Seamus Coleman acknowlegdes the few fans that remained after his final game at Hill Dickinson Stadium
The morning after the night before... what can be said of the individual performances that comprised yesterday's dismal second-half collapse after taking the lead against the mighty Sunderland — who have now won almost as many games this season at Hill Dickinson Stadium as Everton have!
I've never really been one for summing up the contribution each player makes to a game as a mark out of 10. They are all doing their best, we know that, but things sometimes just don't work out for them.
Some like to say "so-and-so was a passenger" or my special favourite: "Pickford should have done more to stop the goals going in." But it's 90+ minutes of football that ranges widely for each player from good to (in this case) absolutely abysmal. Can you really sum all that up in one number?
Mistakes loom large in the reckoning. I think that is unavoidable, largely because, as we have heard so often, it's a game of fine margins, and in the split second when a mistake is made, it can lead to a goal that could have, and perhaps should have been prevented.
And then there's the Man of the Match award that seems traditionally to be required -- no matter how awful the match itself and the overall team performance were, as was the case yesterday. My own personal take on this is that — if we don't win — then there is no "Man of the Match". Simple.
The ridiculousness of this whole effort is encapsulated for me in the conundrum of how you mark substitutes, especially very late ones... and especially if they do something that is either exceptional or awful?
So, with all this in mind, let's go through the motions...
Another Spine-Free Capitulation on a Day of Goodbyes
If there was ever a match that perfectly distilled the frustrating, circular nature of Everton Football Club in the 21st Century, it was yesterday's miserable, soul-crushing 1-3 defeat to a Sunderland side from the Championship who quite literally wanted it more.
With a Top 8 finish and European qualification dangling like a carrot, David Moyes’s side chose the final home game of the season to largely forget how to play sensible football in the second half. We went from comfortably leading at the break through Merlin Röhl's deflected opener to being shamefully booed off by those who stayed until the final whistle.
Worse still, this spineless collapse ruined what should have been a proud, emotional send-off for Seamus Coleman. Our legendary captain deserved a guard of honour on the back of a famous victory; instead, he was tossed into a burning building in the 88th minute when the damage was already done.
Moyes admitted after the match that we "messed up big-time" and aren't ready for European momentum. He's not wrong... which makes it all the more puzzling how he keeps getting it so wrong when it comes to his muti-million pound job of managing this club.
Six games without a win to close out the business end of the season tells its own pathetic story. Tottenham away next week feels like a sentence rather than a fixture.
Player Ratings
The Starting XI
Jordan Pickford – 4
Hardly had a save to make all afternoon because everything Sunderland hit went past him. Could do nothing about Brobbey’s powerful near-post blast after being hung out to dry by his center-halves, but looked utterly static for Le Fée's second. A miserable afternoon against his boyhood club.
Jake O'Brien – 2 (Flop of the Match)
A complete horror show of a second half. His misplaced pass gifted Brian Brobbey the ball for Sunderland's equalizer, and he was repeatedly turned inside out by the visitor's attack. To compound a disastrous day, he missed an absolute sitter of a header from Tyrique George’s fantastic pinpoint cross that would have made it 2-2. Topped it all off with an early second-half yellow card. Dragged for Coleman late on. Dismal.
James Tarkowski – 4
Supposed to be the rock of this defense, but he was completely bullied by Brobbey for the first goal, lacking the strength and anticipation we usually rely on. Looked heavy-legged and disorganized as Sunderland carved the backline apart at will late in the game.
Michael Keane – 4
Somehow credited with the assist for Röhl’s opener, but defensively it was the same old story. When Sunderland raised the tempo and began moving the ball quickly with Le Fée and Rigg, Keane looked stuck in quicksand.
Vitalii Mykolenko – 4
Offered next to nothing going forward and was constantly pinned back. Kept reasonably busy, but completely lost track of his positioning during the chaotic sequence for Isidor’s stoppage-time killer.
Tim Iroegbunam – 3
An early yellow card for a clumsy trip in the 24th minute completely compromised his ability to put a tackle in. Walked a tightrope for the rest of his 73 minutes before being rightly hooked for Tyrique George. The midfield engine room completely dissolved around him.
