Everton vs Brentford

Allan needs to step in and be at his best. His form has dipped from what it can be, he has to keep it simple and make sure his passes get to a blue shirt. No giveaways tomorrow from any player with Eriksen lurking! The effectiveness of his game is going to be a crucial factor.

It will be interesting to see whether Frank changes the front three tomorrow. They looked a bit jaded on Wednesday. I'd go with Richarlison on the left, Calvert-Lewin in the middle, and Gray or Gordon sharing the game on the right. Maybe Gray starting with Gordon on at 60 minutes.

Hopefully we'll have enough to beat the Bees.

In addition to being a class act, and I don't think that is up for dispute, he is also a lefty which brings more of a balanced midfield. It looks like Allan will be his replacement. I would also like for us not to be so defensive against the Bees and bring Iwobi into a midfield trio.

I also hope Calvert-Lewin is given a run out with Richarlison and Gray up front. I think the young Gordon while having been great might work best from the subs bench as it seems as though he has become a little jaded due to his high-octane performances.

I also think this would be a good opportunity to use Dele from the subs bench. We know he scores goals and we have been lacking in that department in reality.

My boy scored a ticket for the game. True Blue Cali lad who just finished his first season at an academy over there. He's been to Goodison half a dozen times over his childhood, but this will be a new experience for him.

He just played a game at Bradford City's stadium, which was his first taste of playing in a ground. He's buzzing.

Unfortunately, like a few others, his contribution to the squad overall is limited due to ongoing injuries and one asks the question: Is he and the others worth keeping around for the future?

The chopping and changing, especially in the middle of the park, has prevented the development of any real rhythm in that area, although some may argue that some of those who have played are just not up to snuff.

Oh, to have another Kendall, Ball and Harvey or Steven, Sheedy, Reid or Bracewell.

Allan to step in and hopefully lead by example as he so often has done.

Allan it is, then. I wouldn't have any confidence in van de Beek, from whom we've basically had one useful game.

If he and/or Mina were healthy all year we would be nowhere near relegation even with all the other injuries.

He must be released in the summer as we build a younger, hungrier team.

If Leeds lose we only really need a point to guarantee safety? fingers crossed for 3 points.

This will not be an easy game especially with us missing so many of the squad with injury and having already played 2 games this week.

Richy DCL and Gordon up front for me and Tom Davies to give us some energy in MF and mark Ericson out of the game??????

Arguably he’s kept the midfield together, but Allan can step up and lead by example.

Should be a cracking game and I hope Everton keep the focus and belief shown in the last match at a Goodison.

UTFT!

But he's calmed us down, has kept trying to take the ball off his defenders, and might even be missed – which personally tells me how much Lampard has had his work cut out with this current Everton squad.

Being brutally analytical, can we afford at our stage at the moment, to have players who make a significant difference but, rarely appear due to injuries?

This manager has enough issues to address, moving on those players who seem to often be unavailable, helps reduce that number, therefore improving his focus.

Allen needs to plug the gap Sunday and I'm just glad we're at home. Will need to put a muzzle on Eriksen. Brentford won't have anything to play for so I'm hopeful the crowd will help the players get the 3 points.

This is the story of Delph's career... he has missed nearly as many games to injury as he has started in the Prem.

Lampard must put Allan in a protective bubble until the match. It would be so "Everton that" for him to pull up lame in the warm up, that you can almost predict it.

He clearly had potential but failed to live up to it and is legs are gone and have been for some time. A tidy player without being spectacular in my opinion. Slows the game down and will mostly go sideways. Allan will look to go forward.

I really don't care who is playing tomorrow and if we are relying on Fabian Delph, then it portrays where we are. Whoever walks on that field tomorrow, want it as much as me. Get this over the line.

Alternatively, we win, stay up, reset in the summer with the new management team being allowed to do so, qualify for Europe next season and I get to join Rob Halligan and the crew for a continental tour.

Come on Everton. Let's do this.

From my viewpoint, we were too predictable, there was no variation in the play. Of the few crosses into their box, there was no-one there to profit from them, plus they had some big units in there so it was easy for them to defend against.

After pulling off an important and workmanlike display against Chelsea, we again struggle against lesser opposition… why? I wish they would be more consistent, especially while mathematically we could still get sucked in, though it looks less likely now.

