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Tony Everan
1 Posted 26/11/2017 at 20:45:12
Yes, Lyndon, it's gone from "Who shall we have?" to "Who will have us, that is in any way the right manager?"
Andy Walker
2 Posted 26/11/2017 at 20:48:05
We've already forced Captain Allardyce to walk the plank.

Now for a second rate version, Pulis? He may just be desperate enough.

I won't be there on Wednesday to watch Moyes bring a gun to a chimps tea party.

Rick Tarleton
3 Posted 26/11/2017 at 20:56:45
You'll remember, Lyndon, when we signed Rooney, there was a consensus on this site that this man would lead us to a renaissance in the club's fortune. He would return to super form, he would be an example and a role-model for all our talented young players. And then we signed Klaassen, the captain of Ajax, the great Sigurdsson and we could get rid of that useless Barkley who was too full of himself.

Lukaku went and we signed Ramirez. Like for Like ! Keane was signed. He formerly played in the well-organised and hard-working Burnley team alongside Ben Mee and now he plays alongside the pensioners and looks lost and totally lacking in confidence.

Gueye and Schneiderlin are lacking in virtually everything you need in a modern midfielder. Gueye cannot pass at all, not even five yards to another midfielder, never mind a defence-splitting forward pass. as for Schneiderlin, he is simply the worst value for money player Everton have ever signed and I've been watching them since 1953-54 season. He tries to avoid the ball, so he cannot be blamed for being useless.

We sacked an appalling self-serving manager five weeks ago and the Board had no idea whom they wanted to replace him. They gave the job on an acting basis to a nice lad, one of our own, he cared for the club I was told when I questioned his qualifications for the role on ToffeeWeb. he has proved to be as tactically astute as Koeman and the disaster continues.

This Board is walking us to the edge of the cliff and they don't seem to know what they need to do to stop us falling over the precipice. Appoint a manager, if anyone is still interested in the position, back him and get rid of Walsh, Ferguson, Royle, and let Ebbrell and Unsworth go back to the youngsters. Please.
Eugene Kearney
4 Posted 26/11/2017 at 20:58:44
On a brighter note – any word of Walsh being replaced?
Tony Everan
5 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:00:02
Dyche maybe the best bet to get the lads organised and bring in some tough battling reinforcements.

If Mr Walsh has a couple of strikers lined up for January 1st, Dyche could turn it around.

He wants the job, he is doing well on half the resources as us. He has untapped potential to improve a bigger club.

Our options are limited, but he could still be a sound choice at this point in time.

Gerard Carey
6 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:00:34
Desperate times.
Paul Kelly
7 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:02:53
Basics-for their first goal nobody had the common sense to fill in for Kenny when he was caught near their corner flag, the subsequent assist then came from that side and in the second half I also noticed Siggy and Schneiderlin ball watching when tracking back leaving two players free behind them, it came to nothing but these are basics, tracking runners, filling in, makes me wonder what goes on in the training sessions, no leaders out there, are they even arsed? Was Unsy up barking orders? Does Duncan have a voice? Ebbrell?

They are a disgrace and I see nothing but more anguish in the next few games.

Keith Johnson
8 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:08:16
We need to get a new manager by Tuesday and win our next two games just to boost the team and the fans. 4-4-2 wide formation.
Kev Johnson
9 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:09:29
Rick @3, well said.
Paul Smith
10 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:13:46
Rick Tarleton - fine post.

I witnessed the debacle today and coming on TW has restored some faith. It's been a bit strange lately with film references and cryptic posts, but tonight I have read some of the finest and sensible offerings for ages and dare I say it, some unity. Maybe, just maybe, its the start of real acknowledgement of what's going on and can that common ground lead to some unity within the club.

Seamus McCrudden
11 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:16:55
Fuck the 'project' and the long-term view. We need to look at the here and now. If we don't get a manager in soon be it big Sam, Pulis or Martin O'Neill this club will be relegated. If that happens we are potentially fucked for years.

How ironic that it might fall to Ross Barkley to save our bacon after written off by that clown Koeman.
Eddie Dunn
12 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:32:07
Well summed-up Rick. It seems to me that our biggest problem is our poor midfield. I agree that Gueye brings hard running and harrying to the table but lacks any other attribute. He cannot pass, and his shots usually into Row Z. Schneiderlin may be hampered by his sore toe but if it is too bad then he should rest it. The man consistently produces jack shit. No movement, no tackles, no passing. Our CB's have no-one to pass to and instead either punt it long themselves or back to Pickford for him to do the same.