James Garner – 4
Lacked any semblance of creativity or forward drive. When Granit Xhaka dictates a game, you expect it, but Garner allowed the entire Sunderland midfield to bypass him. A frustrated, cynical booking deep in stoppage time summed up his day.
Merlin Röhl – 5
He got the opening goal via a lucky deflection just before the break and showed flashes of the drive we’ve desperately lacked. Replaced by McNeil late on as Moyes scrambled for a goal.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 4
Supposed to be the creative hub, but he spent 90 minutes drifting aimlessly. Had one speculative shot that failed to trouble Roefs. We needed someone to demand the ball and steady the ship when Sunderland turned the screw; he stumbled and bumbled into annonymity.
Iliman Ndiaye – 4
A highly frustrating afternoon for the Dynamic Dribbler. Zero shots, zero creation, and spent most of the match running into blind alleys or turning backward. Sunderland’s defence had him completely figured out.
Beto – 3
A performance that personified a blunt instrument. Given a decent ball to make something of but he was just incapable of anticipating or controlling the bounce, and the chance was gone. One off-target effort before being hauled off in the 73rd minute. Never looked a threat.
The Substitutes
Tyrique George (on for Iroegbunam, 73’) – 7
Actually injected a bit of urgency. Delivered a superb, pinpoint cross that O'Brien somehow failed to convert. Showed more fight in 17 minutes than most of the starting XI did in 90. For that alone, he is almost worth the Man of the Match accolade.
Thierno Barry (on for Beto, 73’) – 4
Brought on to provide a focal point but barely got a kick as he ran around chasing .
Dwight McNeil (on for Röhl, 88’) – 2
A desperation sub when the game was already lost. Did next to nothing.
Seamus Coleman (on for O'Brien, 88’) – 1
A criminal way to treat a club legend on his final Goodison appearance. Moyes should have sent him out there bang on 60 moinutes to a tremendous ovation... but instead he was sent on into a toxic atmosphere with the team 1-2 down, only to watch Isidor bag a third moments later, and was guilty of ball-watching as he failed to intercept the coross for the final ultimate embarrassment of the thrid Sunderland goal. He deserved a standing ovation in a routine win — not a token cameo in a shambles — but thanks for the memories.
The Manager
David Moyes – 0
Set the team up to be passive, relied on a deflected goal to take the lead, and had absolutely no tactical answer when Régis Le Bris adjusted things at half-time. His substitutions were reactionary and too late. Pulling a midfielder for an 18-year-old George was his only roll of the dice, and using Coleman as a late sub under those toxic circumstances felt completely misjudged. A massive missed opportunity that encapsulates why this team remains stuck in mediocrity under his old-fashioned uninspiring management.
Reader Comments (53)
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2 Posted 18/05/2026 at 11:16:50
Near post is yours. Nothing goes in. He got his angles wrong and turned right, allowing the shot through. Yes it was a powerful strike. But should it have gone in... No!!!
Yesterday was one where reality bites.
3 Posted 18/05/2026 at 11:33:38
There was one point where he put 3 balls into the box in 20 seconds (2 with his right peg and 1 with his left) and every single one was a bag of shite.
Moyes bringing McNeil on when we needed a goal just made me laugh, fucking joke.
4 Posted 18/05/2026 at 11:45:42
Moyes should be ashamed of what transpired on the field -- and the awful way that the Club handled Coleman's farewell simply beggars belief!
The main difference between Moyes and Dyche is the latter's honest confession that he couldn't take the team any further -- something that Moyes seems reluctant or unable to admit.
5 Posted 18/05/2026 at 11:54:20
6 Posted 18/05/2026 at 12:00:27
The saddest thing is, this won't be the last time you have to write something like this because Moyes will be with us next season, Kinnear pretty much already said it.
My prediction for next season: we start the season well, people comment "Oh perhaps Moyes isn't that bad"...
Come January, following the inevitable losses to the top sides -- and Liverpool, wherever they are in the table -- "We've had a dip but still in touching distance of Europe".
