Everton coast to another home victory

Should be good enough to beat an average Burnley side.

Don’t like to criticise Silva too much but he appears very bland and without any imagination.

I have to agree with you, it would have been an excellent opportunity to give one or two of the Under-23 squad a chance to show what they could offer the club in the future.

We know what Burnley will bring. Playing 2 defensive midfielders is a waste because both teams will try and by-pass it.

Only hope for a good fast start. 2-0 up at half-time and give the youngsters a good 30 mins to run, shoot and have some confidence building fun.

Now I've posted that 1-0 Burnley 85th min winner.

Totally deserving of the 2-0 lead. Burnley improved, but not enough to scare us. Next goal will go a long way to determining how the rest of this game plays out.

Some really, really good sharp interplay through midfield and upfront. Siggy and Richarlison are dovetailing together as well as they have all season.

I hope there are goals for the Park End to enjoy in the second half! Very rare to see Everton play t'other way in the second half as they will.

DCL has got to shoot and keep it down. Wet slippy surface skid the ball in!

Thanks Jags, good luck to you whatever your future holds?

Why did Walcott come on? He has one thing, pace. On a wet slippy surface instead of playing it 20 yards into space and running onto it he's stumbling over the ball trying to dribble.

We have too many brainless players. The same again next season fighting for 6th to 8th place.

I'm guessing that you have never played football and definitely not in midfield. Morgan Schneiderlin was the best player on the park tonight. Coasted through winning challenges, saved a certain goal with an interception.

Oh, I forgot — he misplaced one pass but kept the ball ticking over all game. Great performance from him. A lot of people on here just don't like the lad. He's been excellent the past 3 games. Enjoy your weekend.

Kudos to Seamus who I thought might be finished but he’s finished the season very well! Well done lad!

All the best to Jags an excellent pro and very good servant to the club! Good luck to him!

After Richarlison went off - our best player in the first half – I thought Morgan was a strong candidate for our MotM.

8 clean sheets from the last 10 games and in all honesty, in most of them the opposition barely got a shot on our goal worthy of the mention.

Be nice to wrap up next week on a high against Spurs.

Good solid win, only negative was DCL's shooting if you can even call it that! Deary me.

A routine win, which in the scheme of things is quite an achievement for this side, were anything but is routine.

When the whole team, take 1/2 touches and move the ball quickly we look good, when we stay intense; quick free kicks, getting the ball back into play etc. we retain rhythm and momentum. The 1st half epitomized that sentiment.

That never happened in the 2nd half, disjointed and sloppy. A better side would have scored. We were quite vulnerable to their counters when we coughed it up further up the pitch.

That is the task for Silva, to keep the players at that level for longer in games.

Schniederlin easily the best player on the park, yes easily. I was willing DC-L to score. He had a couple of chances which he looked tight, but still did well.

Pickford's kicking was back to its erratic best tonight, belting that ball out 5/6 times trying to pick a side line pass. Such a low percentage thing to do?! Lad!!!

Overall nice to finish so strongly at home, nothing to lose at Spurs, a win there regardless would be a memory to bank for next season.

Fair dos Marco you might be into something. 😜

After the two goals we stagnated a bit, and needed a bit more of a push up front, DCL love the lad but he is proving each week he is a grafter, but not a natural goalscorer.

Gueye has added another dimension to his game, always on the move, he's now started taking the ball forwards, and the more players we can get in our team doing this, then the more effective we will become.

Not sure what game you were watching?

In his last 3 games he has more than acquitted himself for previous poor performances.

If we can keep Gomes, I would be happy for Schneiderlin to be retained as a squad player.

Good on him, looks like he is enjoying himself again all smiles with his wife and baby after the game.

We are performing reasonably ok without Gomes, but I wonder whether we would be as solid an outfit without Zouma.

It tells me that above all else we have to make signing Zouma one of the biggest priorities. Central defence would be sorted for the long term. [Then sign Gomes as well].