He is more creative than Allan but against good teams he would struggle I think, as Allan does admittedly. Best of a poor lot at the moment. That said, I think Allan and Doucouré play better together. Doucouré looks poorer alongside Delph than alongside Allan. Maybe Tom Davies gets a shoo-in? But for who?

However, hopefully Allan and Iwobi can combine to plug those gaps respectively. VDB may be another option to take the ball, giving the option of leaving Iwobi at RWB….but for me this would be a big risk as I believe his minds now on Ten Haag.

Hopefully in the summer, younger, fitter, better versions of Mina, Delph and Allan can be found. Still believe Branthwaite can cover the Mina angle, so whatever money we get needs to first be spent in engine room. Especially if Dobbin, Simms, and Patterson can finally make the jump too.

For now tho, just Beat Leeds result. Pleaaaase!

But for Sunday I hope that Frank plays a more attack-minded team with three in midfield and Calvert Lewin in attack. And I would like to see him use all three of his substitutes to freshen things up if particular players get tired.

We clearly should have beaten Watford, where I think our conservative game plan was wrong and didn't work. So please let's try and end the heartache and go for the win from the off. And if things are not working make the changes at half-time and not wait until 70+ minutes have passed. Let's hope we are singing in the streets after the match; if nothing else, we deserve that.

Delph's latest injury, however, hammers a final nail in the coffin for me (just when I was thinking we should consider a 2-year deal on reduced wages with performance-related bonuses) and it has reminded me he just can't be relied upon, like our Yerry (who is one of my favourite players). We should let Delph go and sell Yerry in the summer. I am pleased that Delph has managed to change a few opinions from us blues and maybe shows he has more about him than we thought.

4 points from the next 2 games should be enough, I don't see us beating a good Palace side next week but think we will edge Brentford if we can shackle Eriksen. I keep thinking that if we survive, the heroes of this great escape will have been Iwobi, Delph, Pickford and Gordon. Who would have predicted that last summer! Strange world. COYB.

And I was also watching the guy in front of me who was our equivalent to an Italian Ultra galvanising the support and spurring the fans on to keep the noise going.

The poor lad probably still hasn't got his vocal cords back. I say 'lad', he was at least competing with my 50 years.

I would be very surprised if we kept him for next season, let's face it, he has been here a few years now and you can count on one hand how many decent games he's had.

I would not be surprised if Davies got a run out for this. Hoping for a win but a draw should be okay, so another must-not-lose…

I hope you are right about Allan because he is due a good game. He was poor against Liverpool, very poor to be honest. He came on for about 20 minutes against Chelsea and was poor again, blowing for tugs, and this was him fresh trying to get tackles in, and failing, against players who had been playing the whole game.

Yes, Delph will be gone at the end of the season, his contract is up, but he has held this team up, along with Pickford, for the few games he has played in lately. He will be a big loss tomorrow but hopefully we will get the points that should have been gathered at Watford… but it's no use crying over spilt milk.

Also, I think Allan's sometimes over-zealous in his willingness to win the ball back and has certainly been off the pace in his last couple of outings, but he is a winner and drives others on, you often see him barracking others when they aren't at the races. That's why I am not too concerned about losing Delph.

There were times under Carlo that Davies and Allan had a good understanding together, so I would like to see Davies get some game time as we may still need him this season. It's another game I will be watching from behind the sofa…

The whole midfield needs revamping. The contracts of Davies, Allan and Doucouré expire next summer too. Not sure any of them merit a contract extension (Allan in particular is now really on the wane).

We need to invest in younger, fitter players who can occupy their positions for 5 years or more and develop with us over that time.

Really need to avoid buying these older, deteriorating players who will see out a 3-year contract and then leave for nothing.

Allan or Van de Beek will come in, we need to start on the front foot and get the job done.

Think we might have the slowest team in the league overall, it often looks that way. Think this might be why Iwobi has shone with his newfound aggression, he was my MotM again midweek.

I agree. Hopefully we can also shift Gomes. I think he has two more years on his contract. I can't imagine there will be a queue for him offering similar terms.

We could improve our FFP situation by moving the dross on and giving Lampard a good opportunity to build his own team. I trust him more than other recent managers to bring about massive improvement in our squad and build around Richarlison, Gordon and a few others. He's proven with his man-management that he and his backroom team can motivate players.

