Tosun secures important Blues victory

I imagine Brighton will defend deep, and there won't be much space for Bolasie and Walcott to take on full-backs and get crosses in for Tosun (who Allardyce openly trashed a few weeks back and now expects to get us out of trouble). Hopefully they will at least give us some width.

Hope I am wrong but I see another 90 minutes of struggle ahead.

We don't want you to play all your best players, Sam! I want you to play your best team with a foundation and strategy that complements their best attributes and mitigates their weaknesses. Simples... ;)

If we lose this today, he'll blame the fans for forcing his hand.

3 points and nothing less. Goodison will be acidic if they don't show up for the shirt today.

Big responsibility on young Tom's shoulders in the Carsley role. COYB!

Must be a temptation to go two up top to give their centre halves a bigger problem.

Most playing well. Bolasie, as enigmatic as he can be, may be the one to finally unlock Brighton's rear guard. Not that his finishing is very reliable, mind...

Tosun showing well again, but as Michael notes, he needs to do more in the box.

As long as it remain goalless, you are always vulnerable...

Don't give us a tepid 2nd half as you gave us last week, Everton.

Hopefully with Baines and Coleman back, the team will start to gel together.

COYB

Hard to get too excited about a decent home performance when we'll probably throw in the towel at Stoke .

Made up for Tosun seeing as he was isolated for most of the match.

Still, Allardyce out! !

Very pleased for Tosun and Bolasie today. Jags is far and away our best and quickest defender. Rooney is never going to be Paul Scholes... or even close, sadly.

And that was an attempted leg break on Baines and the guy who did it should be arrested for assault, never mind red-carded.

Baines handled it exceptionally well. Knockaert was upset because the ball hit him in his massive nose and so he decided to try and break Baines's legs. Nice to see Coleman giving him a mouthful as he went off. No doubt explaining what it actually feels like to have your leg snapped.

I hope he gets a lengthy ban.

Isn't that 3 penalties he has missed/had saved this season alone for Everton?

OK. It didn't cost us today, but it could in the coming weeks.

We have far, FAR more reliable penalty takers in the team than Rooney. Baines and Sigurdson the obvious candidates. I believe Tosun takes a mean penalty, also.

I wonder what the odds on relegation for Everton this season have drifted out to now.

We don't really miss Williams, Martina or Schneiderlin - is the kind way to put it.

Tosun looks like he is still finding his feet in the league but is doing ok.

Poor Moyes must have had a pretty terrible day.

That's us safe now. Some very poor teams below us.

An added bonus for me is West Ham's continued decline and the demise of Moyes. I had to chuckle a few weeks ago when one ToffeeWeber told us Moyes would finish above Allardyce.

A regulation win which we struggled to get rhythm in but got the job done.

A very nice 2nd goal, crafted by Baines, finished by Tosun, the deflection embellished the strike.

The penalty was bought, DCL yet again initiating contact. Rooney, well he’s escaped my ire mostly this season but ego got the better of him. Very poor that Wayne lad.

All done and dusted, give Sam the heave ho and look forward to better days without him, please Farhad don’t dither.

He's good in the role, sometimes very good, but only in games where the opposition allow us to dictate the pace. So basically at home against the bottom half teams. Even then he's liable to gift the opposition chances with sloppy passes or casual control.

Not that it's relevant today. He passed well and we won. But for me, I'd like to see some competition for his place in the summer.

I listened to the game on the OS audio service and it all sounded fairly straightforward but I am no closer to unravelling why we had a much better performance today.

A few things spring to mind. Keane and Jagielka work together better than most of our pairings (barring the odd unnecessarily risky pass), Walcott and Coleman will terrorize a lot of teams, and we really don't need to rely heavily on two orthodox defensive midfielders.

With St Helens flying at the moment, I just need England to find an epic second half against France to make this a very pleasant weekend.

I do think we are very lucky that Brighton got it entirely wrong tactically.

Massive relief that we won that match and unbelievably, we look like avoiding the drop. We've been very fortunate this year and I'm still not relaxing until it's mathematically impossible but it's been the worst season in living memory and survival will be a blessed relief.

We've not had many weekends where blues win and reds lose so let's enjoy tonight before getting the pitch forks out for Sam in a few months!

I would agree with you in previous games, and on too many occasions for a player of his quality, Rooney has coughed up the ball too cheaply playing this midfield role.

But not today. Indeed, his stray passes and having his pocket picked by turning into the opposition, or from lack of awareness of being closed down, has diminished in recent weeks.