Calvert-Lewin, starved of service, has little to offer individually. He has no dribbles or tricks and is merely a willing runner. In the recent SURE challenge it was shocking just how poor his touch was.

Wednesday is incredibly important. The Hammers are hot on our heels and if we can somehow get a result it will put some daylight between us.

That FA ban really has hurt us.
John Keating
13 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:38:43
The sooner we ALL realise we could go down the better as it might spur people into action.

We've had comments about top class managers coming here with long term plans. People thinking we can wait until 10 games to go before panicking. The Allardyces of this world not good enough for us. One player short of a good team. Two wins from mid table.

The whole lot is and was just complete nonsense. These people need a kick up the arse. Once everyone accepts we are in deep deep shit the reaction can start.

The teams below us are far better placed to get out of the mire. Management changes at Palace and West Ham will for sure improve their teams. West Brom acted quickly to Pullis going. More importantly all the teams around us have been there before and know what's needed.

I believe we lost our best bet of a short term fix by delaying with Allardyce. We pissed about talking about how HE wasn't good enough for US and now we're in deeper shit.

Never mind West Ham as we've no chance against them what the hell are we going to do after the RS result.

God help whoever comes in but please no foreign up and coming ten year plan man.
Dick Fearon
14 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:45:40
Lyndon, as usual you have put in a nutshell most of our problems both on and off the field. In order to maintain some kind of relationship with the clubs hierarchy I appreciate the reasons why your comments need to be restrained.

I on the other hand can express my thoughts without such consideration.
From my TV view of the game it was noticeable that in defensive and attacking set pieces we had no one providing direction or taking control.

Pickford and other defenders with arms waving were full of advice but only after the ball had been delivered. They must have been aware that Saints players were allowed far too much room around our six yard box. The same could be said of Unsworth and the rest of his misbegotten backroom crew. Unfortunately no one has the nous or strength of character to take responsibility.

Other small but no less important failures were our abysmal throw ins and set pieces. Opponents were positive with them but we were hesitant and without rhyme nor reason. I hope we have begun practicing them.

My biggest gripe is with our midfield where we have long had a surplus of lightweights that are easily brushed aside.

A lot is expected up front from Calvert-Lewin and the lad tries hard but is just not good enough. A trite description of his contribution would be, he floats like a bee and stings like a butterfly.

I do not mind if Lyndon does not use my post but it does me good to get those few grizzles of my chest.
NSNO and all that

Don Alexander
15 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:51:17
I too have lambasted players' attitude this season in particular but I've never heard of another club deliberately sabotaging itself by neglect in the transfer market like we did in the summer.

Just how players NOT in the forward line/shirt are supposed to play when those/he (regardless of who the "he" might be) in the forward line/shirt are so lamentably unable to do the basics of what such a demanding role requires is beyond me. As a bog-standard Atalanta and Southampton have just proved, the disdain they had for our so-called "threat" means their whole defence could confidently afford to stay way further up the pitch than they normally would, their midfield could also do so, and their forwards therefore benefited from the wealth of possession their team had and the many chances they got to feed off, and that's goes for the past month or two at least.

Every club long since knows that the chances of us ever putting them under pressure are about as likely as Kenwright ever getting "professional" in developing the club to the standard the current owner demands.

Everton have been sabotaged from within. It matters not whether it was deliberately or accidentally done. It is unforgivable and it's the chairman's job to have prevented it or, minimum, sort it out NOW or resign in shame, or be fired.

Looking around the rest of the boardroom though, it looks bleak in terms of a successor, and Moshiri is increasingly showing he has as much grasp of the business of football ownership as I have of accountancy in multi-billion pound industries.

Andy Meighan
16 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:52:49
Great post Rick (3) and totally right about Schneiderlin. I said to anyone who would listen last season when he signed he had a few good games. The alarm bells rang against Spurs away when he was totally anonymous

After that, whenever we played a side above us he either cried off or went missing. I've been going regulary since 1970 and while we might have worst sides they had at least had a bit of fight. This current squad couldn't fight a cold.

