Our corner kicks are abysmal, if a team had five Peter Crouch's and we had five Tom Thumbs, we would still float it in the air.

Good to see the same back four and good to see Martina on the bench as he can cover right across the back four.

Hopefully Tosun will continue his goal-scoring form.

Unfortunately, apart from Sam Allardyce we also have one of our ref Atkinson to contend with.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to not try and play through the middle of the park, or down the left flank, where the snow is slowing up the ball? Do we have anyone in our team capable of thinking and transmitting such thoughts to their team mates?

We've been pitiful since the sending off. Use your heads, Everton! You've just been presented with a golden opportunity to secure a rare away win.

Grab it!

Simple. He can play both full-back positions and centre-back if needed.

Where Calvert-Lewin gets his reputation from is beyond me.

Just seen a report on BBC Final Score and a reporter at the game said Everton were pretty good and display would give them great confidence going forward even into next season.

I would be interested to get report from someone who was at the game as to how we played etc.

For me, Allardyce buried himself by bringing bloody Schneiderlin on in place of Rooney. If we were 3-1 up, maybe, but not at 2-1. Rooney was still running the show. Daresay Allardyce will try to take the credit. Players had nothing to do with it, eh Sam? 40 points, now can we sack the fat fraudster and find a real manager?

It was also a chore to watch due to the failure of the ref to insist on an orange ball; I'm sure others will make the same complaint.

Rooney was blowing for tugs; I don't understand your point? Or has it got to the stage where, no matter what Allardyce does, good or bad, he gets ridiculed?

I though Bolasie played well, as he did the last game, he makes things happen. Credit to Allardyce for signing Tosun and playing him only when he was deemed ready, and for signing Walcott, plus not going overly defensive today. Saying this for balance as he has come in for a lot of stick, some warranted, some not in my opinion. We are in a better position since he took over and, despite the conditions today, we played football.

We have had an awful injury record this season, so that has a bearing. As for not playing youngsters, Davies (why the hell does he get stick at 19), Calvert-Lewin and Holgate were involved today. Seems a decent amount for a Premier League team in the upper part of the division. The next two games will be a real barometer as to how we have improved though!

It's all about opinions as Brian Porter 21 posted the same as me. And yes, now we have got 40 points I want Allardyce out the door.

We will never challenge the top 6 with this man in charge, he has served his purpose got us safe so bank your £1 million bonus for keeping us up and move on.

I am colour blind but never usually have any problem watching the match.

Great to get the away win even if we were pretty poor for most of the game.

SACK THE HIPPO!
COYB

It was a poor performance against TEN men.

But we played against 10 men for an hour against a team lying 19th in the league. Our game management, as it has been all season, was woeful.

Intelligent footballers do not need a half-time pep talk, or shouted instructions from the sidelines, on what to do. At this level, and with the team we had out today, there should have been enough nounce between them on how best to play.

On a snowy slippery pitch, don't take chances at the back, don't play passes to a player closely marked, don't under hit passes, be as sure with your footing, passing and control as possible. Use your extra man to work them and exploit the space a man less on the pitch gives you.

Once you get the goal ahead against 10 men, keep a side such as Stoke at an arm and a leg's distance from your goal. That is, don't let them encroach into your half at all and most definitely do not cough up cheap free kicks close to your penalty area so they can launch the ball into the mixer for their team of Cookie Monsters to attack.

Thank you Cenk Tosun for salvaging a win for us we looked to have meekly surrendered.

Charlie Adam had his studs clearly thrust into the tackle so it's dangerous and risky for an opposition player. We had the advantage from that point on and Rooney was luckily given loads of space. When he was closed down, he generally fucked it up.

I thought the defenders all played well but the rest of the team struggled with control and composure. I also think Pickford is nowhere near brave enough and drops the ball on simple shots.

Sam Allardyce talking about planning for next season in his after-game interview. Hopefully Moshiri realises his decision to bring him here for one reason has paid off and now he can give him his inflated bonus and get shut.

It was never likely to be a spectacle anyway, but at times it really was dire, even against ten men. I don't know what they do in training, but again passing was terrible with the final ball rarely going to a player with the same colour shirt.

We have reached the magic number, so hopefully we are making immediate plans for a clear-out at all levels, starting with Sam and his cohort of assistants.

The best outcome was a win! We achieved it. It’s made my weekend enjoyable anyway!

Maybe we have finally found a goalscorer in Mr Tosun?!?!

Big changes necessary. Start with loaning out Calvert-Lewin for next season, and perhaps Davies too. Both lads show promise but aren't Premier League quality yet. Get rid of Keane and get an upgrade on Gana too.

Everton gave Sam Allardyce the biggest club job he has ever had and for a hugely inflated salary. The man has no football skill in his brain to pass on to players and has no shame in blaming those same players when it goes wrong. He also mentioned it in his interview today that we won at Newcastle when he first arrived so he is very quick to praise himself.

If he is here come next season, there will be many thousands of match-going blues who would walk away, I think. Just that thought makes me very nervous...

Did any of them actually watch that match today?

Speaking for myself, I am always happy with an Everton win, no matter how it comes about.

However, a win should not place an embargo on what TWers think, feel or post.

In my own posts within this thread I have made no mention of the manager, at all. None! I berated the players, both at half-time and at the final whistle, for what seemed self-evident to me and has been the case all season: they once again displayed very poor game management and virtually zero initiative and 'thinking on their feet' in reaction to live events on the field.

Intelligent footballers and good teams do.

It's one measure by which we have to improve considerably, looking forward to next season.

And I would rather appreciate the liberty afforded to us on TW to be able to express the above opinion without being falsely branded as being 'unhappy with the win.'

With absolutely no chance of troubling 'the big boys', ie, the top six, it will be all about restoring the pragmatic approach which Moyes established around Sacred Seventh.

Thankfully, I shall continue to observe from 2,000 miles away!

Walcott is a great signing along with Tosun who have both been in the main due to Sam. We have to stop relying on Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies – they are way off being complete players. We have the makings of a very good side but the negative energy from the terraces and on here isn't helping.

I for one reckon we can do the Red Shite – then we will all be smiling. COYB!!!!!

I waited eagerly for Bolaise to return. I thought he was lousy today and has been since returning. Coleman and Baines make such a difference. Keane is a good stopper but his positional sense leaves a lot to be desired, particularly when on the ground crosses come across the box.

Allardyce has achieved HIS goal. We are safe, so now he can leave.

We are really lucky this season that there has been a group of clubs that have been piss-poor and allowed us to take points from them in our own precarious state.