If we can sign those 2 and Mr Brands finds Mr X up front we have a squad that can really push for the top 6 and maybe even more next season. Man Utd, Arsenal Tottenham and even Chelsea are showing signs of vulnerability. We the right Mr X we can get among that lot next season.

Schneiderlin was a bit better than okay tonight, I thought he was a candidate for MotM.

You say about DCL,'whatever his merits'.

As a centre-forward, I cannot see any merits at all. This 22-year-old 'youngster' is pathetic in heading duels, same for tackling, ditto for positional play, has no presence, and piss weak at shooting.

Same priorities remain this summer.

Signing Zouma is imperative, beast of a defender and best we've had since Distin at his peak.

DCL should be fed a good bowl of scouse and see if that gives him a bit more strength, for a 22-year-old fella he hits a ball with the power of me Great Grandmother.

The second half Burnley were pumping more long balls over the top and we showed our defensive quality.

Thought overall we were very good and but for some wayward finishing by DCL would have ramped up another 4 or 5 goals.

Although I queried Scneiderlins choice I thought he played very well along with Gueye, Siggy, Richy and the back 4.

In fact DCL was the only disappointment today along with Bernard tiring in the second half but he does put a shift in.

I thought he was acontender for MOTM alongside Gana and Schneiderlin, another good result but the performance could have been better, shows I’m getting greedy, not content with a good result Inwant a good performance as well. Farewell Jags, thanks for your efforts over the years.

They interviewed Keane and Coleman. Coleman very honest about the mid-season dip and that it was understandable the supporters were subdued and a bit grumpy, but that when the team get it right the fans get on board and Goodison rocks. Again, he said this is a club that needs to win a trophy.

They interviewed Silva and it sounds as if he, Brands and the board already have their summer shopping list in place.

They finally interviewed Jags, with Cahill bigging him up saying he would give him another year, and Jags - in answer to the question was that his Goodison game - saying everything will be decided in the next 10 days. He definitely doesn't intend retiring and feels he still has more football in him, but doesn't know with any certainty that that will be with Everton next season as the final decision doesn't rest only with him.

Good to see the shots going in and so to, hopefully complete the season and beat Spurs.

Hopefully we can start with the same team, but we’ll see.

For me sign Zouma and in my view he’s Captain material, immense and must be our priority signing as many have said.

Schneider was very good, Digne, Gana as well, and another clean sheet.

Hopefully this good week continues tomorrow night.

There's a change brewing, a good change, I think we can all sense it, near to Goodison or far away. Our appetite is back. Those making the effort to boost the volume and zip at the ground - the Originals 1878 - deserve massive credit, and it's working.

No, I never saw any of that. I joined the crowd in giving Jags a great ovation as he came on for probably his last game for Everton at Goodison Park. He's always given 100% and rarely let us down.

In all honesty, I think it is time to let go, hopefully he will get a contract elsewhere. Bainsy maybe another year.

I didn't wait for the players to run around the ground, it's a long walk home. Nice to end the last home game with a comfortable win; it could have been a close finish if the referee had given the penalty after a stupid push by Keane, but we got a walkover with that to finish with another clean sheet.

Are you for real?

A new right back... clueless.

We definitely dropped off the pace after the second goal but I felt that both sides considered the match over and done with at that point.

At no point did the atmosphere feel tense or nervous as it has done at other times this season when we've had a 2-0 lead. Everybody seemed to accept, from the 20th minute onwards, that both teams were playing out time.

Don't be sentimental and partisan because that way lies continuing failure. I suppose you think Leighton should still be at left-back because, er, he's Leighton and we all love him.

I think Baines has taken the cash but Jags wants one last hurrah and good on him.

Will we have established if Sheffield United will be in the Premier League next season within the next ten days?

Personally, I think Feeney needs to be developed inside the first team squad next season and be 4th choice. Losing Zouma seems inevitable with a transfer ban for Chelsea, so the question is who is third choice without Zouma? Do we buy? Do we loan? Could it be Feeney? Or maybe Holgate?