Other than his penalty miss - and it was a very good save from a well-hit ball - he orchestrates things so much better than, say, a certain Frenchman in our ranks who has largely occupied Wayne's current position for most of the season.

Given his age, naturally it would be healthy for the club to have a younger player capable of doing the same to add competition for places.

But that's for the summer, not the here and now.

Davies was poor, what on earth are they doing with him at finch farm, but Baningime should play ahead currently imo. Davies is a top talent, but his control has vanished.

Klassen looked tidy, imo.

Baines is back. And Jags is still our best defender by a long way.

I will reserve judgement till next week, to see if they can carry on from where they left off. Stoke away is always an awkward fixture, but nevertheless winnable.

I was disappointed with Tom Davies, he still holds on to the ball too long, before passing, and when he does pass it usually goes to the opposition. A couple of times today, Theo tried a one two, and sprinted towards the box, Tom turns and passes the ball backwards, Schneiderlin style.

Speaking of Theo, I do hope he is okay for next week, because without him, we are a bit light upfront.

By that I mean it’s a win at home to a rather limited side but I’m not going to knock it because wins these days are pretty rare aren’t they?

Defence was always comfortable with a far more balanced look to it, Jagielka proving that even though the legs aren’t there like they were but he’s still our best defender.

Bolasie was unpredictable but pretty decent to be honest and at least he was willing to have a go and made a goal with a delicious cross.

Sigurdsson was decent, Walcott a threat but I think it’s time for the following two things .

Davies needs time out while Klaassen stakes a claim and Rooney needs relieving of penalty taking duties, thank him for that one he got at Anfield in December but missing three and staying on them is taking the piss a bit now.

Very pleased to see Tosun score a beauty and maybe just maybe there’s a Premier League quality player in there bursting to come out?

All in all a comfortable win to relieve pressure but it’s whether we can turn up at Stoke next week isn’t it?

We had most of the possession. We created most of the chances. We totally outplayed them.

Not sure what anyone on here is after but, if you can't be happy with that, then best you come off the Valium.

Colman gave another all action game and Walcott was always on the go and gave us someone to break out with.

Siggurdsson was man of the match for me he was behind most the attacking play and is a tireless worker for the Blues.

I was glad Brighton were so poor, never really threatened, expected them to come out attacking after their good run, but offered little.

Made up with the victory, another one should ensure safety and then with the pressure off maybe the team will really try and entertain us, we deserve much more than they have shown all season. Very relieved at the moment.

Beat Southampton at home and we're over the line.

With a few personell changes we should reach this point with less difficulty next term.

As of tonight in the same fixtures last year - WHU got 2 points, WBA 12, Saints 5, Newcastle 1, Stoke 8,

Take you pick of 3 from those 5. We are safe now.

Although three points and two goals, much is left to be desired in the attacking play. Things a competent manager could turn around with some adjustments, a positive mindset and a few well though out recruits in the summer... Allardyce hasn't got the knowledge to get this team playing the football I, and I think most Evertionans, want to see...

Allardyce out now!

Just hope Theo is okay, and we can play virtually the same side next week.

Anyway Mike good in death report, did not get to see any of the game, but sounds like Tosun hardly set the game on fire, was it lack of service or a bad Day at the office, baring his goal for him.

Above all, I am delighted to see Baines playing with zest again. His part in Tosun's goal was like the Leighton of old. He looked as though he was enjoying himself. If he can recover form consistently then that will be priceless for us.

Tosun was very good. He challenged for and held up the ball well. Linked up play well, as epitomised by his goal which he helped create with Baines as well as finish. And it was a cracking finish.

He also won loud and frequent applause for his enthusiastic and tireless chasing of the ball as Brighton played out of defence.

He didn't see much of the ball in the penalty area, but the one time he did - WHACK! GOAL!

He has impressed me every time he has had decent game time. Considering he only arrived in January, into a shambolic set-up, he is doing more than just fine.

Do people seriously believe a player gets off the treatment table one day and expect to play the next? Or course not. They have been in full training for 2, 3 or 4 weeks, probably played an U23 game of two, and know themselves whether they are fit to play or not. Funes Mori said he was fit and ready to play.

Keane has been awful the last few weeks and I think today would have been an ideal game to rest him and start Funes Mori, and ease him back into the first team fold, because, as I say, Brighton were no threat at all.

Slightly better movement today, which is the key to playing the good stuff, although we have a long way to go. It's worrying that we still relied heavily on the long diagonal from Rooney.

The Night King will of course give himself the credit for the win. When we win, it's down to him; and when we lose, it's down to the players.

Fact is, we have better players than every single team in the bottom half and results like today's should be a given.