Ten years ago, Chelsea were paying tens of millions for players to sit on the bench. Most of those players were quality players but the team were good.

We have clearly paid tens of millions for some average players to sit on our bench and some to play. It is going to take a special manager to make a good team out of what we have; otherwise, it's another few hundred million to build a better one.

We do need another midfielder. Hopefully Fonscea comes in as manager and brings Fred with him. A proper box-to-box midfielder.

Off you pop with your million quid bonus.

Take Sammy, Craig and Walsh with you.

I thought Tosun and Walcott made the difference. And while I want Allardyce replaced, I'm happy to credit him for bringing two good attacking players to the club. Two more than his predecessor.

But can I make it any clearer? I'm no Sam fan. Seriously, not a fan of Sam, not an acolyte, or an apologist, nothing. But he's done the job he was asked to do – get us to 40 points – and he's made two decent signings.

Now, as far as I'm concerned, it's job done and I'd like to see us show some ambition and make a new appointment, but Allardyce was on a hiding to nothing coming here with the pure hatred of a big section of the fans for him from day one. Sure, he gets his millions and I'm not crying for him, but for me at least, if he goes, he goes with nothing to be ashamed of.

It is very sad to watch Bolasie passing, it is just not one of his strongest parts of his game. That's being kind.

What a gritty performance, gaining 3 points, well done Tosun, get home safely.

The truth lies somewhere between those two paragraphs, but I am leaning more towards the first than the second.

A diabolical goal given away, again. Surely Pickford should get to that, 2 yards out?

Davies was 'Davies' – missed a very good chance, and will never be quite good enough.

Walcott was 'Walcott', and showed why Arsenal got rid. Poor decision-making and should have scored.

Thanks, Sam, and Goodbye.

Just seen him talking on Sky, he said only he knew when to play Tosun and he said the training in Dubai was the reason for his goalscoring form.
So he congratulated himself twice in the one sentence – that's not like Sam, is it?

Now pay him off.

I just wish Rooney didn't think he had Pirlo's passability in his latter years. Always looking for that long sweep to the flanks... Wayne, they got you sussed mate, change it.

But a win... so I can't moan too much – even against 10 men.

Michael at 51 sums up admirably how I feel.

If you think that's me thinking he's 'doing so well', that's your call.

Performance wise, if we play like that against these two, we will get slaughtered. It will be Schneiderlin and Gana in the centre having a competition on who can win the most balls and not give it back 2 seconds later.

We are safe. Our next recruitment process should not mirror our last in any way.

Silva? Fonseca? Howe?

Whoever it is, let's start the ball rolling now.

Nil satis nisi optimum.

Simeone?

Altogether now, "We found love in a hopeless place."

Let's just focus on results. If we finish strongly, then Sam should stay. We could get Guardiola in and we couldn't compete so what's the point in changing things at the top?

I've followed your posts closely, mainly because your opinion of our current manager is the same as mine, but honestly, now we are safe, it's only a matter of time until this loser is gone.

Breathe, my friend George, breathe...

It's almost over.

We found love in a hopeless place.

It looks to me like that 5% is creeping up!!!

I suspect Allardyce's successor will be grateful to inherit Walcott and Tosun.

Always happy to debate, but I only do it on the basis of what I actually say.

We can state our disapproval of team selection or tactics without resorting to the hyperbole of some posters hatred of the man.

I thought the players showed today where our problems lay and it isn't the manager. Our three best players are in their 30s and the rest couldn't pass wind never mind a football.

17 Shots, 9 on Target

Versus 43% possession, 9 shots and 3 on target.

Corners 9-1 .

Great Job, Sam and the boys!!! COYB's

When will fans realise that Sam was given a poor squad with no confidence and asked to keep them up? He's done that but still gets dogs abuse. Be careful what you wish for.

Koeman was welcomed as the Messiah and look how he is treated on here. There isn't a Manager born that would keep you lot happy. What you are all missing is perspective... yes – per-spec-tive.

The problem is that some people resort to invective so soon they can't go into reverse without looking a bit foolish. You start off slaggin someone even before he's taken up the reins and you have to continue in the same vein regardless of what he achieves. I fancy if he was manager next season and we won the FA Cup (I don't expect us to win the Premier League just yet) some on here would still be calling him a 'fat, useless, cave-man of a manager who needs to fuck right out of our club'.

If he keeps us in the Premier League (I think he's achieved that for sure now) and shows something suggesting we may play better and be more competitive next season, then maybe he'll get a chance, and I'm not ready to die in a ditch over it.

I don't know.... I'm all for a new manager with real promise, but I won't slag Sam off if he leaves in the summer with a 12-month severance payment, because he'll have earned it – if only for taking the horrible abuse some our wonderful fans have meted out to him.

It wasn't his fault we were in the mire when he came. The abuse he gets is little different from what Stoke fans meted out to Wayne this afternoon after he was on the wrong-end of a ridiculous challenge.

Just off theme for a moment, watched Liverpool and, as much as I hate to admit it, they were breathtaking going forward.

I don't think people generally are saying they want Allardyce to stay (although I think one or two want some stability at the club). What I'm saying is the whole club needs addressing from top to bottom but particularly the players.

I can't understand why some players can't even get a 10-yard pass right and still continue to pick up £50 to 100k a week.

It seems they have no intention of putting themselves out, unless whoever is in charge starts to give them the hairdryer treatment. These aren't fresh-faced inexperienced players who are learning their trade – they are fully fledged competitive sportsmen. The result was welcome, so too were Tosun's goals, but the spectre of player power or lazy minded play isn't at all welcome.

Big Sam is not my cup of tea, but he's hardly a shrinking violet when dealing with players, is he? If he can't get them to work from the first until the last minute, who is out there who can? Mourinho is saying similar things at Old Trafford, where he believes that only a couple of his squad have put in the required effort all season, one of whom is Lukaku.

I can see Moshiri sticking with Big Sam until at least the early part of next season, whether we as fans support that decision or not. Would you put your reputation on the line by choosing another manager for this group of players? I don't think that Moshiri will either, but I do hope I'm wrong.

My guess is that anyone defending our current manager has never actually seen his Everton team play in the flesh because believe me, any Evertonian that has would never defend this fella.

I'm not talking about a live forum or a fuzzy stream, I'm talking about watching us live while Mr Allardyce pulls the strings.

Didn't think so.

Let's not start saying “bring on the derby” and such nonsense like we tend to do after a couple of wins. We weren't good today but at least we dug in.

Bolasie and Gueye were woeful. With what we've spent, we are right to expect more. A top team would have put 5 past Stoke with ten men.