'94 and '97 were shocking but in their defence the managers had very limited resources. Yes in some ways this is all down to Koeman and Walsh. Unsworth has hardly covered himself in glory and has just carried on the Dutchman's poor work. Especially coming out with statements like the club is not in crisis. Unsy lad, it is. Big time.
Paul Wyndham
17 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:54:31
Last week people were turning their noses up at Dyche and big Sam,now they've realised how bad the situation is we're hearing Martin O'Neil and even "bore them into submission" Pulis,the bottom line is we do need one of these park the bus and grind out the points type managers to organise the rabble we've got into a cohesive defensive unit and get them fighting for our Prem survival.

I don't like it but I think Sam's the man we need,he is not the dinosaur he is sometimes portrayed as and as well as being tactically astute,he is also up to speed with all the latest sport science developments,fitness programmes and psychology techniques.

Give him what he wants,there seemed to be a sticking point that he wanted to bring in too many of his own staff,well I would welcome the current incompetents at Finch Funny Farm being given their P45s.

Kenwright Out!
Colin Metcalfe
18 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:55:38
Well fellas, I hold my hands up. I was convinced we would get a result today in fact I thought we could by 2/3 goals, I have a good mate who is a massive Saints fan and even he said before game he didn't fancy their chances against us and that they have been pretty awful all season but dearie dearie me what was Unsworth thinking with that selection?

We have all said it on countless occasions that Schneiderlin has been rubbish all season and his pairing with Gueye just doesn't work plain and simple! Basic and Beni should of been in there with Rooney,Sandro and Viasic, sorry but Unsworth got it all wrong today and that was the worst display I have in years from an Everton side and yet they were there for the taking .

Another thing I noticed today was Pickford hitting it long all the time when we don't even have a target man, Calvert-Lewin can't hold the ball up he hasn't got the physicality and so every time the ball was whacked up to their half we turned over possession and also we are playing so deep inviting teams on its criminal, you keep the ball on the deck and work the channels with players busting a gut to support .

As for the defense well it goes without saying we have the worst back four in the league and shipping goals in at an alarming rate, I said after Thursdays diabolical display I didn't want to see Williams in a blue shirt again and yet he was the go to defender after Baines went off, surely Unsy could of switched things around without having to bring that useless lump on !! Poor poor game management.

With returning players back from injury I still we can get out of this in fact the guy I really want to see back is Mori and I never thought I would say that and hopefully we will have a manager in place this week. I maybe in the minority here but I am glad we are taking our time and not making a poor decision, I personally don't care for any of the dinosaurs that a lot of posters are calling for, Dyche (so glad he lost today Burnley are shite to watch) Big Sam, O'Neill or Pulis, let's hope its Silva or Rangnick.

I expect a big reaction Wednesday but Unworthy has to get the team and tactics spot on , goodnight fellow blues I am going to crack open that 15-year-old Malt and drown my sorrows!

James Flynn
20 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:57:11
I was in the "Give Unsy a chance." camp.

God bless him, but he's out of his depth.

Not sure who's going to be hired. But we need an experienced, professional manager to keep us up.

Next season will bring what it brings. But it must be with Everton still in the top-flight.

Rick (3) - "You'll remember, Lyndon, when we signed Rooney, there was a consensus on this site that this man would lead us to a renaissance in the club's fortune. He would return to super form, he would be an example and a role-model for all our talented young players. "

Lyndon can't remember that Rick, because no one said it.

Morris Kruger
21 Posted 26/11/2017 at 21:57:52
It is incredible how fast things change from the potential of a top 4 position to now a desperate relegation scrap The only problem is our team have no stomach for a fight. West Ham will murder us midweek. It all starts with a hopeless useless and non caring board. Filters down to pathetic transfers in and of course a mercenary manager in Koeman who didn't care but only was interested in banking his swollen overpaid cheque.

It naturally had to reflect on the field and so the antidote is to desperately appoint a manager have a vocal board of directors who will lead from the top and then start training the players how to kick a soccer ball and to be prepared to die for the badge. Otherwise the championship is where Wel be and wel win the odd game here and there because they play a million games each season. But It'll then be goodbye to Premier League football for Everton for a decade or longer. So either we ready to die for this club or .,.. too horrible to contemplate
Pat Kelly
22 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:19:36
The Club's fate is in Moshiri's hands it seems. He has decided he will pick the next manager. Unfortunately, he knows nothing about football. But who on the Board does? Kenwright still hankers after the bygone days of Rooney at his best. He has lost the plot. Man Utd took us to the cleaners with that one.