Two out of three, pity England can't play a good game like they talk a good game.

I said a few weeks ago Jags makes a big difference in our defence, I still think before his injury, Baines was playing through the pain barrier and lost a bit of zest because of it, I think Baines still has it and not ready for the knackers yard just yet as some think.

Duffy is a very solid, good CB I feel we should have never let get away. When he was with us he was very young and often came under criticism - just the way Keane is now.

We need to be patient with Keane I feel. There's a good player in there, he needs a partner and time to develop more as Rob Halligan says.

Tosun showed some nice touches and put himself about, constantly chasing down the keeper. Second half he was dropping deeper to get involved. Scored from what I thought was his only shot of game. Bodes well. If we can get decent service to him then we might have a player on our hands.

Bolasie was horrendous in the second half apart from the cross for the goal. Davies seemed void of confidence today and spent the game mostly passing to Rooney who was decent but still did the now usual getting tackled on the edge of our box to give them a goalscoring opportunity.

Biggest cheer of the day was when Klaassen came on. Still doesn't seem to fit and getting the final 10 mins isn't really going to help him much. My hope is he stays, gets another preseason under his belt and starts to show what he can do.

Sigurdsson ran his socks off today, really put in a shift.

A badly needed 3 points!

Having said that, I've never believed in getting caught up in the moment not being unwilling to have my mind changed. If he goes the rest of the season with the mindset to win games, to instill that mindset into the players I don't know what I would think.

Today was in no way some brilliant performance, it was Brighton. But a good sign at least.

Still not a fan of Bolasie even though it was his pass that got the first goal. The game was an improvement from last week but did not get the pulses racing and hopefully Fat Sam will not chop and change for the next game. The back 4 looked the strongest formation we have had this season and hopefully will be kept together (barring injuries) for the next number of games.

We are most probably safe from relegation, and even if we only lose 2 games till the end of the season, I hope Moshiri has made up his mind now, and gets shut of Fat Sam at the end of it.

It would take something phenomenal for him to turn the fanbase.

Although, like you, I could potentially be swayed. My views are not entrenched and I prefer to be supportive where possible.

The next 3 games may well decide his fate.

We're football fans and fickle by nature.

Sam is taking credit for this performance? Well, why not? It was an attacking line-up today and a brave one. At home, we should be more adventurous against teams like Brighton who sit back. Play the same team against Stoke next week to build continuity. Sadly, Stoke at home need the win, like we did today, but let's have a go. Better all round performance today.

I was impressed with the number of times the ball was hit early and long – not a hopeful punt but a purposeful pass to player or space.

Tosun worked hard, and has a good touch. But I still miss Lukaku – he caused Liverpool problems today.

A few wins won't do anything to change my opinion. If he however has us attacking and trying to dominate the opposition, then that's all I've ever wanted.

I continue to refuse the notion we don't have talent in this team. It's the mentality, tactics, formation and lineup that needs to show that. We could have started with Rooney sitting deep alongside Davies with Sigurdsson in the Number 10 all damn season.

It was a home match against Brighton and Hove Albion.

We were largely unconvincing. We were poor. Brighton were worse.

In my mind no pressure has been eased. At the moment, I feel we are a million miles away from the top 6. Sam will not take us there, he is not capable.

Do you remember the mighty Brighton away? I do – they were shit then and they are shit now. The table doesn't lie contrary to what some people on here would have you believe.

Brighton are below us in the league, so in my book they are worse than us or am I missing something here? As far as I can see, 95% of people on this site alone wanted this twat out of our club before kick-off today.

He deserves no credit at all because he has thrown these players under the bus every time we have lost and crowed about himself when on the few occasions we have won. His favourite line is "The players carried out my instructions when we win or they never when we lose."

If anyone softens there view on this rat because of a home win against a shit team then more fool you. I want us to win every game but will not accept this twat as our manager. If this carries on and we accept this vile creature then he will be with us next season.

Won't it be great on our last home game clapping this twat round are pitch like he has done us a favour and saved us from relegation. No thanks! I want this rat out before then no matter the results. What a manager?

If we can keep them healthy thru to the finish, we'll be alright. I'm guessing having them in was the difference in Sam's 1st Eleven selection.

If they can hang on these last 8 games, we can get after some clubs.

Now we are safe, maybe the players can play with a bit more confidence, starting with a result at Stoke.

That's what I and many others have expected and what we should demand. Who knows what we'll see the rest of the way, but I certainly howl for that mindset to close out the season.