George (#74), do you see the irony in your praise of Liverpool? It's justified, of course, but does that make you a Liverpool supporter?

Not one performance I've seen under our current manager has been praiseworthy. Not one.

Have you seen any actual performance in the flesh that has been entertaining enjoyable while he has been our Manager?

Not every Evertonian has to agree with you. Some just seem to have blinkers around Sam and he could win everything and some people would still look for the negatives.

We won today away, against a team scrapping for their lives, in shit conditions. We totally dominated most of the game, even before they went down to 10, and should have scored more goals. Wasn't pretty but would you rather we lost?

I totally agree, I guess it might not look so bad as you say on a fuzzy stream but watching them live is an ordeal. Jay Harris and Lawrence Green, there is no doubt that questions have to be asked of the players, Most are Internationals.

But Allardyce has been here quite a few months, and I see no improvement in any individual player or the team in general. Now surely we should be seeing an improvement but, in most cases, these players are going backwards. Certainly Tom Davies and Gana have not got anywhere near the form of last season.

He brought Bolasie back far too quickly and I know he suffered a bad injury but he has looked way off the pace, that's not just my opinion but many who sit around me at the match. I can't even say the mind guru he brought in to try and change the fortunes with our away performances had much impact today. Because, when 10 men Stoke equalised, the same old gremlins looked likely to re-appear.

So yes, I'm delighted to have got 40 points which should see us safe, but I really don't want to watch this mind-numbing football next season. Next week, I will renew my season ticket for the 50th year. I know we won't challenge for the Premier League, but I would like to be entertained every now and again. Rather than see us set out mainly not to concede and hope we can grab 1 at the other end.

Enough is enough now though, mate, yeah?

I too have renewed for next season, but I can't help feel that the marketing department missed a trick. They should have had two prices: one that was for Allardyce leaving before next season, a fifty quid surcharge, and one where he fulfilled the full terms of his current contract, price as per listed. I reckon that at least 25,000 season ticket holders would have gone for the more expensive "Sam to leave before next season" option. :)

Well, Sam's achieved his objective now but it's been a nightmare ordeal to endure. The negative tactics (particularly at Arsenal and Spurs), the deflection of blame, the handling of Lookman (who is better than Bolasie), plus the smirking during the TV interview after Burnley should be enough for anyone to realise that this guy just doesn't fit with Everton Football Club and an away win against a bottom-3 side with 10 men isn't going to change that.

As I said earlier in the thread, some people are all too easily pleased...

If people want to give credit where they believe it's due, then it's not for you to troll every single post. You behaved like this towards Martinez, Koeman, and now Sam. It's fine to disapprove of all these managers, but it's also fine for others to have a slightly less entrenched view and give praise when they feel it's earned.

Why the hell does it bother you so much if others don't want to vent fury every time Sam is mentioned? Nobody needs to apologise for giving him the occasional bit of praise. It doesn't mean they're one of the 5%... and if it does, so the fuck what?

Difference is, I don't criticise him for all Everton's woes as the displays were equally dire under the previous two managers.

Looking forward to the end of the season and big changes at all levels at the Club.

Yes, I like Sam as our manager. He tells it the way it is and lets the players know this. We have had talk of Champions League from our previous two managers and deep down we knew this was complete crap.

Sam knows this is the biggest club management position he has had... and yes, he wants to achieve something. He has achieved the owner's objective but do we show such disrespect to fire him now? Give him one more season and £100 million to spend on players.

About the 5% – they have been deafening in their silence for the last few weeks; then, after one scrappy win against 10 men, they are out in their droves.

You're entitled to your opinion. Not all agree with you.

As I said on the live forum, Sam is archaic in his tactics and formation. We need vision and innovation, a great motivator and last but not least, a winner. Sam, in my opinion, falls well short of these credentials.

But maybe I'll be proven wrong if he does stay.

I don't know if Tosun is a Muslim but, if so, Allah be praised!

Mission accomplished, Sam, you can leave through the front door now. Adios!

From what I have seen, home and away this season – including freezing my knackers off today – the answer has got to be No.

If our aim is to achieve 40-odd points each season playing mind-numbingly boring football, give Fat Sam all the credit and keep him on. If we have one iota of ambition ... don't! But credit where it is due.

It's mainly down to the players we have bought, and playing kids like Davies and Calvert-Lewin who are clearly not ready. I doubt any manager could fix this lot.

We've blown hundreds of millions, boys and girls, and that's down to whomever you would like to blame.

We have been shite since the end of Martinez's first season, apart from the odd game. Allardyce has been in charge far less time than the previous three incumbents but is taking a serious amount of flak.

For the record, I do not want him to stay, nor did I want him appointed, but as the only man available/interested in managing EFC, he is entitled to be treated fairly.

Considering the spend, that isn't a miracle... but Sam has done his job and overseen our two better purchases of recent times.

Common sense says that he is a more effective manager than Koeman and others he has replaced .

Still, where next? Another experiment with a semi-successful manager? Stability with an uninspiring known quantity?

I'm glad it's not my decision.

This football club is no different to others in many respects; I thought it was special because we are 'chosen' apparently. Reading some of this would suggest that some believe we were not only chosen but 'entitled' too.

This squad is not entitled to anything; when we have assembled one that is and they produce drivel, by all means attack the manager. Until then, be a realist, at least we haven't got Wimbledon in the last match of the season.

Allardyce will be singing about next season (a complete illusion) next week, with the usual muppet wheeled out on Evertonfc. com. The objective is to get a contract extension, in the present ongoing negotiations with Moshiri.

I agree with Pete (#57), many fans will be evaluating their level of support.

Our wonderful collection of players will now take an early Summer break. I can't bear to think of the bullshit we will have to listen to till the end of the season, and I will be giving the transfer window in the Summer a miss. On top of that, we will probably have it announced that Big Sam's contract has been extended.

The Club is so far removed from the fans, and anything else for that matter, it really seems that the ambitions of the Club in reality are non-existent.

Well said. The amount of stick Allardyce has taken has been nothing short of shocking. No great lover of him myself but does anyone honestly think any manager or coach in world football would have fared any better? No didn't think so...

I think the whole backroom and coaching staff needs to be sent packing. Just been watching some of those supposedly inferior teams to us, playing football we could only dream of.

Yeah, 3 points... great. But, in reality, we need to be better than this. Roll on, next season.

The squad is really poor, Davies, Calvert-Lewin and Bolasie aren't good enough and never will be. Why don't people start realising that fact? Also, 21 isn't young anymore!!