We may get a manager who will miraculously stabilise things, but the root problem is at owner/board level and until that changes Everton will remain rudderless.
Paul A Smith
23 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:21:48
Feel so sorry for Unsworth and all the fans who travelled for that.
What a disgraceful mess.
Bob Parrington
24 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:22:24
If there was one good part of this display it was the fighting attitude of kenny. He was really vocal trying to get those in front of him to do their jobs properly! He didn't back off with it and was clearly very passionate.

We really did look like a bunch of chucks running around with our heads cut off. Shameful, totally disorganised!

Ray Roche
25 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:24:25
Basically, what we need is a Moyes Mk 2 – a manager who will come in and grab the useless shower of tools masquerading as professional footballers and give them a hoof up the hoop. Gutless bastards will be in their Portuguese villas on a golf resort while we are watching Championship football.
Tony Twist
26 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:28:28
This team is so blase, the attitude is totally wrong. All season fullbacks don't seem to realise that it is vitally important to prevent crosses. Central defenders need to prevent or make it as difficult as possible for the opposition to get an attempt on goal and midfielders need to ensure if the ball comes to an opposition they close them down immediately. All these things aren't happened and we are getting creamed because of it. Embarrassing.
James Flynn
27 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:34:13
At this point, we need to stay up. WE DO actually have talented players.

Hodgson has quickly settled Palace.

There's someone around can do the same for us.


Mike Price
28 Posted 26/11/2017 at 22:54:38
We have the worst squad in the league. It's been obvious for years that Jags and Baines should have been moved on, but we're too soft to make a logical decision. Williams is finished, Kenny could eventually be average, Keane is slow and overpriced and unfortunately we'll be lucky to see Seamus back to his best any time soon.

Make no mistake, this squad would really struggle in the Championship and the liabilities we've got on long contracts are going to drag us down for years.

They get Salah, Mane and Coutinho for £80 million, we get Sigurdsson, Klaassen and Schneiderlin for £90 million! They've farmed out Origi; have Ings and Sturridge plus have the next teen Welsh superstar fighting for a place on the bench! I'd take a 4-0 defeat right now because it could easily be 7 or 8 if they're up for it.

This is as bad as it's ever been for an Evertonian. I never thought I'd say it, but I think we'd be in a much better place if we still had Martinez!

Sean Patton
29 Posted 26/11/2017 at 23:12:24
I thought we had turned a corner after the Watford comeback and the gritty draw with Palace but then to concede 9 goals in two matches to average teams is just incredible.

How can a team go from 7th to this after spending so much money

I have never seen a downturn such as this it's one step forward and two back every week from the most gutless and cowardly collection of players in living memory.

Nick Armitage
30 Posted 26/11/2017 at 23:34:00
Eddie Dunn - I watched that Sure challenge and thought exactly the same thing. DCLs touch against dummies was appalling. Don't care about his age, he's terrible. Being compared by some to a young Graeme Sharp is simply laughable.
Shaun McGough
31 Posted 26/11/2017 at 23:57:06
As soon as Moshri gets another cash gift of Usmanov, Rooney gets his oats elsewhere, several of the players draining our wage bill get to wear a nice new xbox advert on the opposite sleeve from the angry birds one, Moshri talks to fans instead of Jim White about our new manager we should be ok.

Are we sure a 200 year lease for the new stadium plan is long enough to sort out a sand and cement mix? I feel so sorry for all our current millionaire players but Steve Walsh will sort it. Thankyou and goodnight,
John Raftery
32 Posted 26/11/2017 at 00:11:44
We have signed some poor players in 2017 and overpaid for some distinctly average ones. Over the past three seasons emerging deficiencies in the squad were masked by two outstanding talents: Lukaku and Barry. Losing both of them and failing to sign adequate replacements set us up for failure this season. Imagining Rooney could be any sort of replacement for Lukaku was pure fantasy. That Schneiderlin was seen as the long term replacement for Barry now seems laughable.

Most certainly we can no longer afford to be choosy about who should take charge. Quite simply we need someone to grind out some clean sheets and points with the current squad plus the players returning from injury. We cannot wait until January to start doing that. The recovery must start this week but I am far from sure it will.