Delph doesn't do it for me. Okay, he has done a job recently making the numbers up but, for me, he should be moved on along with Coleman (thanks for his service), Davies, Holgate, Allan, and Kenny.

Bring back Godfrey and Van de Beek tomorrow and give a couple a rest.

Hopefully Allan as well. Possibly Mina if a bid comes in.

Building a new squad will include finding reliable squad players and though not glamorous the likes of Davies, Kenny and Holgate are relatively experienced players on low wages.

Very likely we are looking for a whole new spine with a new centre-back, central midfielder, and striker needed.

4-4-2? I would go 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1. Not enough guile in midfield to have two up front.
COYBB.

A win on Sunday is unlikely these players are not good enough...

Everton are still reliant on Leeds loosing more games than us...

Frankie boys blue bottlers didnt have what it takes to beat a relegated Watford B team... enough said...

BMD is looking good though...

I suspect people are overlooking Brentford. They're a good side. The sort of good but not elite side that we've struggled with in recent years.

Hopefully it will be another raucous atmosphere to get the players having a real go. I really fear that this lot will drop their standards as soon as they think they're safe. The fans need to keep them honest, as they have over the last few weeks.

I'll predict a 1-1 draw. And that might be enough.

But no way should he get a new contract.

A big clearout hopefully in the summer, Allan, Gomes, Delph, Mina, Doucouré, Keane, Kenny, Coleman, Tosun, Rondon, Calvert-Lewin and more maybe. Free up wages, trim the squad, focus on youth and vibrancy. Target top-10 finish with a youthful and exciting squad.

Kalvin Phillips may be a decent shout for midfield, or someone of that ilk from Europe. We need aggressive and hard-working midfielders, but also ones who can pass a ball.

And maybe see if Gana Gueye, after Pochettino gets sacked and PSG no doubt sign Pogba and a couple others, could come back. He could be the experienced pro midfielder to come in for a couple of years and work alongside some younger lads.

We've got to beat Leeds's result, full stop. Even if Burnley get mashed enough by Spurs to alter the goal difference, it simply won't be enough to be confident of finishing above them.

If Leeds are getting beat, we can play safe and make sure we get a draw. If Leeds are getting a result, we've got to go for all 3 points.

Palace have “our number” and Arsenal are desperate for 4th. We can't drag the agony out. COYBs.

For those saying we'll really miss Delph, I disagree. How many games has he actually played in? How can you miss something that really was never there in the first place?

I dunno. I just want 3 points.

This is our cup final this year, so let's be at it, Blues.

COYB

I think we will win tomorrow by 1 goal and be safe for another season by tomorrow night. COYB!

The doom-mongers will hold us back.

Let's have faith and belief.

We are Everton.

Is there anybody else to pick from other than Allan, Richarlison, Gordon, Alli and Gray to fill the last positions? It all makes the midfield look weak and the long ball or playing down the wings more likely but who will we be putting crosses in to?

Or are Iwobi and Doucoré to play through the middle? Or it has to be a back four and/or better use of substitutions.

I suppose this is what's called, "in our own hands"…

I would also sell Mina, who is only going to get more injuries and, despite him being our best centre-back, his regular absences cause the defence to be reshuffled and we lack continuity.

As for Sunday, I expect that Calvert-Lewin will start. Lord knows who else Frank will pick, but I think Gordon is only good for half a game and Gray has been disappointing. I would like Richarlison on the left and perhaps El Gazi on the right. The lad can score goals, and boy are we lacking them.

Having a young manager may be the start of rebuilding the club. But players like Delph and Mina are definitely not the future. Unfortunately there are quite a few others in the same boat as far as challenging in the Premier League is concerned.

But, as stated above, this is only part of the package. There are other changes needed higher up in the club as well. If all these areas are not up to the standards to challenge in the Premier League, Everton won't progress beyond their current low Premier League position.

We cannot play an open game against Brentford, we have to keep it tight with 100% concentration for 95 minutes or so. We need a big performance from our players. Come on, Everton!!

Brentford were a very poor team until they signed Eriksen. We need someone to nullify him tomorrow.

Or maybe I’m just old school…

Not going to risk injury? He risked his life coming back to football. He will give his all no matter what.

My respect for that man is off the charts, and I could never support cutting him down like that.

We are Everton, not Dirty Leeds or those Man Utd scumbags. We will win tomorrow, and we will do it right.