Victories have been scarce this season so I am just glad to get three points. A number of people remind us that we were only playing Brighton. Brighton are a Premier League team who had not lost for six games. Their manager was awarded "Manager of the Month". They have had a gallant ride to get to the top division. Having lost to Watford and Burnley, we are in no position to demean any team. When we beat Liverpool in a few weeks time I will be ecstatic but for now I can relax for at least a weak because we beat Brighton.

We played okay today without being magnificent. At some times in the past, we have all seen Everton play supremely with flare serving up sumptuous football and winning the league. It would be great if it comes about again. Today, I am just satisfied that we beat Brighton.

We have some very winnable games if we can keep those players fit.

I'm hoping we hit the 40-point mark against Stoke, as then we will see if the players want to play for Sam or not. Once we're safe, will they have a right go at Man City and Liverpool? Will they roll their sleeves up for the run-in against teams fighting for their survival?

Or, will they put in half-arsed performances and get Sam sacked, safe in the knowledge that we're not going down?

If they give it their all then they are very capable of catching Burnley in 7th. That would almost certainly guarantee Sam another season.

I was happy with back 4 today, but with exception of Keane; who is going to replace these players??

I personally think Van Aanholt could be a possibility?? Big Sam has connections with him.

I have an idea what's going to happen? We will just fade away into the background happy in the knowledge we aren't going down. Moshiri will think we are happy and the rat has done a great job. People will say he's not stupid he will get shut. Are we prepared to take that risk?

I'm not so confident and think we all should still make our feelings known just in case he is going to be allowed to carry on. It will be a disaster if he's allowed to carry on, David, and it scares the life out of me. This is not the time to let up because we won the game, there is a chance we may regret it.

I agree with Darren Hind that we looked better without having the classical holding player of Gana or Schnielderlin. They are both tackling machines that offer little else. Gana has an important role in the team. But it shouldn't be a given he plays every game. Schneiderlin should never put on Everton blue again. Rooney can lose the ball but he at least try's to find a pass.

Tosun is starting to justify the fee. He looks like he'll be good signing at £27m, but I'm not sure he'll give us more than 15 goals a season and we still need to make a statement in the transfer market. How's about a £60m bid on Rashford this summer?! United probably wouldn't sell, If not, sign Vardy as the 1 old player in the next window.

BS still needs to go. I see Chelsea aren't going to make the top 4 at this rate. Could we pursued Conte to stay in the premier league? He's a marquee manager and circumstances at other clubs might just work in our favour. Conte as manager, sign Vardy, and spend big on Sessegnon from Fulham.

Doesn't look much of a footballer, though.

Season ends, hope he's out on a pitch somewhere developing his game. Not on a beach, chilling.

Allardyce post match comments

I am very relieved we got the three points.

Chris Gould (#128) – I think we will win at Stoke next week.

We know by now don't we? We'll have a go against "the rest" at home. Completely surrender the big games. Aim for 0-0 in the other games.

Sam's not changing. So knowing all of that, it's difficult to get too happy about a reasonably straight forward home win against Brighton, just as you can't be too shocked when we go to Stoke and do something completely different.

My displeasure is reserved for the overall plan. The plan that says we do nothing more than stay up then write off the season. We publicly courted and ultimately hired the man who brings that plan. There are no surprises here.

Just wake me up in July.

No Schneiderlin – bliss!

But in all reality, I want us to go for the quality manager that we need, that could sign a few top quality players to build on what we currently have and take us to the next level.

Conte will be going back to Italy so no reason to even think about that one. But there are many exciting managers in Europe that we should be looking at and not another premier league retread.

Allardyce out now!

He has indeed taken the credit for wins previously and been lambasted for that.

By all means correct me if I have misinterpreted his comments but on this occasion I don't think he took the credit for the win – I think he gave it to the players.

I thought It was fair to point that out. Do you think it was out of order for me to do that?

Who is the ready made replacement??

He has noticed our home form was good and away form poor since Martinez, yet set up much the same as Koeman in the hope things would change.

Month's in and he's not assessed our squad?!

We played better – not great, but better. But then having a left back and not having buffalo soldier stuck in centre-back would help that... not that the defence got a mention other than a nod to a clean sheet.

I hope Allardyce does try. I hope he does stand by his players... but unfortunately I think it will always just be about him. Hopefully I'm proved wrong.

Does make you wonder how truly abysmal we need to be for some folk before they push back on mediocrity. That's why we haven't won a trophy in over 20 years.

Last time you argued for this I asked you to name the team that could have done this before January and you declined. Although I might have missed it?