Moyes downplays that because this season he said we'd go for it... and he'll never do that again.
We lose to newly promoted Coventry and the wheels come off. We finish top half, just. Déjà fucking vu!
7 Posted 18/05/2026 at 12:19:42
I’m still seething with anger after yesterday’s disgraceful performance and won’t be satisfied until the Friedkins kick him out.
8 Posted 18/05/2026 at 12:24:48
That performance yesterday was absolutely insulting to every evertonian who witnessed it, be it at the stadium or watching it on TV.
It's now time for David Moyes to go. But he won't do the dignified thing and resign. I’m sick and tired of his stubbornness to keep playing that back 4 who must be the slowest in the Premier League.
And as for the strike force or what little there is of it …. words fail me.
If he's still there at the start of the season, I’m afraid we're in for much more of the dross football his team serve up.
9 Posted 18/05/2026 at 14:35:46
10 Posted 18/05/2026 at 14:47:57
Although it wasn't the ending that he wanted, I wouldn't be surprised if Seamus actually had some sympathy for the very long-suffering supporters whom he has grown to love over many years.
11 Posted 18/05/2026 at 14:51:39
I never begrudge the fans for the reaction they have to what they see on the field. Not all fans react the same way, and indeed some stayed behind. But those who left had every right to and were fully justified in expressing their utter disdain at what they had just witnessed.
I draw the line at fans hurling personal abuse at each other and name calling, but I can't grasp this idea that you have some god-given right to judge the behaviour of other fans and what they do (within reason). Each to his own. If you wanted to stay behind, then I hope you did.
12 Posted 18/05/2026 at 15:01:04
Everything about that game was rotten. The false ceiling imposed upon us by management, accepted by many, applauded by pundits, is truly frustrating.
It simply shouldn't be acceptable for Everton FC, we have no divine right to win anything, but we surely have to have ambition, hunger, pride...
13 Posted 18/05/2026 at 15:08:55
I would give Seamus and extra point just because out of all of them he would be super gutted for letting that ball go though for the goal.
I would have to mark Micheal down for the spelling on the Coleman paragraph!
I stayed at the end... but maybe only because the coach I travelled on was waiting a bit longer to leave.
One thing to remember these end of season laps are not to thank the players, they were set up for the players to thank the fans for the season's support. Lap of appreciation; you could never call it that if it was for the players.
Our appreciation is in the £1250 quid I've just spent renewing my season ticket. As times are getting harder, not sure how many more times I will be able to do that either.
14 Posted 18/05/2026 at 15:15:10
I always stay to the final whistle and think my job is to support the team and I can moan afterwards on the way home or in the pub.
I never boo an Everton player. Supporters don't seem to realise the positive effect they can have on the team and outcome of a game. Negativity is toxic.
15 Posted 18/05/2026 at 15:23:00
Not denying Evertonians have had some terrible stuff served up to them these last few years, but once the players become nervous of playing in front of their own crowd, it's disastrous for everyone. And very difficult to get rid of.
16 Posted 18/05/2026 at 15:33:43
It's been like Groundhog Day going to that stadium this year, being served up uninspiring and limp displays. The tight away wins have merely been a sticking plaster over what, for me, has been a horrendous season.
17 Posted 18/05/2026 at 16:11:25
Start with that defence next season and we are in real trouble. Tarkowski's legs look gone to me.
I remember it happening to Dave Watson. All of a sudden, he could not recover if a forward went past him... and the same is now happening to Tarkowski. A 2-year contract extension wow. I wonder who requested that?
Keane is a squad player at best and in my opinion always has been. Mykolenko looks totally lost when Branthwaite is not inside him and again should be considered only a squad player next season. According to TransferMarkt, Everton have extended his contract to 2027.
O'Brien is now suffering as the others struggle and Moyes keeps changing the player in front of him. How do you begin to get an understanding if the player keeps changing and, let's face it, he's never a full-back. Though Moyes seems to believe he can do the job well enough!
Branthwaite is class but needs to have a good run with no injuries next season. Seamus has retired. Patterson will surely be sold. Aznou is a total unknown and has had a wasted season in his development.