Also, I can remember people disagreeing with the Neville tackle on Ronaldo back in the day. Not advocating injury, obviously – just a welcome to the bear pit.

No. Just no.

Be sell to buy I'm sure.

I'd expect Calvert-Lewin to leave probably to Newcastle once they offer him a wedge of cash (as long as they offer us a half-decent one for him too).

Richarlison could also go depending on serious interest from potential suitors but we'd need more than the £50 million we paid Watford for him.

I don't see Pickford going, but likely small fees and a removal from the wage bill of Andre Gomes, Cenk Tosun and others like Gbamin and Moise Kean is also imminent.

It also would not surprise me in the least if we move Dele Alli on for a decent fee over £10-15 million as I can't see Everton paying out that £40 million clause for him.

We need more attacking threat so a creative goal scoring midfielder is priority and a capable striker that will be mobile and score a reasonable tally.

Either way, we will know what we have to do – and yes, I know: win, but Leeds losing and suddenly a draw is good enough.

Certainly need a couple of fresh legs to get us over the line, especially with another two games coming up next week. I would even think about giving Alli a start, and resting either Gordon or Gray, not sure these players have 3 games in a week in them, some running on half-empty.

Yes, he can be great on his day but he's a perennial sick note, like Mina. Time to move on and stop trying to patch up the squad.

I'd pack midfield for this game, put Calvert-Lewin up front with Richarlison roaming. The most important thing is to not give away silly free-kicks on the edge of the box. Eriksen is real quality and, given enough chances, he'll punish us.

Having said all that, the crowd is the key. The atmosphere at home has been electric in recent weeks and you can clearly see a response in the players. Fingers crossed, Leeds lose and take a bit of pressure off us.

UTFT.

Granted, we all think that at least one of Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison will go for big money in the summer, which should give us some additional funds.

When you think that Delph, Tosun and Sigurdsson will all be off the wage bill in the summer, as well as the likes of Kean, Gbamin more than likely along with I'm sure 1 or 2 others, and we should have room to manoeuvre in the transfer market.

Remember that FFP is a rolling 3-year view and this last 12 months we've not spent much, got some big earners off the wage bill and so there should be room to play with.

What's keeping me awake at nights is the prospect of something I don't think has even been raised in this thread – a Leeds victory tomorrow alongside a defeat for us.

Even were we to then get all 3 points from the Palace game, this would still mean our season going to the last day, where we are up against an Arsenal side that will be fighting for a Champions League place. And how many of us could be sure of our then getting the point from the game and so ensuring safety?

All these worries means my continually returning to questioning Lampard's approach to the Watford game. The opposition last Wednesday was by some distance the weakest of the season. But Lampard went all Benitez.

Clearly he was or is confident that we'll get 4 points from our remaining games. Let's hope he's right.

Leeds have been dreadful, but they will have got a massive shot in the arm from our failure to beat Watford. They'll be thinking, "Christ, this lot couldn't even beat relegated Watford's deadbeat reserves" – and they'd be right!

But equally, Leeds are also shockingly bad. I just hope Brighton mean business tomorrow. They feel like the sort of team that could be affected by a super hostile environment. They won't have experienced Elland Road at full shriek, I would imagine.

We can do this blues, we may be safe tomorrow night.

UTFT

This is another midfield battle that, being at home, we have to win. We are not out of danger yet, and until we are 4 points ahead with 1 game left, that will be the time to relax.

Supporting Everton has not been easy, and this season, it has been hard to watch. So far, my hair has gone from dark to gray to white and there is still time to pull it out. I wish someone in 1954 had told me the perils of life that would happen supporting Everton.

I was once told that an Everton supporter had to go and see a psychiatrist once over his supporting them; after he had seen him, the psychiatrist had to go and see one himself – he was that traumatized. So I guess there is chance for me yet.

Please 3 points tomorrow so I can start to enjoy the rest of spring and summer.

Good point there. Even against a decidedly average Watford,I counted 5 stupid free-kicks we gave away, all close enough for a good dead-ball striker to have scored from.

“Whats Our Name”?

UTFT!

More bothered that Jarrad Branthwaite appears to be out of everyone's thinking when he should represent our hopes for the very near future. Can't find any reports of him getting injured so is he just that far down the pecking order that he doesn't warrant thinking about?