Since the turn of the year the manager has gradually been able to bring Coleman, Jagielka and Baines back into the team. He has bought Walcott and Tosun and Mangala would have been a good, balanced addition. McCarthy would have played alongside Rooney yesterday.

The team had balance, ability and experience yesterday. The test for Allardyce is what he manages to do with that moving forward.

Prior to Christmas those available were not up to the job. Hansen was right. You win nothing with kids (unless they are the most talented group of players ever to emerge at a club, integrated into a team already the strongest in the league) and you certainly don't stave off relegation with them.

With regard to changing the manager, the only sensible choice is to do it now. I wouldn't, I'd back the man in charge and not even think about it until October.

A manager appointed after the end of this season won't be in a position to assess the full squad until late July, given the World Cup. He'd then have less than a month to move out the half-dozen or more that need to go and the replacements desperately required to turn the current squad into one that can compete at the level we all want to see.

Then I realised that you meant Davy Klaasen and I knew you were bonkers.

A change of manager in the summer is almost certain, the only thing that could save Sam is victories over City and the RS plus a few away victories with an attacking formation. That may be enough to persuade the owner to give him the extra 12 months on his contract.

Allardyce has done the job he was brought in for, we were in free fall when he arrived. The pathological hatred is hard to understand, but every manager we get seems to suffer this on TW, to a greater or lesser extent and this will no doubt continue, no matter who is appointed next.

Same here, as one who was bitterly disappointed and angry that Unsworth was not given support by the board and hung out to dry, never wanted SA appointed as Everton’s manager, and voted against him in all the TW polls so far, I might reconsider my stand if most of the following were to happen:

* Finish in 7th place and qualify for Europe
* Get to 50+ points
* Goal difference below -5
* Derby win
* Draw against Man City
* Get us playing competive, attacking football
* At least 2 away wins until the end of the season

Coming to yesterday’s game, I see an emerging ‘team’:

A left sided trio of Baines, Siggy and Bolasie
A right sided trio of Coleman, Walcott and 1 of Davies/Gana
A spine of Pickford, Keane, Jags, Rooney, Tosun

If Klaassen and Funes Mori get some game time until the end of the season, and show us what they have got, then maybe, MAYBE, we have the making of a good squad next season with:

McCarthy, Onyekuru coming back from injuries
Schneiderlin, Martina, Williams (possibly also Besic, Klaassen, Sandro) being moved on
Lookman, Dowell, Besic, Sandro, Browning, Pennington, Connolly coming back from loans

Then we may need to strengthen in only a few key areas - Left Back, Box-to-box midfielder and a world-class striker - to mount a challenge on the Top 6 next season.

Well by your logic the new manager in say October wouldn't have had anytime with them so how does that work? Surely if you are to change the manager you give them a pre-season even if it is a short one?

If you're going to say he will have the rest of the season, then surely it would be more beneficial to have spent time to assess what he has in the squad and be able to bring his own players in, as the transfer window is not open again until January.

Plus this manager the worst in the history of Everton football club should go today never mind October.

I think some comments on here are too harsh about our performance. Brighton not playing well is down to our harrying and pressing. Davis got unfair stick, because he put himself about and disrupted their rhythm. Yes, his first touch is not the best and he holds on a bit too long, but I'd live with that. My advice to Tom would be to find Siggy, Rooney, Walcott or Bolasie a bit quicker and carry on with the rest.

Bolasie deserves more praise. He had one bad cross I think, but he put himself in positions to score, and could have bagged a couple on another day. He also chased back quite a bit to help Baines ease back in, tackling that Mexican Bandit when he got clear down the wing.

Tosun? Not quite sprinting clear like Lukaku but he has more than Jelavic, say. He will score regularly for us as his movement and touch is intelligent when we are on the front foot, which is critical for any striker.

I am no Sam fan, never have been never will be. However, We need the team finishing higher up the league, even if he gets the credit. A 'big name' manager will not come to overhaul the club. He will want to see that tweaks and a few quality additions are all that is needed.

Come on Blues, you have your heads up now! Only 6 points behind Burnley (can't believe I just wrote that), who were dead lucky not to be out of it by half time last week against us, and the same against WHU this week. They won't be that lucky too many times, and we have potentially one of the best run-ins for picking up points. IF Sam doesn't flock it up.

It's funny every blue I speak to at work, in the boozer, in the gym or at the ground are embarrassed, angry, and totally fed up with this manager and board, but some people on here are jolly and prepared to give this twat a chance.

Not for allowing he only picked the team yesterday because of illness to Gana and Schneiderlin. If you listened he told you all in his interview so you can guarantee one or both will be back in next week.