So that leaves Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko and O'Brien for next season. Me thinks we need new blood pronto.
A proper right-back and left-back for starters, and a centre-back who is not the wrong side of 30, with pace!!
Forwards:- Not good enough. Urgent emergency action required!!! We all know why. One of them should be the third-choice centre-forward next season, the other should be sold. So, 2 centre-forwards needed. I suggest an old head 30ish and the other 25+.
Goalkeeper:- I expect Jordan to be a bit iffy at the start of next season due to a World Cup hangover. I have little faith in his current back-ups. King to go and an experienced back-up in for Jordan.
Midfielders:- Dewsbury-Hall, Garner, deffo starters. Gueye... will he stay on? My guess is, he will get another season if he wants it.
Rohl, encouraging appearances of late but what is his true position? Tim Iroegbunam, still a bit of a rough diamond but beginning to show there might be something in him at this level. Next season is make or break for him.
Harrison Armstrong may need another loan if Moyes is not going to trust him. Preston again may beckon. McNeil, on his way I reckon. Though whether we can get the £25M Palace were going to pay, maybe another matter.
Charly Alcaraz will be a squad player again unless he agitates for a move. We need another midfielder brought in with a profile similiar to Dewsbury-Hall and Garner.
Wingers:- Ndiaye is nailed on, though being sold would not surprise me. George, has he done enough? Will he want to come? Another loan maybe...
Personally, I'd take the punt unless Bowen becomes available, then we must get him. Apparently he likes Moyes. Jack Grealish - what will we do. Another loan but no way, would I pay £35M+ for him.
As for Dibling, what can you say? A wasted year, it seems to me and surely a loan must be arranged if Moyes does not trust him. Personally I wish to see him play and I hope he gets a run of games pre-season and can force Moyes to pick him.
18 Posted 18/05/2026 at 16:15:49
I would keep O'Brien and Branthwaite as the only two starters next season. Branthwaite the only starter if we can get a pacy centre-back.
How the manager did not see this situation coming is beyond me. Every Evertonian I spoke to knew.
19 Posted 18/05/2026 at 18:17:08
We have no real cohesion, or real partnerships, and no real structure. People say that we are having problems because the pitch is bigger, but everyone knows that a well drilled team, usually know the short cuts, which close the gaps, and make the pitch smaller?
I agree that negativity is toxic Terry, but paying to watch such boring, inept football, is very boring and definitely bad for the soul.
20 Posted 18/05/2026 at 19:03:45
I agree,we don't look like we have a plan other than to stay in the division.
21 Posted 18/05/2026 at 19:08:29
We could easily need ten new field players, albeit a few may already be in the squad.
Coleman's departure is already confirmed. For the sake of argument, let’s assume the departures of George, McNeil, either Beto or Barry, and Patterson.
Let’s likewise assume that Grealish, Myko, Gana (not a starter anymore, perhaps, but certainly quality depth) and one of Beto or Barry will be back.
And again assuming, Dibling and Armstrong go out on loan (IMO Armstrong should have returned to Preston in February, and should again with four guys ahead of him). And Branthwaite, despite the rumored two-month time frame, isn’t ready to start the new season. That's a lot of assumptions, I know, but it's a starting point for our speculations.
So if all that proves out, what will we ideally want to add in July?
2 strikers – one quality 15-goal starter and a replacement for whichever of Beto or Barry departs. We do need to be 3 deep here.
2 pacy wide men (if George stays, we can get by with one). I've been chanting for Summerville for months.
A top-quality #10. That wishfully assumes KDH drops to his preferred #8, where he starts alongside Garner, with Gana, Rohl and Iroegbunam in the mix. I don’t see Rohl or Alcaraz at #10, so let's get one.
4 across the backline -- a top-quality attacking right back, a speedy center back (we need to be 5 deep there because of Jarrad’s issues), an attacking left back (let’s hope it’s Aznou) and a versatile young defender who can understudy both right back and center.
Worst case scenario is these all have to come from outside.
Best case scenario is Grealish stays, Dibling comes out of his shell and doesn’t need to be loaned out, Aznou blossoms into real competition for Myko, and nobody else gets hurt. That reduces the shopping list to maybe 7.