In 2003-04, Rooney's second and final season before he left for Man Utd, we finished 17th with 39 points. I would happily take that now for 2017-18. At present it is hard to see how or where we might pick up 27 points from our remaining 25 games.

John Harrop
33 Posted 27/11/2017 at 00:44:40
Mike (#28),

We almost certainly would have been better off keeping Martinez. Instead of wasting all of that money on Koeman, Walsh and a bunch of mediocre players, we could have given Martinez some cash to spend and appointed a top defensive coach to work with him.

Of course, Roberto's position had become untenable, so I suppose that he had to go, but I doubt that we'd be in such a mess had he stayed.

William Cartwright
34 Posted 27/11/2017 at 02:08:57
Unsy is right when he says the players have to take responsibility when they cross the white line. Fair enough. But his persistence with Schneiderlin, and and leaving man of the last match Beni out tells me all I need to know about the deep inner workings of the stand-in manager; he just isn't up to it. Worse still he is in a legitimate position to play the emotional loyalty card. Surprisingly, he has said all the right things since he has been in the hot seat, articulate and focussed etc., etc., etc.

Hey but that's not enough, and Unsy must now step aside to force the board's hand. He will continue to do alright with the U23s or elsewhere if he so wishes, and good luck to him. He deserves (and deserved) better.

Do we have time to recover? Thankfully yes, but can we and under who's stewardship is anyone's guess.

These thoughts are consistent with just about every opinion I've read on the subject. Its now out in the public domain. It can't go on much longer. Can it?

Jay Harris
36 Posted 27/11/2017 at 02:31:29
It is pointless picking out individuals there is something rotten at the core at Everton and it runs right through the club.

Personally I think there is a division between the new order and the old school.

Moshiri wants the best and thinks money can buy it while Kenwright wants to surround himself with old has-beens who grovel at his every word.

Even Unsy speaks to him 4 or 5 times a day. FFS why? What pearls of wisdom does Bill impart about how to run and pick a team.

I would get the whole squad in and make them work on defensive drills until their feet were hurting and then they would feel some of the pain the supporters are going through.

£50k to £100 a week each for the players that wear the shirt should induce some pride but it doesn't so make it hurt.

Bob Parrington
37 Posted 27/11/2017 at 03:46:52
Mike Price (#28). Right about this being the worst squad in the league. I'd go even further and say that I haven't seen a side this bad ever in the top league, regardless of which club.
John Boon
38 Posted 27/11/2017 at 04:44:32
Early on in the season the talk was that we had talented players that were just not gelling and would be able to show their worth as the season progressed. How wrong we really don't have good players in most if not all positions. Not only have we not progressed we are getting worse each game.

Unsworth is totally out of his depth. Koeman was a rotten apple who had no idea how to spend money on players. We need a magician not a manager.

I have watched since 1947 and this is the worst ever... even than the year we were relegated. Strangely enough I actually do think that the players are trying. Players don't deliberately play badly.

Trouble is that they cannot play as individuals or as a team unless they are properly coached. If you look around at successful managers they are in good physical themselves.

Both Koeman and Unsworth have obviously spent too much time at the dinner table. I will always be a dyed in the wool "Blue".

For the sake of your loyal fans go and get a manager who, as previously mentioned,.. will also need some magical qualities. AND DO IT ASAP.

Amit Vithlani
39 Posted 27/11/2017 at 04:48:20
The litany of disastrous catastrophic decisions overseen by Koeman, Walsh, Elstone, Kenwright and Moshiri is as follows. Each one is jaw dropping in its effrontery, negligence and incompetence. Writing out this list makes my blood boil. I am sure I have missed a few:

1. Sell our top scorer and not replace him.

2. Sign 4 no 10s.

3. Loan Galloway, Browning and Onyekuru with no ability to recall.

4. Fail to register Luke Garbutt. Baines is now injured and we have no fucking left back, as Galloway can't be recalled and Garbutt is in eligible, whilst Funes Mori was injured before deadline day.

5. Sack Koeman, 5 weeks later no replacement.

6. Give Unsy a game to game mandate - ie zero authority. It is precisely this lack of authority that is eating away at performances. Read Andy Hincliffe's comments for those who think Unsy is the reason the players are under performing - he says not even Guardiola could turn around this group of players.

7. Kept Kevin Mirallas - a cancerous influence if there ever was one. How many times has he been disciplined for poor behaviour? Why was he not allowed to leave at the end of the Window?