'They' – as you eloquently call them – have been back on here because they're Evertonians, buoyed by a rare away win, happy on a Saturday night two weeks running.

Give us Blues a break, please, and try to be more positive. Not many (5%) want Allardyce here next season, including myself, but let's just enjoy the win.

The current manager has done well to lift us to 40 points with 7 matches to spare. Things have improved during Sam's tenure partly because he made two good signings in January and partly because injured players have returned to the fold.

We still look pusillanimous in midfield, disjointed in attack and weak in defence but today we had our strongest available team playing including three attackers. We ended up with four attackers and still struggled to make and take clear opportunities.

None of our 2017 signings can be deemed a success – including the one often quoted as a success – Jordan Pickford. He is a great shot stopper but his vulnerability at set pieces was evident again today. He is nowhere near ready for international football or for a top six club so we need not worry about losing him.

The main priority in the summer remains the acquisition of a top class midfielder. I would worry more about that area than any other, including the managerial position.

Tom Davies was given a right seeing too by the defenders and on the whole we were lucky to get away without any serious injuries. I doubt if many teams could have played well on the variability of that surface or sublimely controlled the flight of a ball with the wind and snow gusting as it did.

For all of Everton's faults, they were playing a team that was utterly desperate. After all that, we did score the same number of goals against Stoke as Man City achieved.

He is staying and I hope for a very long time – he is a good leader and will improve us, week-in & week-out.

COYB!!!

The gift of the red card did little to change the pattern of play. We looked as ponderous as normal and front three quickly felt like 4-5-1.

Tosun looks like he can finish if serviced well, and I like his aerial presence.

Can't wait for the Ukrainian league season to end.

Where have you been the last two months?

I can’t take comments like that. How short sighted. We have been absolutely abysmal and two decent results isn’t enough to convince me that Sam has anything to offer Everton beyond this season.

Sam is a horrible human being and I’m embarrassed to have him in charge of our great club. Every day he’s in charge is a day wasted. On yer bike, grub.

We have no idea what we want to be. We lurch from pragmatic to idealistic. One minute we're ambitious and the next we just want to stay in the league.

Sam will get no praise from me. He's an awful appointment. He's done a fairly poor job. Yet he's still exceeding expectations... he was hired to do nothing more than keep us up. He's done that in March. The problem is that we signed the wrong guy with the wrong expectations.

And don't tell me I'm not happy that we won. I'm always happy when we win. I just think you have to take things in context to avoid being a schizo.

A major clear-out with a proper recruitment policy is needed in the summer, as opposed to what looked like random buys last year. Walsh should pay the price too.

But, the fact remains that Allardyce has overseen some horribly negative performances, made tactical blunders, and managed to make us look as bad away from home as any of our other managers had done this season.

The Allardyce supporters were nowhere to be seen at that point. An away win against a 10-man team down in 19th and out they pop crowing for their hero.

Let us not forget, we spent close to £50M in January and yet in 2018 have won a grand total of four games, three of those at home. He has brought us safety at a significant cost to the club.

We should thank him and let him go as he has done nothing to prove he can make us compete with the top 6.

He is also the only manager who has been able to field our first choice back line this season. It cannot be a coincidence that having three of our longest serving players in defence has yielded back to back wins.

On Tosun, his goals brought back memories of Andy Gray. Not afraid to put his head in where it hurts. It was heart warming to see so many of his team mates congratulating and hugging him at the end. Looks like a popular chap in the dressing room.

Stoke and their fans were well up for this game. They worked us hard and fought tooth and nail. Tough place to win.

As for the Minotaur and Jimmy Krankie, this type of football is cruel on the eye. Something has to be done.

Tom Davies is 19 with skill, a great engine, and finding his way in the game. He missed a sitter, yes, got taken out big time 3 times, but carried on. He is brave on the ball and tries to make things happen so naturally he will give it away at times. Let's support this talented kid with a big heart. I love him.

Worrying times indeed!

Further, Gueye, while excellent in the tackle, offers nothing going forward, he gives away the ball too easily. So does Davies, but at least he is young and has the potential to improve.

Keane brings the ball forward impressively. He needs a commanding partner to get him out of trouble sometimes, but I believe he will come good. Sam's dilemma is – should he keep the CB partnership that is beginning to find its feet and settle down, or should he give Funes-Mori a run of games to see whether he will cut it at Everton? Similarly with Klaassen?

Whoever is the manager next season (my preference is one of Fonseca, Howe, but if Allardyce achieves success and gets us playing competitively, I would not begrudge him staying for 1 more season).

We need to sell Williams, Martina, Schneiderlin and maybe Besic, Klaassen, Sandro as well. Then, buy 3-4 players to replace them, not more than that. One centre-back (Swansea's?), one left-back (Shaw?), one box-to-box midfielder (Nzonzi?), and maybe one more creative midfielder (our own Dowell?).

Also, Lookman will be back from Germany and we should be more competitive next season.

My fantasy starting XI (at this moment) next season:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Mawson Shaw
Nzonzi Rooney Sigurdsson
Walcott Tosun Lookman

Backed up by:

Robles, Kenny, Holgate, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Baines, Gueye, Davies, McCarthy, Vlasic, Dowell, Bolasie, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse, Onyekuru.

As for 19-year-old midfielders playing 50+ Premier League games... Davies gets a lot of criticism, but Everton play better when he's in the team.

I would get the next couple of games out of the way then play as many of the youngsters as possible in a risk-free environment. Let them make mistakes now when there's nothing to play for, they'll all be better players in the long run.

They might actually provide some competition for places next season, thus reducing the need for journeymen squad fillers. If we could start next season with Holgate, Kenny, Davies, Baningime, Vlasic, Lookman, and Calvert-Lewin providing real competition for places, then the squad as a whole will benefit. Better to get mistakes out of the way now rather than when it actually matters.

I agree with your sentiments. I think most Evertonians are waking up at night in a cold sweat at the thought of Sam Allardyce being retained for next season.

I really believe that Everton is a football club run by people who have no knowledge about football whatsoever. Until Kenwright and the rest are relieved of their duties, nothing is going to change.

Under Kenwright, our standing, reputation and class have been completely eradicated. Now we have his mate Moshiri who has money but it seems the same grasp of what football is as Kenwright. I really wouldn't be surprised if they retain this manager.

Even West Brom – no disrespect – who are bottom of the table, play better football than us. We have good players but they can't even string two passes together because of the lack of tactical guidance and coaching from this low-grade ‘manager' and his backroom team.

Other managers like Pep or Klopp say are given time to get their ways into a club – the old message about Koeman was that after Martinez, it will take three to five transfer windows to sort it out etc.