Jordan Pickford's heroics lately have hidden the true facts that we give too many opportunities to the opposition and that kind of fear is what held us back against Watford.

Having said that,t and as critical as I was about that game, if we had a bit more composure when in the opposition area, then we would have won comfortably.

Today's game will require us to be compact and defensive again and just get the ball up to Calvert-Lewin to hopefully hold onto and bring others into play. It's about time we scored from a corner too as that was poor against Watford. If we go a goal down, then that plan might change and we don't really have game changing players in our squad, so we have to be cautious.

Not much fun being a blue in these times and even my white hairs are diminishing rapidly. Let's get a win today and then hopefully Frank can offload all of the deadwood and start the rebuild.

Funny you should mention Dave Hickson as you don't hear a lot about him on here but I was just reading about him. My old Everton-mad parish priest, born 1919, was a regular at Goodison from birth and he would always go on about two players: Dixie Dean and Dave Hickson.

Not to say he was a fan of the 60s team but those two individuals seemed to make the greatest impact on him to the extent that, as chaplain, he'd host assemblies at school in the 1980s and regail us all with tales of Dean and Hickson — then throw in a few prayers for Everton.

We are in the driving seat. Confident? Not with this squad, but we can get this done. Then do the post mortem. But that for today.

Today is about a point or 3. I don't care who plays, just get those points.

If Leeds lose then 1 point will effectively see us safe (due to goal difference) and perhaps Frank will opt for the same formation that has seen us concede only 1 goal in last 3 matches. Safety first and grind out that point.

If Leeds win then we are under more pressure to pick up more points and need a win, which may see a somewhat braver approach.

I'd like to see a return to 3 in the middle though the 3 up front is hard to pick with Gordon and Gray both looking a bit jaded last time out. Time to give Alli a go? Or perhaps Lampard will go leftfield and give El Ghazi a start (spoiler: he won't)?

No idea what's going on with Calvert-Lewin both physically and mentally but it would be beneficial for all parties if he could show a little bit of last season's form in these last 3 games (3 goals this year compared to 21 last season).

Pickford
Coleman Holgate Keane Mykolenko
Doucouré Allan Iwobi
Gray Calvert-Lewin Richarlison

Arguments to start Rondon over Calvert-Lewin or even Alli; whoever gets the nod needs to work extremely hard against an in form Brentford.

Fingers crossed it's a win for Brighton and Everton and we can all sleep a bit easier; but somehow it feels the fates would not let us off that easy.

I'd give Rondon the nod, at least he'll run himself into the ground, trying to score a goal. Hopefully we'll get the win, I'm sure our great supporters will play their part and lift us over this final hurdle.

Anyway, using that as an omen, I'm going for a 3-1 win.

COYB
FTRS.

With the early goal and sending off, it was obvious within 10 minutes of the start that Leeds would lose that game. Had it been different, I'm sure we'd have attacked Watford much harder.

Come on, Brighton.

ps: Trevor, when has Calvert-Lewin ever shown a poor attitude on the pitch?

Tactics, formation and approach can be altered during the game, as indeed can the team by means of substitutions, but the actual starting eleven put out should be a team that needs to win, not draw.

I can't believe it was that long ago! Oh to relive an hour of that amazing day.

I just hope that we secure our Premier League status and our fans continue this fabulous noisy communal festival right through next season. And that Frank can build on what he has learnt about this group of lads.

This needs to be the beginning of a new era where we put ourselves back in contention for honours, with hungry, talented and committed players and staff.

COYBs!

I only saw Tommy playing in his later years for Notts County but his record speaks for itself, many of his contemporaries rated him better than Dixie as an all-round footballer.

I don't think many Everton players loved Everton as much as Dixie.

All we can do for those of us going the match, is just do what we have been the last month or two... be the 12th man! Come on, you Blues!

ps: Rob, what a date!!!

I remember Gomes being the star of that game, though basically he was not tackled. It's going to take a dominant Everton midfield to win the game.

Depending on the Leeds result prior to our game, we may not even need 4 points. If Leeds lose and we draw against Brentford, we're safe. And that'll do me.

I don't really care if we go on to get humiliated by Palace and Arsenal as long as we're already safe and we can get this horrendous season over with and out of the way and let Lampard (hopefully) start the rebuilding process.

And allow me a good night's sleep for the first time in months.

UTFT.