I'd be tempted to loan someone. To give Feeney every opportunity possible. To give Holgate a chance and so Jags would still be needed as his experience in a bad run could be crucial. I favour a loan, as if the Chelsea transfer ban does mean they keep Zouma, I bet they don't play him enough and so we can sign him in 12 months time.

You need to lighten up.

Some of your comments had merit pre Xmas, however, we are going in the right direction with or without certain members of our current squad.

Some abysmal results earlier in the season have left us where we are, however, look forward and be positive, not negative.

Pre Xmas I decided not to renew my season ticket, however, I have renewed and am looking forward to my 55th season as an Evertonian through the good times and bad.

I think something similar about Holgate, I think he could thrive under Silva. He's a bit of a nasty, arrogant sort and I think he has it in him - if he concentrates - to be a truly great central defender in the Des Walker mould,

While we're at it, we have a very fine midfielder in Baningime who has a beautiful, elegant, languid style all of is own. Things have gone wrong somewhere for him, we need to get him back on track. That kid is gold dust,

One interesting player is Schneiderlin. not long back he was probably the first on all 'get-rid' lists. Now he appears to be playing to the level we always knew he could. Do we keep him, or do we sell while he still has some value?

In regards to a right-back, only if there is an opportunity to get a real top class one, such as Wan-Bissaka. Otherwise, we have a solid performer and solid back-up. After (we hope) further progression in one years time, then we could look to sign someone. Any signings have to be real top quality, and we have to be patient.

Anyway, who cares: our beloved team is coming good, my friend.

Christy, I think your first comment on Schneiderlin was unfair in the extreme. I agree with Terry #13, Jay #17 that he played an excellent game and I had him down as joint MotM with the indefatigable Gana Gueye.

34/39 in total agreement.

What happened between posts 39 & 46?

Team is coming good my friend.

I thought Schneiderlin was excellent as he has been since deputising for Gomes.

Coleman got himself into some great positions but his crosses were appalling as they have been for most of the season.

DCL remains an enigma; tremendous work rate and holdup play but his finishing was worse than Speedo Mick's.

I defended the guy when he got stick before a ball was kicked in the previous home game.

I will say it for the last time this season, he has not put a foot wrong since coming into the team this season, has done a job every time he has been called into the team.

Certainly not the same player we saw in previous seasons, certainly my man of the match tonight.

Give the guy a break.

Anyway now that is off my chest, I thought we worked well tonight, yet again Zouma was a beast in defence, Bernard was everywhere and looking great linking up with Digne.

Gaye is a must keep hold of, Lewin made some great moves, especially for the first goal, he will come on but we certainly need a 20 odd goal striker for next season.

If we can keep hold of Gaye, Zouma and Gomes, add a striker, then we could be a big threat next season.

Next week vs Spurs will be interesting for both teams, depending on how it goes midweek.

This is a rebuilding job with 10-15 players needing to be shipped out or loaned out again, while bringing in 3-5 astute signings on a par with this season. The squad is young, so if the club (and fans) don't go knee-jerk when there is a turn of poor results then something positive and sustainable could be built here.

Anyway, watching him carefully I think Coleman has every inch of his pace back. I predicted many times here that it would take two full years. And that's exactly how long it has taken.

Derek #62, don't we wish we knew what Silva said to them and showed them during that long break. Sure as hell worked, whatever it was. If he could put it on a DVD, it would be a best-seller.

I'll be sending you the bill for a new lap top.

I was using mine for the first time this morning (only got it yesterday). After taking a huge gulp of strong wake-me-up coffee, I read your post and sprayed all over it.

Brilliant

I thought we tired in the second half. Walcott keeps trying, is still short of his swagger but it’s in there somewhere. Silva yet to try him through the middle. And DCL, if we had more games left I’d give him a rest. Here’s hoping we have an agreement for Zouma in place already. Do we need another striker or another goal scoring forward? Do the RS have a striker or 3 top class divers.., I mean forwards? I don’t think Tosun has played to his potential either. I also think long term Richarlison will play in the centre too.