Early in the season we had no shape, no idea of the first 11, too many half Number 10s, swapping wing players about willy-nilly.

Now there is a clear pattern developing with Theo and Tosun firmly in harness, Wayne sitting and passing, Davies providing energy and drive, a move away from two defensive midfielders, better balance with Baines and Coleman back and dare I say Keane settling in more and Pickford going to be there for a decade or so.

There is a foundation and now people want more change, more revolving-door policy with the coaching team. Some want more unproven continental management experiment with our club. More turbulence the next 12 months is not what we need.

Sam has attracted Tosun and The, he may be able to get Nzonzi and one or two others in the Summer – let's get behind him and the coaching team and the players.

Martinez showed initially what could be done, only for his known weaknesses to be exposed. The appointment of Martinez and Koeman, both with poor histories, was always going to end in failure, though I think Koeman was worse than Martinez in organisation and transfers.

With Allardyce, Everton are swimming about in the shallow end of the pool and content to do so. Once they go up the deep end. . . they sink.

We are a long way from the pre-Harvey sides of the 80s, 70s and 60s, Joe Royle's spell being the exception in between (a naive contract organiser) in organisation and play.

What struck me about Ireland at Twickenham was that every player knew what they were about and anticipated any threat. The last time I saw that was in the 80s, watching Everton, against Arsenal and Spurs in particular.

Your observation on tactical guidance and coaching is spot on regarding Allardyce and the present time. They appear to be non-existent In the present team.

I do think that there is a real threat that Allardyce will be at Everton next season, and that under-performing first-team players will be kept. There will be cutbacks in the squad, particularly in the youth end; Everton's current reputation will stifle any chance of attracting good players, and existing good players will be thinking in terms of getting out – the younger ones, on loans, the older ones to a better footballing clubs.

Allardyce is dismantling what is left of the framework of the traditional English Football Club, that was Everton at its best. This is the real damage that Big Sam is doing to Everton.

I also agree that West Brom are playing better football than us. I wish them luck for the remainder of the season.

Scratched record time for me; this is Sam Allardyce. A known entity who, in over 2 decades of managing, has never even tried to do things differently. Stick with him and you get what we've had for the past few months. Scraping results against the likes of Stoke (19th, on the slide and playing with 10 men for most of the game), being satisfied with 40 points and feeling smug about it (anything else a bonus), whilst not even being moderately entertained as a compensation.

With Allardyce, you get exactly what's on the tin. Possibly naively, I'm a bit more ambitious than that.

We do need some stability. But there's just no point getting behind this guy. Realistically what is the best he can achieve?

Ask yourself what would constitute "good" for Everton over the next two years? Can anyone envisage another year of Sam Allardyce contributing anything towards that aim?

Personally, I feel Unsworth would have achieved safety if given the chance and I was dismayed that Everton should ever be reduced to turning to a man of Allardyce's questionable calibre: I would accept being guilty of a form of snobbery as Everton are, despite any apparent crisis, always far to good a club to be lead by this man: and Sammy Lee.

So, to critically analyse Allardyce's reign: he inherited an expensive and under-performing team that was in a dire position following a series of very difficult early season fixtures, he also had Coleman and Baines missing through injury. Confidence was low but Unsworth, it could be suggested, had began to improve matters.

The priority was the defence and he began to address that issue and stated it was sorted in December. The sight of Klopp's furious frustration at finding our defence to be an organised and effective unit was the only positive so far and I found it hilarious: I feared a humiliation.

Sorting out the defence was an urgent requirement and he made improvements, fair enough, but the quality of football certainly suffered. I felt this would be part of the rehabilitation process and a price ultimately worth paying. Again, how much of Unsworth's influence was part of these defensive improvements?

The style of football deteriorated badly with unsuccessful and uninspiring utterly spiritless soul destroying performances accompanied by unimaginative formations with shocking team selections which were rigidly maintained despite the obvious evidence that it was failing: Einstein had some quote linking madness with trying the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

The manner of defeats, the dreadful brand of anti-football along with an abdication of managerial responsibility became too much to accept. While individual errors are clearly not the manager's fault, substitutions and tactical changes most definitely are: I cannot recall a change being introduced that resulted in a positive change. Consider Burnley, Dyce brought on an extra striker and changed the game; our response was to take off our most influential player in Sigurdsson and we lose. That's what a manager does and it's not rocket science or some kind of occultist witchcraft – it's basic tactical nouse.

The side has benefited from the signings of Walcot and Tosun. Fair enough; well done. So, between a director of football and the board it was identified that an England international who was not getting a look in at Arsenal may look to switch in a World Cup year. That may be harsh and both still needed to be brought in so credit where it is due but let's keep a bit of perspective.

Morale has been low and the villains of Mirallas and Schneiderlin were exposed and (eventually) expelled. Team spirit still seems very low with passion and intensity often lacking. This for me is the most troubling aspect and is perhaps the difference between success and failure. Look at Liverpool or Man City and their players look like they would run through walls if asked, they fight like their lives depended on it and when they lose they appear to be gutted. I don't know how this missing ingredient is developed and nurtured, whether it is to be found in the Dubai sun or the product of quality man management but without it, I would suggest, you are seriously flawed as a team.

Obviously we don't know what goes on at Finch Farm or Goodison on a day to day basis but while listening to the game on radio Merseyside Allardyce mentioned the injury list and lamented on McArthur's injury. Now if I was James McCarthy I'm not sure what I would be thinking. For me personally it is further evidence that he is not the right man for this job, that he lacks so many of the required qualities to manage a successful team and he must not be in post next season. He was asked to deliver survival and that has been achieved: to that end thank you.

The new man must have been identified and approaches must have been made: I mean that's got to have happened surely. It would be great to pay Allardyce et al off now and have the new man installed asapto assess the team and get prepared for August and hit the ground running.

Leaving Goodison Park following the Wimbledon game in 1994, the mood was "Never again!" Allardyce is not that bad but for me he is not far off and the best we can ever hope for with him at helm is mediocrity at best. I believe we are better than that.

Sam has never been popular has he. Does a manager have to be popular with the fans? Manchester United's manager has had a go at the fans, board and players in his time there but he has a trophy in the cabinet and Champions League next season. Sam has made a difference with the quality of players brought in and yes he has brought them to the club. Remember the manager has to sell the club and you have to work under him.