Plus we need a quality backup for Picks because his good fortune with injuries will run out sooner or later.
That's a lot. Certainly our record £97m spend last summer will be blown away this summer, but would even £150m be enough to fill all those holes? And in the compressed time frame imposed by the World Cup?
Tough job.
22 Posted 18/05/2026 at 19:37:34
if you look at it again, Coleman can see that Tarowski is fucked (watch him just trotting back) and he tries to get in to mark his man, but he should have cleared it other than letting it go past him.
I agree, Moyes should have had him on earlier; had he done so, it would have given the crowd a lift and a chance for him to stick in a tackle and really get it going.
Moyes simply must be told "Thanks, but we want to go in another direction". Him overseeing the first derby at our place ending in defeat completely made my mind up for me, spineless manager he is.
If Spurs hammering us meant these owners would pull the plug, then I would take it.
Nothings going to change with Moyes -- been there, done that; same result -- same old story.
23 Posted 18/05/2026 at 20:06:07
Ndiaye a 2 at best. Garner a 5, poor by his standards but when he dropped deep in the second half, he at least tried to get things going.
24 Posted 18/05/2026 at 21:17:08
25 Posted 18/05/2026 at 23:25:21
Squad numbers and quality team building required for next season. Not sure about Grealish. I feel he slowed down our transitions too often. Likely to be even slower than last year after his injury perhaps.
26 Posted 18/05/2026 at 00:28:12
Moyes deserves less than zero. Seamus should have started and got subbed whenever to a huge ovation.
Look at Casemiro's exit at Old Trafford and he only played a few years for them. Our cowardly serial loser prick of a manager couldn't even get that right, the man is fucking clueless.
How's that European push going Davey? Oh right, 3 points from the last 18 when we were pushing 6th.
Condolences to season ticket holders, we'll never get anywhere under Moyes.
27 Posted 19/05/2026 at 05:43:17
Love that MK. Well I mean I do and I don't, if you see what I mean.
Mike Gaynes (@21): I actually think that this coming window is rather too much like last summer. That window has left us with too many unanswered questions and there is still 'detritus' hanging around.
Things could well be ''frantic' again. We are nearing the end - thank Sheedy - of another forgettable season and the thousands heading for the exits after yesterday's final whistle should deeply concern our powers-that-be. Truly, madly, deeply.
You are saying 9/10 new players needed MG. We should not be in this position. And, there's also the World Cup to think about, although there will be smart and astute buys ahead of fellas not playing in the World Cup if our recruiters play their cards right.
We simply have to hope that they have a plan. There will be Hell to play if they do not do a better job this summer. I am not convinced that Saint Daniel the Absent cares enough about the playing side of things or that Saint Angus the Silent is good enough for the job.
Time will tell. Actually three-and-a-half months will tell.
Fingers crossed. Button up. Get ready.
28 Posted 19/05/2026 at 07:29:41
Given the bulk of that was spent on Dibbling, Barry, Anzou, Travers and Alcaraz we can also say the Friedkin dream team wasted a record amount of spend as well (or at least didnt buy the players their chosen manager would use).
I am also unclear if it was record spend or record purchases (ie spend spread over installments) but either way given our finite resources I'm not sure the record is one to be proud of.
I appreciate your faith in TFG as this season, Imo, hasn't painted them in the best light. In fact I'd go so far as to say I have no idea what their plan is, what their ambitions are or whether we are just an elaborate way to shift money from one asset to another before off loading for a profit.
But regardless, if they do blow away the record spend, I hope it blown away wisely because right now it seems all that happened was we bought a bunch of players that we need to offload.
29 Posted 19/05/2026 at 07:36:29
These owners are just not in it for MEGA (Make Everton Great Again) as proven by their complete lack of spend in January barring one teenage Chelsea reserve on loan whilst pumping money into their primary project with Roma.
Had they backed this team in the same way, we could well be sitting in a Champions League place too.
30 Posted 19/05/2026 at 08:23:13
Sad for Seamus but the proper way to give him a deserved send-off is by sorting out a decent testimonial for him.