He grinned when taking deserved stick from are away fans who have every right to take him to task when producing utter shite every week. This man couldn't even look at them but smiled with his head down. He laughed at the mere suggestion that the fans who pay there money earned through working 5 days a week weren't happy he took off Sigurdson.

I could go on but it seems that whatever this bastard does some people will see a chink of light. Fuck me no wonder we are little old Everton sometimes punching above are weight.

So that's what some are saying now is that right ?

No no no.

Don't be fooled my brothers and sisters.

Enjoy our laboured win over the mighty Brighton yesterday by all means.
Enjoy your Sunday morning thinking about how Michael Keane, Cenk Tosun and Davy Klaasen must be feeling right now.
Be thankful for the returning Baines and Jagielka, of course.

But don't for 1 minute be fooled by big undies and his cronies. The sooner he is gone the better. You know it, I know it, Paul Welsby DEFINITELY knows it and so do another 95% of us.

1 more win and we are safe.

Altogether now, we found love in a hopeless place.

Not a chance as he wants everyone to know it was down to him. But look, each to their own if he is here next season then good luck.

David Barks is on the money; This more adventurous approach has been available to Allardyce all season, but time and again he has opted to cower behind a packed defence using 2-3 DM's in an attempt to spoil the game. Yesterdays more adventurous formation was forced upon him and he now looks an even more of a twat.

Those claiming he has done the job he was brought in to do are deluding themselves. His cowardly approach has not only brought shame and ridicule upon our club, it has actually delayed the day we could say were are mathematically safe.

Well done to the players for the improvement, but zero credit to the football criminal from me.

Allardyce out now!!

Putting that to one side (just for a minute, please), no Blue would really want us to drop points in any game, unless it was unimportant to us (is that possible?) and it cost the red shite the title or a CL place for example.

I believe and hope that Moshiri will kick Fat Sam out. We know that the team picked itself, Fat Sam had no choice. So let us kick on and bag as many points as possible, and I don't give a fuck if he tries to take the credit. None of us are stupid. Including Mr. Moshiri.

As for giving the footballing antichrist till October, I almost had to call in the crash team after reading that. We've all seen enough since he arrived to confirm what we knew before he was hired - technically he is a football neanderthal, his midset and attitude is arrogant and ignorant, his behaviour is boorish and contempuous. He stumbled into a positive team selection yesterday because Gueye and Schneiderlin were taken ill and for no other reason. That's all.

If we do not perform radical surgery on this club in the summer I fear we will see scenes like West Ham here soon. Big few months ahead.

It wasn't even Christmas when this cowboy rode into town. I was in a state of bewilderment, embarrassment and shame that we had actually hired this tool.

He has continuously and cowardly shifted any blame from him for a defeat at the players feet. He mocks us with his laughter if we dare to question his team selection, formation or substitutions like we haven't a clue how football is played.

None of us as far as I can see profess to be a manager but as paying or by that matter none paying supporters as hundreds of thousands of Evertonians around the world for one reason or another can't attend we have a right to voice are opinions and concerns without being laughed on television for all to see.

I would sack him today! I wouldn't afford him the satisfaction of walking around are pitch like he has saved us. We are safe barring a disaster. Like Darren Hind said he has made a pig's ear of getting us to this point when it should of been done sometime ago but he refused to do so with his anti football style.

Until we shed this tag some fans give us of doing things the Everton way, we will always be little old Everton. We have to start being ruthless because I for one want to see Everton winning for starter's against the top 6-7 then winning trophies being in the champions league.

The teams in the top 6-7 apart from Arsenal are ruthless! If it's not working with the manager's they are sacked players who aren't good enough moved on with no sentiment. I would rather be that Everton than this one.

The extrapolation that a manager over-achieving with limited resources will do better with more money and bigger names doesn't often seem to work out.

I thought Gylfi had a better game, I thought Tosun and Walcott also showed glimpses of being astute signings. Cenk certainly lacks pace, and maybe outside the box he is limited, technically good though, with more physicality than SA gave him credit for. Will stand up to the rigours of the PL.

I am still a bit concerned that he could be a pricier Jelavic, got to be honest. That may be me comparing him to what we had in Rom though. I don't see him topping the scoring charts, or playing for a top CL team, but he is an improvement on what we, or many of the other teams in mid table, had/have.

Still no question in my mind that Sam is not the right man for this club though. For me, Silva or Fonseca. With Walsh gone as well. Give it someone to build a team and an ethos. At a push, I would consider also Howe. I am just not convinced I have seen enough from him to warrant a shot at Everton yet though.