The lack of respect and language used to describe our manager is borderline disgraceful. We all have our choice of manager but realistically Sam was the ideal person to get us out of the shit we were in. Yesterday, we won away from home. Psychologically it was a problem and Sam got help from not just coaching or shouting at the players. Whatever people think of Sam, his ideas of coaching have always been ahead of other coaches in terms of diet, fitness and well-being – be that physically or emotionally.

Please remember we wanted Premier League status for next season and we have it. Job done. The manager is talking of making plans for next season. He must have been told he will be here managing our club next season. Let's get over it and move on. Renew your season ticket or not. The fans on the waiting list will gladly take it from you.

The fact that he has brought in two decent forwards will not alter his mindset. Clean sheets, 40 points, then relax. He will talk about planning for next season because he is in the seat and wants to keep it that way. He was brought in to 'keep us up' and will use his 'success' to justify his staying.

We need a manager confident in his own methods who can lift the players, focus on how we play and give us some identity and entertainment. We need to forget about 5- to 10-year dynasties and accept that if he's successful, he'll be off to a bigger challenge.

I hope we're talking to managers right now. I hope one of them is Fonseca.

Sadly we have become an irrelevance, never likely to win anything and should have enough to avoid being in a relegation battle. This club has slid so far down the pecking order, we are no longer classed as a big club, we are just there to make up the numbers.

Apart from Seamus, not one of the first team would get a game at any of the top 6 clubs. Just like when we sacked Koeman, most of the pundits were suggesting Allardyce would be a good fit for Everton. I couldn't imagine them same pundits and journalists saying he would be a good fit for any of the top 6 sides.

So maybe that's why we sing " if you know your history" because there is no future for this club ever competing for the top honours. I haven't checked the stat but somebody said Liverpool have scored more goals in the Champions League than we have scored in the Premier League this season. I had hoped with Moshiri coming on board things would change, but it seems the old saying a fool and his money are soon parted looks like coming true. I hope he can reverse the trend and appoints the right men to take us forward, as I think if, with his money, we can't compete, then the future really does look bleak being an Evertonian.

It can't be often that Allardyce is compared to Mourinho but I would suggest Mourinho's previous achievements count for something. Allardyce isn't popular but that's a combination of his character and product: Mourinho is without doubt as equally odious and despicable an individual but he delivers success, almost constant success, and you have to admire his tactical acumen. Man Utd supporters may not enjoy his conservative style but they can have faith they will achieve.

Regarding Allardyce being ahead of other coaches in terms of diet and emotional well-being etc, you are correct. I'm sure he is more advanced than the likes of Pullis, McClaren, Curbishly and Tony Mowbray combined and I'm sure he could probably beat Chris Kamara in a game of Trivial Pursuit but he is not, and I feel he never will be, good enough for Everton.

Additionally, I would be more inclined to accept him as a nurturing humanist with good man-management skills if he could actually remember the names of injured players in his squad.

Obviously, it's all opinions & we don't know what would have happened if Allardyce hadn't been appointed. However, as the much-maligned caretaker manager, Unsworth, had already dragged us out of the bottom three, it's perfectly plausible that he or another manager may well have matched or even exceeded Allardyce's "achievements".

He was brought in to do a job, and being rewarded handsomely for it, but I for one ain't going to join the 5% or so who are praising him as The Messiah. The football dished out has been some of the worse I, and plenty more long-suffering blues have witnessed in my 40+ years of being, well, chosen.

The sooner he is fucked off, the better myself and 95% of blues will sleep. The bloke is nothing but an envelope-snatching bent bastard.

On the live forum last night you called me a liar in several posts when I reminded you of your opinion that Moyes would finish higher in the table than Allardyce.

In the interest of clarity here is a post you put up after we beat West Ham when Allardyce was appointed.

"Everton had thumped West Ham and many rejoiced at the thought of Moyes being humiliated and relegated again – me included, but ask yourself this; if your house depended upon who would finish the higher of the two, all known history would tell you that Moyes would be the guy to put your mortgage on."

Ignore Europe. We were already dead men walking in that competition.

He won 2 and drew one out of three home games. He managed a point in his 3 away games.

And he did it with a team that was completely bereft of confidence with no transfer window, no backing and no full backs.

Let's hope Moshiri hasn't just started reading the ToffeeWeb comment threads.

Well done, Cenk! Çok guzel! A derby winner hopefully!

It'll be a dignified exit for Sam, followed by Fonseca, Silva or a surprise non-UK 'big name'.

Hence my comment about the massive swing.

Why does it have to be a choice between entertainment and survival? And why is survival all some of us want?

Sam has done what he was brought in for? What? When he took over, we were 13th – I know there are some who insist that he was somehow magically in charge and responsible for the West Ham game.

I have renewed, so those on the waiting list will, Ian, have to wait a little longer. But god please let Fat Sam be gone before next season.

It's the senior players who haven't performed most of this season.

You're deluded if you think Unsworth could've got us the required points we needed then to avoid relegation. Moshiri was mortified enough to act correctly and appoint a man with some backbone, to protect his investment; that is all that matters as far as most of us are concerned, now that thankfully we're safe.

Klaassen was Ajax captain, scored 15 goals and made assists last season. No comparison.

We can hope Tom will come out of it a better player. He has the potential to be a very good player. We need to back him while he is learning his trade.

When Sam goes, we need a big clear-out from top to bottom. It would be some manager if he could achieve that. I fear this won't happen and we will be talking the same shit next season... Hope I'm wrong.

But he isn’t a teacher or nurse, just as we wouldn’t expect him to continue to be playing when he is 50 years old whereas a nurse or teacher will still have many years left. His age doesn’t matter. If he’s on the pitch the opposition isn’t saying they’ll go easy on him since he’s only 19.

You’re judged off of what you’re able to contribute on the pitch. What is it that you would say his main attribute is?

Went to Chelsea or something?

Talking of grown men crying, I felt like it walking out of Wembley, the Emirates, West Brom and Watford. But at least we are safe.

A simple search would show you that Barkley has been injured at Chelsea, reinjuring the hamstring.

Just looked now, same hamstring, bad one for him that like.

A simple watch would tell you Davies is the real deal. As much as we don't like Sam and his cronies, they know a lot more about football than you, and they keep picking him.

Why we ever thought we needed to appoint Allardyce if all we wanted to achieve was staying in the Premier League is beyond me. I could have done that. It all comes down to ambition.

But now Allardyce will gloat about how he saved us.

I didn't want him, don't want him and now want him gone as soon as possible.

I doubt whether he could have turned us around and a new appointment was necessary. Due to our precarious position, Moshiri turned to Allardyce – a sensible business decision, even if I hope now he reassesses the situation at the end of the season on purely football grounds.

