alan Bodell
37 Posted 12/05/2018 at 17:23:09
Not often someone is disliked by 99% inside a stadium, fat boy at least will have his self appointed football agent son Gregg at his side just like fat boy was at his during the legal probes, innocent verdict and good legal rep get's you that.
Trevor Powell
38 Posted 12/05/2018 at 18:08:10
Well, I for one want to see the Blues stuff another Moyes team and keep the sign going over him!
Peter Cummings
39 Posted 12/05/2018 at 18:12:49
At last some really good news after this horrendos season,all Evertonians can now send congratulations to our brethren across the Mersey, Well done Dixies old club Tranmere Rovers on your well earned return to the Football League, and with only ten men for most of the game after a first minute sending off, SA and BK take note
Mike Powell
40 Posted 12/05/2018 at 19:14:43
I am glad the season is nearly over. I have supported Everton since the day I was born and will support them forever. I have been everywhere all over country and Europe to watch them, and want us to win every game, but I don't care if we get beat tomorrow because I want Sam out. I won't go another game to watch the rancid football under this arrogant fraud.
Tony Heron
41 Posted 12/05/2018 at 19:16:04
Hear hear! Peter @39.
A player sent off after 40 secs ( how?). A player injured by a flying bottle. 3 subs in the first half. An equaliser 8 mins into 5 added mins. ( How do you get 3 extra mins out of added time of 5 mins?) And still Rovers fought thier way to a fantastic victory. That's what you call spirit and guts. Well done to all at Tranmere.
John Keating
42 Posted 12/05/2018 at 20:20:32
Every game this season has been hellish to watch and I fear it will continue tomorrow

An end of season meaningless bore draw for me 0-0 doesn't matter who plays. Apart from the youngsters who put 100% in earlier the rest are a disgrace to the Club and the shirt

Start the clear out Monday morning please

Neil Lawson
43 Posted 12/05/2018 at 20:33:54
Allan (39)
Is that Gregg as in the pasty ?
Dick Fearon
44 Posted 12/05/2018 at 23:11:47
I raely disagree with Lyndons predicted lineup yet this time I must. If Schneiderline Klassen and Bolasie are in the side I forecast the mother of all hidings for us.
Despite saying that I still hope for a win.
Steve Ferns
45 Posted 12/05/2018 at 00:08:14
Dick, Lyndon tries to predict the manager’s selection. He is not giving his own preferred XI
Jay Harris
46 Posted 13/05/2018 at 00:59:25
He could shock us all by playing Niasse and Tosun up front in an effort to prove he can play attacking football.
Justin Doone
47 Posted 12/05/2018 at 02:54:10
Watching paint dry and reading gossip columns for excitement. That's my Everton season almost over.

I'll predict 1-1, who starts.. more like who cares.

I'm still dreaming and praying for Mancini but no matter who I think the majority agree a new manager is needed to bring hope.

I've let my season ticket expire without plans to renew until change. The money saved can go on a couple of half price Crown or Dulux paint tins and spend the weekends next season less irritated.

I just hope the best of the young players are not sold off for a few easy million. Loan them all back out until we get a manager who can work with them playing football. They won't all make it but we can all list a few that look to have bags of talent. A positive manager will get them engaged and wanting to play for the team in the right way.

Energy, quick tempo, attack with pace, power and strength, forward passing, movement, intelligence, a bit of link up play, getting people in the box, putting crosses in that beats the first man, creating 'real' chances.

Closing players down is a team effort, not standing still watching Niasse run between goalkeeper and central defender's like a 6 year old. But so is all defensive and attacking play.

It's a team game and needs team movement weather it's closing players down or to drag defenders out of position, have multiple runners for opening up and giving options.

Stick the possession stats up where the sun don't shine. Pickford can stand with the ball at his feet for 90mins to keep possession, what does that prove.

Speriamo di riuscire
MANCINI MANCINI MANVINI

Derek Knox
48 Posted 13/05/2018 at 08:34:44
Just been checking out the potential links for today's game, sadly there only seems to be Bein Sport 5, that is if you can get it.

Don't know if It's because all the fixtures are scheduled for the same time kick-off, or we are deemed to be an insignificant match, but other teams (well below us in table) seem to have more viable links.

Hopefully, able to watch or not, this will be Allardyce's swansong, seems ironic to couple a dinosaur with a swan, but there you go.

While the outcome of the match is almost irrelevant, the anticipation over the next week or so, with regards to a new Manager, some departures, and hopefully some good acquisitions, has me being optimistic for the immediate future.

Eddie Dunn
49 Posted 13/05/2018 at 08:47:34
Sam v Moyes, what a mouth-watering feast this could be.

I imagine that Big Sam will be desperate not to lose his final game and play his usual 2 defensive mids until the final death throes of the season when he will fiddle about and hope to nick one.

He has enabled us to get 8th/9th, which I would have settled for on Koeman's departure, but our lack of style and ineptitude in the basics of passing the ball to a teammate, is the biggest disappointment for me.

Sam will roll off into the Dubai sun and enjoy the break while the next desperate chairman disturbs his self-satisfied siesta.

He will always be attractive to those facing the loss of Premier League status and all of the benefits. If Moshiri keeps him on, we will know that the man is totally out of touch with the fanbase.

Imagine if we keep Sam and Liverpool win the Champions League. Even if they lose, their team looks set for a title challenge next season, while we face a summer of yet more radical surgery on a distorted squad.
At least we don't have the Europa League qualifiers to think about.

Lenny Kingman
51 Posted 13/05/2018 at 08:51:29
Looks like the most obvious 0-0 of all time.

So 5-5 it is.

Martin Nicholls
52 Posted 13/05/2018 at 09:54:39
Steavey (#34) - "the players who caused the sacking of three managers will still be here". So which of Coleman (injured for a year), Jagielka, Funes Mori (injured for a year) and Baines (injured for 4/5 months) do you feel are responsible for "causing the sacking of three managers"? I can't easily think of any other senior players who have played for Martinez, Koeman and Allardyce and three of the four named have been instrumental to our recent run of decent results (as opposed to watchable performances).
Darren Marsh
53 Posted 13/05/2018 at 13:53:26
Knives to gunfights, matchsticks to eyelids. Call it what you like, hopefully this is the egotistical, fraudulent, throw any fucker under the bus, charlatan of a knobhead managers' last game in charge of this once great club. Get fucking rid after final whistle.
Julian Exshaw
54 Posted 13/05/2018 at 14:04:22
Without doubt, the most disappointing season in my 45 years as a fan. I know we have had worse in terms of points but there was just such negativity about Goodison this season. Not much of a 'wow' factor (Rooney's goal against West Ham apart) and very few moments to raise the hair on the back of our necks.

Early exits from the cups, an awful Europa League campaign and a standard of football that was tepid to say the least. All that being said, I can't wait for next season, new faces and renewed passion.

Dermot Byrne
55 Posted 13/05/2018 at 14:05:42
Everton: Pickford, Keane, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Gueye, Davies, Baines, Schneiderlin, Coleman, Niasse, Tosun
Dermot Byrne
57 Posted 13/05/2018 at 14:12:00
Mike Galley
58 Posted 13/05/2018 at 14:20:53
In the 90 World Cup bar by the ground and have been having a conversation with some hammers fans. They spoke about how big Sam sucked the life out the club and took all the enjoyment out of going the game. So it’s not just us that have these sort of opinions about him!
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

59 Posted 13/05/2018 at 14:24:23
Jim @ 56.

That is such a lazy twattish statement to make.

Who else is available, given the injuries? The selection allows for a very attacking formation.


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