Get Allardyce out ASAP along the rest of the useless so and so's at our club.

A club with this lot involved will never ever aspire to anything.

I've been as frustrated in recent weeks as the rest of the 95%, but I don't agree that Sam has previously had the option for the adventurous/attacking approach we had yesterday.

Having Baines, Jagielka, and Coleman fully fit has made a huge difference. The defence was so poor without those 3 playing together that defensive midfielders may have seemed a necessity? I'm sure Gueye would have played yesterday if fit but whether that would have been to the detriment of the team is anyone's guess.

Having Baines and Bolasie on the left and Coleman and Walcott on the right gave us some much needed balance.

Not to say that I've agreed in any way with how he has been setting us up to play, and I know you only said that he could have been 'more' adventurous (which is an understatement) but I don't think he had the options that David suggests.

His tactics and defeatest attitude have been dreadful, but maybe with these players back we'll continue to be a little more positive.

I'm not going to continue to deride Sam if he sets us up to win and the players put in effort for him. I am firmly with the 95% but he is here until the end of the season and has time to win me over. It will take several wins and us having a right go at City and Liverpool AND picking up points against one or both of them.

However, even if he wins me over, I would still hope to have him replaced in the summer. He's just too divisive and not the man to challenge for the top 6.

Keeping him on is not an option, 96% of fans do not want him to build the club for many reasons. A downturn in form starting a new season would leave us managerless in October again. The club would endure a groundhog season in 2018-19.

In terms of performance, Baines shows why our other left backs will never be as good. His positioning, control and most of all his collection of tricks that enable him to perform so well are things that our current crop of LBs just don't have. If Garbutt wants to make it as a player he needs to start watching every part of Baines' performance including knowing when to nudget when to draw the foul, etc.

Rooney, his central midfield general role is developing (too late in the day) and he does not necessarily need to be the fasted player (who can remember Reidy winning that many sprints). What he does need however is to sharpen his performance. He still gives the ball away too much and he needs to play the ball faster at times.

Bolasie is hard working but lacks finesse at times and some of his performance yesterday was cringeworthy. He needs to learn how to cross as the minute it goes more than a couple of feet above ground level he loses control of the cross and it just flies wildly in to the distance.

Keane needs both consistency with respect to the defense around him (so play the same back 4 as much as possible) and importantly Jagielka. Keane is still learning watching Jagielka (a defender whose positional play is in the main streets ahead of his peers) will help him immensely.

My biggest wish, even greater than the desire to see Allardyce leave at the end of the season, is to say goodbye to Williams. His last great game for Everton was about 18 months ago. He is slow, poor positional performance and gives away needless free kicks. The fact that he was not able to play yesterday is to my mine one reason for our improved performance.

Role on next Saturday. a difficult but emminently winnable game.

As for Bolasie, we did over pay for him and he has not done anything to justify a price tag higher than Walcott. But I still think he is a good player who will need a few more games to get fully match fit. He brings a very good dimension off the left, especially if we can consistently deploy an overlapping full back. As he showed yesterday, he can cut in and deliver telling crosses.

Should he be picked ahead of Lookman? Not in my book, as Lookman is quicker and can beat a man. If I were calling the shots in January, Bolasie would have been loaned out to regain match sharpness whilst Lookman given a run in the team. But anyway, here we are, and I sincerely hope Yannick can become a meaningful threat for the remainder of the season.

The fact is that it would just be a hassle for the club to have to juggle people around for the rest of this season before getting the new guy in. I think that the club see this as an ordeal that will run it's course, but not for Sam's full contract.

I would be amazed if he was still here for the start of next season.

The best Striker we have,s o play to his strengths & support him up top, eh, Sam!

We are still extremely nervous defensively and against a very poor Brighton side got away with it.
A couple of errors we made would have been punished by a better team. The main thing is at this stage are the points and not embarrassing ourselves over the next 3 games.

As most said since the day he arrived I doubt Allardyce will be with us after the last game of the season. He was brought in for one reason alone. However, it would be great if we could string a few good performances together, gain a bit of confidence as a team and individually, Keane, Tosun, to set us in good stead for next season.

No more English / British managers at this stage please. Sadly, none of them are good enough. This generation has either grown up knowing survival as achieving a target and "success". Not good enough if we are to show ambition. Most of them at some point have even failed that, yet still get recycled and continue to land plum jobs because "they know the Premier League". Did Ferguson? Did Klopp? Did Mourinho? Did Pochettino? Did Wenger? Did Conte? Did Guardiola? Or Mancini before him?