8. Let go Gareth Barry over Besic, who has been rank, whilst McCarthy has been injured, leaving Gueye and Schneiderlin as the only 2 DMs.

9. Allow Ross Barkley to run down his contract and to be shamefully treated by Ronald Koeman.

10. Allow the shameful treatment of Omar Niasse.

11. Fail to register Niasse for the Europa League when we had no senior striker.

12. Use Jim White as a mouth piece, whilst spouting how it was expected we would lose to the Big 5.

13. Disastrous and public chase of Marco Silva.

14. Undermine Unsy completely by not bothering to tell him the development on the coaching front further sapping his authority.

15. The complete waste of money that are Davy Klaassen, Michael Keane, Ashley Williams, Morgan Schneiderlin, Gylfi Sigurdsson.

16. Carry a totally bloated squad of 31 senior players.

These collective bunch of fuckwits, clowns and Charlatans have overseen the most unbelievable disintegration of a football club in a record time.

Unsy has no authority and the sooner a new manager is appointed the sooner the players will start to take responsibility. Even then, until the January Window, we are fucked.

No left back, centre back or striker.

Dark dark times.

Sean Grady
40 Posted 27/11/2017 at 06:30:45
Dreadful, but who will they appoint? Increasingly, and maybe someone who can organise a defence, it will be Pulis? Not the first choice but at least he can get a back four or five playing like a unit. I don't think there are any other options now who will come it's dragged on too long.

Do think that at some point the entire culture of a club that since the late 80s has relied on this old boys network needs to be looked at. From Bill down to Duncan and the likes of Jeffers having roles at Goodison, do we need to break with the past and start again? At this point, someone to save the ever sinking ship would be good!

Steve Guy
41 Posted 27/11/2017 at 07:56:00
Embarrassment heaped on embarrassment. The worst is the look of pity and bewilderment on the faces of fans from other clubs. We have the RS in a few weeks time, Lord preserve us.

Root and branch surgery is required at all levels of the Club. But getting a manager and getting 40 points are the only two criteria of any importance this season now. Just effing sort it, Mr Moshiri!

Alex Short
42 Posted 27/11/2017 at 08:10:26
Well said Amit, we all concur in what you have said. We really are run by buffoons. They should all hang their heads in shame, as for the players – lazy overpaid mercenaries.

I feel for the local lads, at least they try, this is so embarrassing and disappointing. Keane runs around like a frozen puppet, the other defenders aren't much better.

Trevor Peers
43 Posted 27/11/2017 at 09:03:18
This situation was avoidable . Many of us on TW have been screaming on these threads for over a month to appoint a firefighter type manager to oversee a root and branch cleansing of the club, it's tactics and personnel.

The easy going apathy maybe good fun for the players, on the training ground, but it's proved a disaster for the club, and now we will pay the awful price.

The Chairman has indulged himself in the deadly fantasy of having ex Everton player's run the club, thinking, because they have some knowledge of 'getting' Everton, that this alone will make a successful football team. Wrong !!!

Jem Bir
44 Posted 27/11/2017 at 10:04:55
Unsy has to take some of the blame for this slide. Nice guy, great with the kids etc... but seriously, it's not fair to him, the team, or us, for this to continue.
Kunal Desai
45 Posted 27/11/2017 at 10:12:37
One thing I will say with this club and its been evident over the last 20 plus years is the indecisiveness in decision making. I literally have seen small family run businesses make better and incisive decisions than this club. It's embarrasing beyond words. I just simply hate the people involved at the top who have ruined this club over the years.
Mark Dunford
46 Posted 27/11/2017 at 10:12:55
Just to add to Amit's list (39), the bloated squad of 31 is almost entirely right footed - only two first teamers Baines and Pickford (!) are left footed; Besic may as well not be there for all the impact he has and Funes Mori is out till Easter – no doubt he'll be fit and ready for Russia.

All the naturally left-footed players have gone, so we have no centre half, one left back and no left sided midfielder or winger. No replacements have been signed or elevated to the squad. Garbutt, Galloway, Dowell, Barry – all gone. Incompetent to have let this happen – way before Unsworth so not his fault.

I know that it is hard to find positives, but I think Kenny looks the part. He has still got things to learn yet has a maturity beyond his few games and an excellent attitude. Should have been in the team all season. Reminds me of Gary Stevens at same age.