Emotional already, a tear in the eye thinking about Z-Cars playing at 4:25 pm and in hopeful anticipation of a thunderous singing of Grand Old Team and Spirit of the Blues at about 6:25 pm!

What this club does to you – a 70-year-old just like an excited little boy. COYB – make my day, please!!!

What concerns me is that Everton will stay up, nothing will change, and the Moshiri and Billy show will just carry on. What an utter embarrassment the club has become.

But don't worry – let's celebrate potentially staying up.

I know our fans will be at their brilliant best again today and let's hope the players can bring their A-game also. I would love us to be 3 up with 20 minutes to go but matches of this nature quite often come down to tighter margins.

But, however worried we are, I would rather be in our position than Leeds or Burnley. And for Leeds, even if they win their last home game today, they still know that might not be enough and could be relegated before they play next week.

You'd prefer to go down?!

Celebrating staying up doesn't imply supporting Bill or anybody else.

Hope that's not the new jersey, absolutely shocking if there's a touch of red on it.

Delph has shown his experience in the last couple of games, but his constant injuries mean he should gone in the summer, as well as Tosun, Sigurdsson, Allan and Mina. Hopefully Leeds go down today, and we try and get Phillips.

I hope Frank freshens the team up today. Gordon, who has been a revelation, looks tired, so put him on the bench and start Calvert-Lewin, with Richarlison on the left.

I saw an article in the Express today, where Lampard said that Calvert-Lewin wants to stay next season.

I'll be celebrating staying up. Just as I did in 1994 and 1998. The memory fades but I don't think we were too far off in one of the Gordon Lee years.

The post mortem can start soon but, right now, I want to celebrate staying up. This evening. I've taken a day off tomorrow so I can.

We have seen the influence of our fanbase in recent months which can play an integral role both on and off the pitch. Now is the time to focus on the field. Once complete, then it will and must shift off-field.

“Can you feel the silence?
On Great Mersey Street where you could feel the silence
At half past eleven on long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across The River
And in the quietness we sank into restful slumber in silence
And carried on dreaming in God
And the music on the radio, and the music on the radio
Has so much soul, has so much soul
And you listen, in the night time
While we're still and quiet
And you look out on the water
And the big ships, and the big boats
Came on sailing by, by, by, by
And you felt so good, and I felt so good
I felt I want to blow my harmonica”

This is how I prepare myself for the Game - - no “neggo waves” - - just simple and plain “possos” - - I sit and I think - - like The Buddha under a Blue Tree - - on match day I think only of Everton and my True Blue Friends - - The Dark House - - Ahhhhhhh - - just the thought that I will be there in a few hours time fills me with absolute joy - - lifts me - - makes me pick up my harmonica and give it a blow - - there you go - - just for you - - “In The Golden Afternoons when We watched the Golden Vision Play” - - right now at 10.15am BST - - all of you take a moment - - just put some music on wherever you are - - I am right now playing “Good Vibrations “ - - Brian Wilson ( A Great Evertonian) - - Turn Up Your Radio - - Float on The Musical Astral and Catch The Waves Man - - - this is Big Blue Day - - no room today for negativity we can sort everything out later - - just getting myself “Zoomed” Up for the game - - I recall for a moment my youth in Smith Street/Great Mersey Street - - walking around to friends with my latest vinyl to play over and over again - - The Paul Simon Songbook - -
“Doh-n-doh-de-doh-n-doh
And here I am
The only living boy in New Brighton
I get the news I need on the weather report
Oh, I can gather all the news I need on the weather report
Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile
De-doh-n-doh-de-doh
And here I am
The only living boy in New Brighton
Half of the time we're gone
But we don't know where
And we don't know where”

“We have a loudspeaker here, and when we go into battle we play music, very loud. It kind of… calms us down.”