The sentimentality of bringing him on at all in that game contributed to the loss. The crowd were right to waive sentimentality and walk away from those players' and the manager's little parade.
31 Posted 19/05/2026 at 08:23:25
The older guard need to be phased out, but with an absence of depth will be retained. Just don't play them 35+ games a season.
I don't go along the need for 8 to 10 players. We need players that will truly make a difference to this side, that can play now. Not in 3 years time, now. Genuine class.
5 key players change this side, and allow the others to flourish. Not necessarily permanent signings or paid transfers, there are free or loan transfers that can help spread the transfer pot around.
A goal scoring right winger - Wilson
Right back
Left back
Centre back
Centre forward
Out - £20m
Coleman
Patterson
Mcneil
With 5 good players in, there is enough quality to move the team forward into the European places. But the defence has to be invested into. It sets us up how deep we play, if we can keep the ball, and if those players can join the attack or find players in space. It has a huge impact on the team currently.
The drop off without Branthwaite is stark. For the club to compete in the league, or in Europe, it has to do it without Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson in the side. These fellas have burnt through enough managers, and cant be relied upon.
I do question Obrien. There is love in on these pages, that his mistakes are due to him playing right back. Let's see. I am not fully convinced he wont make more at Centre back, when the pressure rises and he is in the firing line more. The red card, the offside, the handball, the miss placed pass. Decision making and technical ability seem low vs the physical attributes he displays.
There is a hope he will be the next Jarrad Branthwaite. He isn't, he is nothing like him.
32 Posted 19/05/2026 at 08:32:30
5 genuine quality players, half a team, changes any team in the world. Half a team away and £111M spent?
33 Posted 19/05/2026 at 08:46:57
Mind you John: Soucek £12M, Stones free, Trippier free, Henderson free, Wilson free, Calvert-Lewin £25M, Walker free, Modric free, Garbutt £2.5M, Price £7.5M, Broadhurst £11.5M, unknown Peruvian £14M, unknown Bolivian £28.9M, Dunk £7.5M.
We can fucking do this JC mate. Believe lad. Champions League next season and thanks be to Moyes.
34 Posted 19/05/2026 at 09:16:08
If you think that was going to fix everything, you'll be disappointed.
35 Posted 19/05/2026 at 09:34:40
You have mentioned a lot of changes that need doing but you never mentioned who was going to introduce those changes!
36 Posted 19/05/2026 at 09:55:13
The defence needs a refit as it isn't fit for purpose. The goals vs Liverpool, West Ham, Man City, Crystal Palace and Sunderland are all poor goals, from individual mistakes and players that can't cover those mistakes.
The £5-10M that it will cost to fire him and his team would be better spent on the wages of two class players at the back. I just can't watch that back line any more, as you just know it will shit itself without Branthwaite.
There remains a call to play front-foot football with kids. That could go swimmingly, or we could get annihilated. The experts on here think it is the former, the actual past and present managers with a couple of thousand game experience think the latter.
37 Posted 19/05/2026 at 10:49:36
Finishing 14th after aiming for 8th will cost us £16M in Premier League prize money, while we stood to earn up to £19M in prize money from the European Conference League and payouts from the £50M market pool of broadcasting and television revenues.
The manager will be held accountable for the fall-off of player performances, individual errors, selections, tactics and the results. This has always been the case as it is correct because the manager makes the decisions, and it is easier and cheaper to sack a manager than exit a large number of players under contract who under-performed in the season. That is why managers get sacked.
Also, fan sentiment will be taken into account as it has changed; the refusal of supporters to stay behind after the final whistle at the last home game was very telling. And it will turn nastier if the manager and team repeat that abysmal performance at Spurs.
On your other point:
"There remains a call to play front-foot football with kids. That could go swimmingly, or we could get annihilated. The experts on here think it is the former, the actual past and present managers with a couple of thousand game experience think the latter."
No one has said that, so stop writing absolute nonsense.
38 Posted 19/05/2026 at 11:14:39
But the repeat of sacking the managers, rather than dealing with players, is precisely the rinse and repeat that dogs football teams, and why it sets up the next manager to fail.