Paul A Smith
47 Posted 27/11/2017 at 10:33:34
We need North Korea to strike very soon. I'd take that now.
Tony Everan
48 Posted 27/11/2017 at 11:12:10
Mark, Kenny deserves a lot of credit. A young Gary Stevens is a true compliment.

He looks like he cares and more to the point looks like he wants to do something about it.

The way he was shouting and passionately rousting the senior players was astonishing.

Not one of the senior players had half the passion.

Tony Abrahams
49 Posted 27/11/2017 at 11:20:17
Agree about Kenny, but that picture of our diagonal back line yesterday shows how much we need a manager who knows how to set up a team defensively which has now got to be the main priority.
Paul A Smith
50 Posted 27/11/2017 at 12:43:30
Tony, come on, mate – sack this Gary Stevens nonsense before it gets silly.

Kenny had a go at Lookman. And good on him, plus he's done well but that is it. He is trying his best without anything looking special.

Rob Dolby
51 Posted 27/11/2017 at 13:17:45
I couldn't pick a MotM yesterday and have struggled for most games this season. We are similar to Aston Villa 2 years ago and Sunderland last year. We will go down if we do not appoint a Big Sam or Pulis type, anyone who thinks differently is delusional.

Kenny is 2 years away from being a regular Premier League player at present, he is miles off the pace. Just because he bollocked Lookman doesn't mean he was good. Where was he for the 1st goal. Sounds harsh but we haven't got anyone who is showing any kind of form.

Rooney on the bench whilst the guys on the pitch are performing this badly stinks.

Paul A Smith
52 Posted 27/11/2017 at 13:25:20
Rob – spot on, mate. Absolute spot on and the Kenny affection is typical Everton. Why can't fans just be normal and say I like this kid he has done okay and kept his head down?

Not one person can say they have seen a great level from Kenny and before you know, it becomes trendy until the damage is realised.

John G Davies
53 Posted 27/11/2017 at 13:31:14
Rob (#51),

Kenny was at Southampton's corner flag bent double after being whacked in the eye.

I agree he is a season away from having a chance of being a regular starter in the Premier League. You can't doubt his fighting qualities though.

I would hope they would all show as much spirit.

Oliver Brunel
54 Posted 27/11/2017 at 14:06:47
Amit (#39),

I agree with all of your post but not about the players taking responsibility if we get a new Manager.

These players have no affection or interest if Everton go down or not. The Villa comparison is apposite. Perhaps a few of the local lads, Coleman, perhaps Gueye. I can't see any responsibility or passion in any of them. Soulless mercenaries.

I said it years ago: get the best trainers in from around the world and produce a team of 11 Everton scousers. Why , in a football mad city , we cant produce any footballers anymore? The last great player to come out of the city was Barkley.

Jay Wood
55 Posted 27/11/2017 at 14:33:37
Rob Dolby and Paul A Smith. What with the calling out of Jonjoe Kenny (and Everton fans who appreciate him)?

Where was he for Everton's first goal? Doing what successful Everton full backs have been doing for years. Supporting the attack, battling hard to get a cross in. That is a big part of his game and should be a big part of how the team is set up.

He was felled by an arm across his face, deep in Southampton's left corner.

Yet in 3 passes, the ball was in the Everton net. Where was the alertness, the positioning, the tracking, the shouting and cajoling, from all the senior players behind him, to organize the team to ensure we weren't hit with a sucker counter punch?

If you were both so attentive to yesterday's debacle you would have noticed two distinct differences in Southampton's play in each half.

In the first half, they almost exclusively attacked down our left flank, targeting and overruning Baines and Sigurdsson every time. Kenny, on the right, dealt with everything that came his way.

With Baines' injury and withdrawal, the reshuffle saw the rawest kid in defence switched from right to left. In the second half, Southampton almost exclusively switched their attack from our left flank to our right flank where the next 2 goals after half time emanated from. Again, they got little or no joy when attacking Kenny, now on our left.

I for one am not easily impressed or taken in by 'typical Everton Kenny affection'.

I am impressed that in an excruciatingly poor run by the team, our young 20-year-old full back is not hiding, is obviously hurting and not being as forlorn, hapless and useless as many more of his much senior colleagues appear to be.

Rob Dolby
56 Posted 27/11/2017 at 14:45:10
I know Kenny was stranded up field nursing an elbow to his face after losing the ball, that's my point. At present we don't need fullbacks near the corner flag, we need full backs behind the ball defending when playing away from home.