Strong (misplaced) turn of phrase given that Unsworth has a higher points-per-game ratio at Everton than Allardyce. Unsworth deserved a bit more time and I reckon he'd have as many points if not more than Allardyce. And I'm certain we'd have been more interesting to watch.

It was already made clear before the Southampton game that Unsworth wasn't getting the job; the players let him and the club down. I saw more spirit against Chelsea, Watford, Palace and West Ham than I did under Koeman and under Allardyce.

Maybe your memory is lacking, let's remind ourselves of some performances under Allardyce:

West Brom – let's nick a point
Bournemouth – let's nick a point and lose
Man Utd – embarrassing
Spurs and Arsenal – even more so
Watford – one of the most abject, uncommitted performances possible
Burnley – first time they've ever come from a goal down to win.

I for one, was worried that under Unsworth, the side had looked rudderless and as his authority was obviously temporary, the players seemed as confused as he did. Some of his selections and substitutions were worrying and I had the feeling that we could quite easily spiralled into freefall. The January window helped, but would Unsie have got Tosun and Walcott?

I am no fan of Big Sam, but we are safe, so perhaps the club made the right choice. Now they need to make the long term choice and asap, as it's a World Cup summer and we know how much the Euros hampered preseason under Koeman.

He's toast in the off season. The pathetic performances and game plans against Arsenal and Spurs should have have proved to Moshiri that he can't take Everton to the next level. He's already setting expectations for the Man City and Liverpoolgames by publicly referring to them as the 'big boys'. He'll be taking a feather to a gunfight.

Shows how shite the teams are in the Premier League's positions 7 to 20; if you look at the form table in the period Sam Allardyce has been in charge starting at Match Day 15 (Huddersfield) Everton are in 6th place Link

We have 6 players in the England U21 squad which suggests the set-up is working but that just means they're the best in their age group in England and, like so many others, struggle to make it in the man's world. So let's not kid ourselves, we have a poor squad and poor young men (not kids).

However, the most important thing, bigger than any manager, is that we are still in the Premier League – something I thought was a real possibility of us not being.

Allardyce has achieved his goal, has come in for some deserved criticism, but also has brought in two attack-minded players in Tosun and Walcott that have worked well, is playing two out-and-out wingers, played two up top at Stoke for a large part of the game, has both full-backs attacking and an attack-minded Rooney in midfield. Is that laudable?

Should he be replaced? I will reserve my judgement until the end of the season. If he'd taken over a team that was just slightly under-performing, I'd be harsher. He took over a team that was so inconsistent it was untrue. Let's see what pans out over the next few games!

As for not playing youngsters, Davies was on yesterday, so was Calvert-Lewin and Holgate.

With you all the way, Ron. Your form table link for the entire league of games played under Sam since he arrived also makes a nonsense of the 'doomsday' predictions of many that we were in a relegation fight.

Speaking as someone who genuinely wanted Rhino to succeed and land the gig permanently, and as someone who never wanted Sam and considered his recruitment a panicked decision, it is principally the board's fault that this season has been such a wicked write-off.

Their prevaricating over 5 weeks hung Unsworth out to dry with the players. He never had absolute authority in his time as caretaker manager.

As mentioned by others, it was a sad, unedifying sight at Southampton, to see a proud Evertonian broken and exposed as his players left him with consecutive lily-livered hammerings at home to Atlanta, then the Saints.

I know of no other example in top flight football of a club legend, ex-player and ex-manager – Joe Royle – being so moved at the plight of the manager sat on the bench, that he left the stands to join him on the touchline in moral support as he did against Southampton.

Taken all together, your form table data reveals how very easy it is in the Premier League to attain 'respectability' – that is, a 7th placed finish – even under a limited manager, playing dirge football.

If Sam is retained into next season, and equally, if there is not a major shake-up in the administration and governance of the club, that will tell you an awful lot about the custodians and their 'ambitions'.

I don't expect instant success given the competition in the higher echelons of the Premier League, but I do expect incremental improvement, year on year.

This season has been the inverse of that, putting us back 2-3 seasons.

If the league began on the first game that Sam took charge of us, we'd be 6th and only 2 points adrift of 5th?!!

Bloody hell, that's a table for him to wave in front of Moshiri at the end of the season.

I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned it in a press conference.

"Bloody hell, that's a table for him to wave in front of Mosh at the end of the season. I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned it in a press conference."

If he gets wind of this, Chris, he most certainly will!!!

Chris G, you're reading the table correctly, to be fair Leicester have a game in hand albeit against Arsenal :-) He also says that when he took over that Everton were 2 points above the relegation zone which is true. He knows how to market himself.

But to me it's the game plans and performances against Arsenal and Spurs that indicate his ceiling is 7th. If Moshiri really has Champions League aspirations he should aim high (Simeone etc.) and work down until he can get a manager who will come to Everton; maybe that's Fonseca

The problem is he fails to inspire. At every presser, his bored demeanor leaves me cold. I can only imagine his coaching or team talks. He comments to the world that he knows best, talks about 15 fans on social media and laughs (possibly with embarrassment) at Burnley away.

If the hierarchy keep him on, the message will be "Premier League safety is all we want, no need to dream, no need to entertain..."

At least Martinez got us playing with panache, Moyes also put fire in the belly and got some good performances. Even Koeman filled us with hope with an outstanding home record and came with his fame and Barca links. We could imagine success...

Sam has done the job. If we are serious about building a team worthy of playing in a spanking new stadium, then we need a figure who is not a caricature, but someone the football world will take seriously, and a man who will inspire his players and staff, and fill our heads with possibilities.

He's done his job but it's not like he's come in and changed the whole club around. It's been torture at times. We've just beaten a Brighton team who are almost as bad as us away from home and a 10-man Stoke side who managed to draw level with 13 minutes left and now some think we should keep him on.

The pressure is pretty much off the players now and Allardyce can release the shackles so that'll warp some people's minds even more but come the start of the new season we'll be back to the shite he's been serving for most of his games.

I think you are very harsh on Tom Davies. He is finding it tougher this season, playing in a team under 3 different managers, and lacking leadership.

You mention 'Klaassen was captain of Ajax, scored 15 goals, made assists last season, no comparison'. Davies was a breath of fresh air last season, and I know Klaassen needs time to adjust, but doesn't it show the Dutch league is a lot weaker than the Premier League? And they are two totally different type of players.

However, to contradict this, another mate knows one of the medical staff who works with the first team. I also happen to know this member of staff. When he was asked about Allardyce by my mate, he replied "I can't say anything as I have to work with him"! I hope that means that he can't stand the fucker.