Silva has done well, he has his faults but next season hopefully won’t see too many changes. With Holgate, Vlassic and Onyekuru coming back he has a job to recruit a bit more class and keep this momentum.

Next year could be a breakthrough year for us. I only made 6 home games this season, hope to get to more next. It’s good to see live games... then you can witness for yourself the positional sense of certain players. Ahem.

Chelsea need him and he will likely be first pick for them next season. Unless they spend big on a CB or two this summer but he is PL proven so I think it highly unlikely.

He will be sorely missed but I do believe we need to buy a replacement as none of our other CBs (bar Holgate possibly) have the pace.

The key thing I think is Silva. Now that he’s had a full season nearly all of these players look much better than they did 10 months ago. Even Schneiderlin looks very decent! So I hope that whichever faster CB we get will be coached well into the team by Silva.

You can’t do anything until you’ve got the back shored up and Zouma is a rock in our defence.

Confidence in the men behind him, particularly in Zouma who is so proactive in snuffing out danger, is the reason for 50% of Schneiderlin’s transformation in my view, the other 50% coming from the much higher standard of work rate set by our front four since Bernard became fully fit and DCL established himself.

It could be another expensive window for Moshiri and the money men even if we only sign the players we already have! I think this is what Silva means by having the summer’s targets identified but I have to temper my excitement with the fact Chelsea have David Luis and Gary Cahill out of contract in the summer which makes it seem likely they would at least command a significant fee.

I agree that Zouma is the most important loanee to secure and that an energetic, mobile, tireless centre forward (Vardy, Mandzukic?) is the next most important acquisition before we sign Gomes but getting Gana’s long term commitment to Everton is right up there too because he is a one of a kind.

I’m very excited about what we can do next year if we do all these things and add a couple of promising youngsters of the right profile (any from: Wan Bissaka, Zaha, Abraham).

If we do end up losing him, hopefully Mina will step up and effectively take his place. I know to date he hasn't looked the part though he did have a decent game against Chelsea. We've got to remember that sometimes for various reasons players take time to adapt at their new clubs. Even at the early stages of this season several posters on here were slaughtering Michael Keane saying get rid he's a Championship player at best.

So if we do (& I hope we don't) let's hope Mina fulfills his huge potential to justify Silva & Brands faith in him.

There are a lot of balls in the air regarding Chelsea, Abramovich has been denied a Foreign Investors Visa, so basically is not allowed into the country, and has not been at Chelsea since last season.

Furthermore, it is generally believed that because of the Visa denial and other issues, he has lost interest in his plaything, and wants to sell to the highest bidder.

I have a sneaky feeling that Chelsea may have a partial ban imposed after the Appeal, directed at signing under-age players, which is what the present ban came in for.

Of course a lot depends on whether Chelsea changes hands, but I believe should the aforementioned all happen before next season, we may still have a chance of landing Zouma but it will probably be late on in the Transfer Window, or possibly not till next season.

I hope lookman gets rotated with Bernard more next season. Bernard flatters to deceive, though looks good not much end product. I thought he was a bit off yesterday. We have Walcott Tosun and Richarlison that can play through the middle do it will be interesting to see the type of forward or striker Brands has identified.

I also agree with Lookman being afforded more playing time, that is if he is still with us next season. I feel you may be a bit harsh on Bernard (was a bit below normal against Burnley) who again I think will be better next season, I would like to see more goals/attempts on goal from him though, but feel he is a cracking player who is full of tricks.

Zouma has been awesome and developed a great understanding with Keane. I hope that I will be proved wrong and we get to keep Zouma

Much to ponder next season. Keeping Zouma would be my priority, though I'm not convinced that'll happen. Next priority is keeping Gana, which depends on the offers we get. Then the priority is someone else who scores goals. Then it's about signing up Gomes.

Much to ponder this summer. And remember folks, it's not about who we 'should buy' or 'should be in for', but who we can persuade to stay/come here.

So unless they win their appeal against their transfer ban, they are very unlikely to want to sell Zouma.Even if Zouma puts in a transfer request Chelsea will probably knock it back.

So step forward Yerry Mina!