Sacking Benitez, Lampard, Silva, Allardyce, Dyche, and anyone else I've missed, has probably cost about £40M to £45M, including their backroom staff. Rather than sort out the issues, it has just prolonged the careers of Coleman, Patterson, Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski.
In terms of your last point. There have been calls to play younger players.
If anyone thinks that Aznou would thrive in any back 4 we can put together, then they're deluded. And you can chuck in some of the other kids as well.
George was bright going forward. A slight miss placed past to Mykolenko, and what happened next. Throw it back to Pickford, and the ball is in the back of the net next pass. We are world champions on passing the ball backwards, and it has been like it for years.
O'Brien similar. One mis-placed past, and Keane & Tarkowski are nowhere near it.
We need competent players to guide the youngersters, and we haven't got that.
39 Posted 19/05/2026 at 13:48:48
I think it's very unfair questioning O'Brien, you should be questioning Moyes, and why he keeps picking a 6ft-6in centre-back at fullback, especially with how slow and poor Tarkowski and Keane are together, and why he won't change personnel and formation considering we haven't won in over 6 games.
Do Patterson, Armstrong, George, Alcaraz, Aznou and even Dibling not deserve a chance? Their performance can't be any worse than what we saw on Sunday.
40 Posted 19/05/2026 at 14:07:37
41 Posted 19/05/2026 at 14:11:07
42 Posted 19/05/2026 at 18:40:32
Rohl is a great example. Had a good game, got dropped, didn't get another chance until recently and has possibly been our best player.
Yet so many underperform and get picked week in, week out.
That's not the player, that's the manager.
Tired players, losing team and yet the manager still thinks picking a failing system again and again will somehow magically work?
43 Posted 19/05/2026 at 19:03:48
Give it a fucken rest will you
Ian @39 criticises the whole defence AND the goalie
Playing out of position does not exempt or excuse an appalling touch by O'Brien and here's the bit you need to get your head around unless you to continue want to embarrass yourself... Neither does being Irish
44 Posted 19/05/2026 at 19:40:29
If they wanted a decent lap of appreciation, they should have put in a performance worthy of it but they didn't, Rohl being an exception.
Sunderland made early changes in the second half and I was thinking to myself, imagine if we had a manager who changed things up tactically or even just fresh legs, but we all knew before kick off the grey headed knob'ed(formerly ginger knob'ed) would make the same old Beto for Barry around 70 minutes. Bringing George on at the same time surprised me tbh, but still, Moyes has run out of ideas, that's if he had any in the first place.
45 Posted 19/05/2026 at 19:44:18
46 Posted 19/05/2026 at 19:55:01
Once people see you train, you're a busted flush, yes?
47 Posted 19/05/2026 at 19:57:21
I thought it may have improved by more than half a competent side.
48 Posted 19/05/2026 at 19:57:33
Why stay to applaud a team that doesn't deserve it? Or should I have stayed to boo them?
Nah, went for the pint to reflect on the shit show we had just been served on a plate and it was a bloody warm pint as well!
49 Posted 19/05/2026 at 20:00:55
50 Posted 19/05/2026 at 20:14:42
51 Posted 19/05/2026 at 20:46:21
52 Posted 19/05/2026 at 00:12:51
We need progressive players capable of playing for a progressive manager. Pep would have us relegated because our back 5/6 can't play football.
I hate Moyes's football but there's no denying they are significantly better this season than under Dyche? And it's with the same team plus
It's a bunch of relegation fodder and without the investment that's been abandoned for the last few years, I fear it'll always be a bit shit.
But then I'm getting used to it 36 years after rocking up to Goodison to see them lose.
UTFT … sigh x
53 Posted 20/05/2026 at 19:15:21
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1 Posted 18/05/2026 at 11:02:24
I still haven't calmed down after that shit show, it was embarrassing. If we don't get at least nine players in next season, then expect the same outcome. It's getting harder to watch that overpaid shower.
After 30-odd years of misery, I don't know how much longer I can put up with watching them, my blood pressure is through the roof.