Unsworth should have gone for the point away from home but he is pressing the self destruct button each week in trying to win matches. 1 point from Leicester, Southampton and Palace due to Unsworth's naive tactics.

I know it sounds negative and cliched but we need to start making life difficult for teams when we are playing away. I know I am leaving myself open for a pasting here but we have to know our limits.

Jay Wood
57 Posted 27/11/2017 at 14:54:15
Much to agree with you Rob, on the need to setting us up to be difficult to score against as the first order of the day in the current circumstances.

However, I was coming to Kenny's defence for your attack on him @ 51 and Paul Smith's endorsement of your comments @ 52.

As my previous post points out, he did his job yesterday.

The form and performances of pretty much every senior player at the club needs challenging way before targeting Kenny as you and Paul did, IMO.

Ian Jones
58 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:02:25
Jay, I like Kenny as well, decent player, but the 4th goal came down the left-hand side. Kenny was just part of a group of 3 players who didn't help themselves.
John G Davies
59 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:12:23
Rob, 56

No your not leaving yourself open for a pasting. Your view is correct. Unsworth has treated the games he has been in charge of as a personal audition for the job instead of steadying the ship.

He started it before his first game with the speech about playing the Everton way, got ripped apart and tried to tighten it up at 0-2.

Your opinion that he should have concentrated on making us hard to beat is 100% correct imo.

His tactical naivety has resulted in a deluge of goals conceded and what little confidence the players had has evaporated.

Jay Harris
60 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:15:22
Jay, to reinforce your point if you watch Michael Keane he is just wandering round like the invisible man instead of jockeying the Southampton player until the defence was reorganized.

Also where were our two (none) defensive mids.

Rick Pattinson
61 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:19:29
Amit @39

I absolutely 100 per cent agree with everything you have said in the post. You should be the voice of Everton mate.

Steve Brown
63 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:27:18
Are we really blaming young Jonjo for any of those goals? Take a bow Keane, Williams and Jagielka for that particular accolade. I was particularly impressed by Williams marking the invisible blame for Austen's two headers and Keane marking his twin. As for Jagielka, the turning circle of a tanker and the positional play of Glenn Keely.
Jay Wood
64 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:28:01
Ian, I think you need to look at that 4th goal again, in particular the roles of our famed two enforcers and defensive midfielders, Schneiderlin and Gana (and to a lesser degree, Lookman).

Why go with runners when it is much easier to stand and stare, or gently jog giving the presence that you 'made an effort?'

Kenny was left trying to close down 2 men whilst nobody else get close.

Dennis Stevens
65 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:29:29
You're quite rIght, Rob. Unsworth is going for wins, partly because we need the points & partly because he's been trying to get the job. I suspect that's now changed as his post match comments clearly show he is now just waiting for the new man to arrive.
Andrew Ellams
66 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:29:43
What's the point in blaming individuals? The entire team effort is a shambles. As far as I'm concerned, they are all to blame.
Rob Dolby
67 Posted 27/11/2017 at 15:55:23
Sky Sports are reports Big Sam negotiations. Whilst not exactly ecstatic about the appointment it is the right thing to do.

Kevin Davies – get those boots dusted off.

Dave Abrahams
68 Posted 28/11/2017 at 09:36:01
If Allardyce comes, and it is still not a done deal, it was something that should have been finalised four weeks ago, it was obvious then how deep in trouble we were.

Sam will not be everyone's cup of tea but if he saves us from the drop he will do me, I'd have anyone except the devil if they keep us up, if we stay up we can start sorting out the ones who put us in this position.

I would put my twopence worth in on Jonjoe Kenny, this is a lad who has come into a piss poor side/ defence and he is rallying them, he is the one who is running and tackling for ninety minutes, unlike Gary Stevens who came into a team who all spoke English and had plenty of back bone about them.

Kenny has come into a team of foreigners who have no affinity to Everton and all speak different languages and play for themselves, that is when they decide to have a go, Kenny if he stays at Everton is a future captain of the club.

Get behind him and kids like Tom Davies, Calvert Lewin, who will be avert good player, they are playing in a very poor team and getting no guidance on or off the field. Let's all get behind the team on Wednesday. Fuck the arguing for now we can do that when/if we get sorted out.


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