By the way, does anybody know exactly what's happened with the Chelsea appeal, as it seems to have gone quiet?

The downside of us performing very well is it sparks interest off the money clubs. I fear Zouma and Gueye will depart, while Richarlison, Gomes and Sigurdsson could also be targets.

On the other hand, if players have a choice about where they want to play their football, they should be able to see that Everton as a club is on the up and want to be part of it.

I said from day one that I was delighted we had got Marco Silva and it looks like he just might be the man who gets this club back winning things. I think we have seen a glimpse of the type of football he wants to play in our last 10 games. Also 8 clean sheets in the last 10 games, being able to do that is massively important if you want to break into the top 6.

I think we have had 5 stand-out players this season Gana Gueye, I don't care who comes in for him we must not lose him, double or treble his wages if need be.

Sigurdsson for me apart from De Bruyne he is as good a number 10 as there is in the Premier League, 13 goals numerous assists.

Richarlison again 14 goals from mostly playing out wide and still learning at 21 maybe hard keeping him out of the clutches of the likes of Barcelona in a couple of seasons.

Zouma he has been a rock at the back he is quick good in the air and on the ground. Just hope the transfer ban on Chelsea is suspended for 12 months and allows us to sign him permanently again only a young man

Digne again another young man and for his first season in the Premier league he has been outstanding. Not an easy job replacing Baines but he has done that and will only get better.

So a lot to look forward to but we need to start with the same squad that finished the season with a couple of additions. I didn't include Keane in my 5 stand out players but he has improved immensely this season and his partnership with Zouma has been key to keeping clean sheets.

Finally 3 months ago I said the sooner we get rid of Scneiderlin the better, but whether its down to Marco Silva or just the player himself his performances over the last few weeks has changed my mind completely. He will be an important part of the squad next season I feel.

So at long last I feel very optimistic and excited about next season, the whole feel of going to Goodison has changed in the last few months. I feel the group called the Originals 1878 have had a lot to do with that. The fans now believe that when they start a game making so much noise the players have certainly fed of that support.

Full backs need to live in the opposition half nowadays, there also need to be at the heart of our creativity, especially when ‘their' winger is an ‘out to in' who likes to score rather than assist. This is both Richarlison & Walcott to a tee.

It comes down to delivery and as well as he has played in the last dozen or so games, consistently getting in a position to cross, the delivery has been no better than a schoolboy. Harsh, maybe? But that cross at Palace, Lordy! Last night he had 5/6 opportunities all poor decisions or technically awful. That aspect of his game is never getting to level we need to match Digne.

I think we invest or promote Kenny, his crossing and passing range is better, and we fade Coleman out gradually.

We cant attract the top players because of not being established in the CL. Leicester didn't do a great job of adding to their squad though that one chance they had. It's a gradual process but the whole of Europe knows we've been spending money and are making waves. Or trying to. I remember how pissed l was at the time we only bought Phil Neville to see us through to the CL proper.

Sam and others re Zouma. Don't forget that Chelsea put him out on loan. How many of our loaned out players have come back to fit in. Could be the same with Zouma and Chelsea.

Can anybody please explain to an ageing Aussie Pom what the politics are with the "no visa" for Abramovic and the "no transfer" ban? Seems to me from far away the Chelsea are being treated as if they are Everton??!!!

Do City have an inside man in MI 6, 7 or 8 (whichever nr they're up to these days? 😠

"Schneiderlin just not good enough"?

He was absolutely outstanding last night and everyone at the game and in the pubs after the game said the same. I've been his biggest critic but, credit where credit's due, since he got back in the side, he's been faultless.

I really don't know what some of you watch at times. He looks like the player we first signed. And those of you asking for a couple of kids to be brought in... Why? We've been brilliant at home the last couple of months, so why change it???

I'd love JJK to make it, but when he has been given the chance to impress he has had mixed performances, I know he's still young and learning, but is he good enough to hang on to?

Still a long way to go for me and I can only see a repeat of this poor season next season.

So will we win at Spurs folks?