It's amazing the different things you hear which contradict each other. Let's just hope Moshiri already knows what he's doing with Allardyce at the end of the season and gets rid of him.

My view is he may have done the job he was employed for. Got an extra 6 months on contract as we were plummeting but the intention of Moshiri is longer term.

Somebody sees you on a bus to the Stoke game and says you owe them £20 from 10 years ago and you don't recognise them, what do say?!

It will be a tall order and if a coach of the required standard can be found, maybe we can finally start to move forward as a club. If such a manager can't be found, however, I imagine Moshiri will stick with Fat Sam for another season until he finds his ideal manager. It may be a long job but he has to get it right this time. There's a huge amount at stake, the new stadium may hinge on it.

And of course, the reality is that we would have lost the game if it hadn't been for the red card. The performance was shaping up to follow what we have seen all season.

He took over when we were 13th and we are now 9th; we panicked and have had to suffer the worst football I have ever seen from an Everton team. And he he has apparently done enough to earn a further season? No wonder we have been served up mediocrity and failure for 20 years. We deserve it.

Guardiola, Mourinho, Pochetino, Klopp, Conte and Wenger, all clearly of a different class of Manager from Allardyce. So if Moshiri does have any ambition for Everton to actually compete for trophies as opposed to being a meal ticket in the ridiculously wealthy Premier League, then he must bring in a manager that would fit in that group of managers.

Allow me to explain. Taking the Premier League table as it stood at game 30, the previous weekend, Arsenal were in 6th place with 48 points. After game 30 last season we were on 50 points – 2 better than Arsenal's tally this season.

The club knew months in advance the players likely to leave and what should have been the recruitment priority. In 2017, we were the sixth highest spenders, not just in the Premier League, but across all European leagues. We absolutely did not get value for money for that spend.

Given Arsenal's evident fall from grace and the opportunity it offered, even a modest improvement on the squad could have seen us make a small incremental gain to squeeze us into the top six, rather than feature as 'the best of the rest'.

As it is, the self-same fading Arsenal twatted us 10-3 over 2 games and currently sit 8 points above us with a game in hand.

Is anyone being held to account for such negligence? Because one or two of those responsible for the poor recruitment still remain at the club in powerful and influential positions.

If that remains the case into the summer, how optimistic can we realistically be that we will see improved recruitment, whoever the manager is?

There are so many things to consider with Everton at the moment that it is difficult to pin-point what the Moshiri project is really aiming to achieve. If as you say we want to turn the big six into a big seven then Sam isn't the guy to help us to achieve that.

However, if Moshiri wants a period of stability whilst the ground move enters it's final year of planning, then there may be a case to retain Sam's services until the end of his current contract.

Another factor could be the idea that his friend may have been willing to leave Arsenal and join Moshiri at Goodison, but with the political situation being as it is in relation to Russia, the chances of that happening are now probably nil, assuming such a plan had been in existence in the first place.

Keeping Sam would buy the club more time to seek out its preferred option, but I'm not certain that it would be a good move in relation to the Goodison fans. Nothing appears to be as it seems with Everton FC and the club has managed to become masters in the art of keeping us all guessing, as we are left to fill in the blanks sometimes optimistically, often pessimistically, depending on how we view any given situation.

What does Koeman have to do with the next appointment? That one didn't work out so let's stick with the guy who has never accomplished anything of note in the game?

There is also still something that just doesn't sit right with me when it comes to Koeman and the players we sold and signed during his limited time. We sell Lukaku early in the window without even trying to get a bidding war going when there were two prominent clubs publicly interested. He then repeatedly states that we need to sign a striker and a left-sided defender, but neither are brought in. And somehow Walsh has been allowed to remain in place. I just think the NDA he signed in order to keep his millions he is due is the only thing keeping his mouth closed.

People hate Allardyce, that's fair enough, but the football is no worse imo, and since he's been at the club, then the recruitment has definitely become better.

I heard a rumour that he's going to be managing the Baggies next season anyway, but that's all it was, a rumour, and I'm sure it won't be the last!

Koeman was a conman in my opinion, but then I would have to say that his cause was not helped, scuppered, by the Walsh and co inspired purchases which left the team, and the club, in a critically insecure position.

Allardyce was appointed to ensure our league position, that's all, forget the football, when he was appointed, prior to the West Ham game, we were 17th in the league with 12 points, two points above the bottom three and three days after the disgraceful thrashing at Southampton.

In Moshiri's eyes he had to act quick to safeguard his investment. We didn't look like a team, now we look like a poor one. If that's an improvement I will take it because in my opinion we were going down. But Allardyce's job is done. Move on. So should he.

Tosun: busy bugger aint he ? cannot fault him.

Rooney: I think he had a good game.Spaying balls forward, good, excellent and frankly poor. Cross field balls with purpose not just God What can I do balls? With purpose. But goodness me, please someone have the guts to talk to him about his dead ball skills. They are poor.

Free kick. Into the goalies arms. Corners, 50% rubbish. Penalties, not the best in the squad, Now I know Pens gee your stats up but, for the sake of the team, Baines should be taking them. I'd rather have him in the box receiving corners than putting them to the first defender, Just a thought.

Still my first name on the team list after Pickford.

I hate the fact that no-one is given time. Koeman's first blip after a dreadful transfer window – out the door. No solidarity. If we get Fonseca, for example, how long will it be before he is a 'coward' and has to go? End of October!

At some point, we need to get behind a manager and the team. Rome wasn't built in a day!

The way I see it, if Mr Moshiri keeps him on we will have a Groundhog season 2018-19. Managerless and rudderless in October, fans protesting at the board and flirting with relegation.

Every decision is borne out of a grey area, but decisions have to be made. They also have to be made at the right time.

A glorious opportunity has arisen for us to appoint a manager to lead the project, to give us hope and give us the incremental improvements we crave.

I think most of us are pragmatists and will accept small but significant improvements over the next 3 seasons on our way to the new stadium. Trophies are achievable and would be a bonus.

When we get into the new stadium, we the will have a solid foundation to kick on and become established contenders for a top-four berth. Why not?

"A glorious opportunity"? Really?

Why did Koeman fail? Why is big Sam not playing the kind of football we want?

In my opinion, it's because the squad is extremely average. We should have scored 6 against Stoke but only scored 2. Davies, Calvert-Lewin and Bolasie are not good enough, Walcott is average, our very best first eleven is miles away from the top 6.

The youth system isn't working as we only get players coming through who can do a job. That's not good enough. Our bench at Stoke was awful.