Pretty soon I have to go - - got to get ready - - Full Service - - have to wash behind my ears and my neck - - no tidemarks today - - clean undies - - full set - - just in case I get run over on the way - - thanks for reminding me Ma - - don’t worry mam I have tidied my bedroom so you don’t have to let my friends in to see it - - honest - - Big Day - - Big Match - - Big Atmosphere - - A Day For Big Fans

“Everybody had a hard year
Everybody had a good time
Everybody had a wet dream
Everybody saw the sunshine
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Oh yeah, oh yeah (yeah)
Everybody had a good year
Everybody let their hair down
Everybody pulled their socks up (yeah)
Everybody put their foot down
Oh yeah
Yeah
Woo
I've got a feeling (everybody had a good year)
A feeling deep inside (everybody had a hard time)
Oh yeah (everybody had a wet dream)
Oh yeah (everybody saw the sunshine)
I've got a feeling (everybody had a good year)
A feeling I can't hide (everybody let their hair down)
Oh no (everybody pulled their socks up)
Oh no, no (everybody put their foot down, oh yeah)
Yeah, yeah”

I will journey from New Brighton - - up Wirral Way to Thingwall for my mate Dave Owen -- under The River like Captain Nemo - - along those Memory Lane Cake Streets of Scotty - - quick nod to Father Winder - - St Ollies - - Daisy Street - - Brian Brady - - The Grosvenor - - The Astoria - - Wessie Road - - and there it is - - shimmering and shining like an Oasis - -The Dark house - - a pint of Golden on the bar - - dripping and shining - - the light shining through it like Golden Nectar - -The Drink Of The Gods - - Ice Cold In Alex - - here’s to you John Mills ( A Great Evertonian) - - remember The Everton Quote in Dunkirk - -

You and I have memories
Longer than the road
That stretches out ahead

“Why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don’t you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?” - - I’m with you Oddball a Truly Wonderful Evertonian.

And so my dear friends - - I am just going to great ready - - BVD’s clean and ironed - - I am sending “posso waves” out on The Astral to All Blues everywhere - - catch them - - Cosmic Grooves All The Way” - - finally can I ask you to look at this and see if you would like to help - - please - - your friend - - George(ous).

Link

I will donate. Close to the heart.

Do this Everton. Just do it.

Up the Blues!!

We are playing Brentford, not Man City. Man for man we are better than them and anyone who doubts that knows the square root of zero about football. The only thing they have that we might be lacking at the moment is confidence. But to counter that we will have another terrific home support. What we can't have is a repeat of the terrible support down at their place - that was truly bad. Although that was primarily aimed at the previous manager, the players suffered and even brought Anthony Gordon to tears.

So to borrow a line or two from our current anthem:
'there's no way we're gonna fail'
'we don't know the meaning of losin''

No doubt we'll win today.

On the Delph debate, if he can persuaded to sign on a pay as you play deal, I could be persuaded of the benefit of another year. If not, then thank you and goodbye.

The away support at Brentford was hostile and rightly so, they had just forked out £150ish of their hard earned to watch their team amble around a football pitch for 90 mins without an apparent care.

For once I am with Jonathan Tasker, all this blue smoke is exactly that, a smoke screen to divert us from the fact that the club is an utter embarrassment and if we stay up BPB will claim the credit and tell us what a great time we have had.

A rousing and wholehearted wish to all Blues attending today, you have been a revelation the past few weeks, it's a pity it didn't motivate the players (Watford Match), as much as it did to us fellow fans. You couldn't give any more than you have, to a man, let's hope it works again today. God Bless You All.

COYB 💙💙

It was a roasting hot cup final day and the players gave it their all but just ran out of gas. Where does the time go? Fantastic memories.

Adjustments have to be made but if the replacements cannot play with the same effectiveness then the side can become disjointed and one thing leads to another when injuries occur and the chopping and changing happens.

Yes, I concede that it shouldn't happen and it doesn't to wealthy clubs like Man City and Liverpool because they have the resources to keep class players sitting on the sidelines but when all you have is less than average players to turn to you will not get results.

Everton have become a club in disarray with players being brought in who are obviously lacking in what is needed to keep this club competitive.

There has to be a big clearance sale after next Sunday and if not many of us agree we will be in the same boat next season.

Based upon our trip down Blue Memory Lane, we need to set up as such:

Howard
Coleman Jags Distin Baines
Barry
Mirallas McCarthy DelBoy
Barkley
Lukaku

That'll get us three points ^^.

And as the boy and I were speaking, we think Frank could be the manager to play the kind of Martinez football we crave to see again, with an actual eye towards defensive duties.

Today is all that matters for now, but we dreamed the dream yesterday. Let's stay up so we can see what Frank's Everton will be about.

Two weeks ago, we were 5 points from safety, I'll be thrilled if we stay up, let's worry about the inquest when the season ends.