Those that have been given the opportunity to "imagine what they could do with the resources" have been found out of their depth and failed once winning became the expectation vice not losing.

Even those not quite in that category yet (Dyche, Howe), I don't see the situation changing; we would be setting them up for failure. It's a British football thing; the system needs overhauling from the bottom up and will take a generation before we are producing players and subsequently coaches who are technically adept enough to challenge at the top, both nationally & internationally on a consistent basis (not just the odd cup success or winning a high profile fixture or 2).

I don't say this with satisfaction; quite the opposite. We are unfortunately a generation behind in terms of technical ability & winning mindset; current British managers go out not to lose. That's why none of the "6" have gone down that route or would do tomorrow if they had to. United tried and got spectacularly burnt; City arguably with Hughes, Tottenham with Sherwood, Liverpool with Rogers (although pearly whites did nearly spawn it until Stevie G fortunately fell over!!).

Any chance of breaking the glass ceiling and being seriously ambitious about doing so requires a coach / manager from outside of these shores at present. In my humble opinion obviously.

Appoint Howe, Arteta, Silva, Fonesca, Emery or anyone else whose default setting is to play attractive football. Equally importantly somebody who looks and behaves like they give a fuck about our club, its fans and wants to build something for the relative long term rather than trousering a big fat contract a la Koeman, Alladyce

Tell the appointee they can have 3 Million a year - not a pittance and another 3 Million if we finish in the top six or god forbid win something.

Enough is enough. He needs to leave asap. Probably be May though.

Bollocks!

We need a win at all costs, ruthless, no nonsense bastard of a manager who will win us trophies.

I bet any of you would be lording BS if we where top of the league.

Stuff values and all that crap, I want a team that will go out and beat/compete with the best, regardless of "values of the club".

That's why where in the mess we are in.

We were very shaky at times in defence, even when Brighton were down to 10 men they were finding acres of space. A good job we had a 2 goal lead or it would have been soiled undies time.

Against Man City or Liverpool, maybe even Stoke !, if we make as many mistakes or give away so much space around the box we will be put to the sword. Fortunately for us Brighton were rubbish , the worst I’ve seen play this season at Goodison.

All in all though we were a lot better with Jags and Baines back. Those stalwarts are getting older and will not last out the rigours of another season.

Yesterdays incremental improvement highlights the necessity of getting them both adequately replaced in the summer with as best quality as we can possibly get.

Peter, not my ideal line up but eh, this is before January and it doesn't have Schneiderlin in it, so more attacking straight away.

That's a bit like saying "I bet you would be praising the integrity of Philip Green if he was honest"

You asked for an attacking team? I didn't know I was being judged by you? Fair play if you are a professional manager? But i've got this little feeling your not. Next.

All this "we want winning football and free-flowing attractive football" also, as has already been pointed out, that was Martinez's aim. If you don't have good enough players to win that way, you have to win any way you can.

As a club unfortunately that's where we are at, and its as certain as can be, that it will be the same for any new manager we employ. That is unless we can find a 5 times billionaire with no regard for money!

None of that should convince anyone that I know what I am talking about. I offer an opinion on your team. I can back it up by what I have seen from those players in your team.

Congrats for sticking your head over the parapet though. Nobody else has risen to the challenge when I have asked previously.

Next anyone?

You win by being the best. Win at all costs gets you so far; will temporarily win you the odd feel good game.

City currently don't win at all costs with no nonsense. It's because they are the best.

All comes down to ambition.

A top professional and a pity he's nearing the end of his career.

The question is; what did you get your coaching qualification in? It certainly wasn't football.

Simply by omitting the tackling machines, we would have become more attractive, attacking.

Rooney and Davies offer so much more going forward, it also allows Sigurdsson to go to Number 10 without competing for the same space as Rooney. This option was open to Sam all along but, like you, he didn't see it.

Oh and BTW do you really think the question of us being ugly and defensive stopped being asked in January?

Whatever you took those coaching courses in, they did nothing for your eyesight... or your memory

What's your point?

Our defensive and attacking capabilities look so much better with Baines and Coleman. Man of the Match for me was Jagielka. I thought he was quite excellent – just wish he was 10 years younger.

As regards to naming a more attacking, attractive team before January, to be fair, we could name a few (you didn't mention which year).

Joking apart, but well done to Paul Welsby for having a go. It would suggest by the way you have replied that what you witnessed yesterday was an Allardyce masterstroke.

I think most Evertonians would want that kind of football, let's see how Hippo Head sets up against Man City and Liverpool. His attacking, attractive limitations will be there for all to see.

We've had the worst defensive record since 1977 under Koeman and Fat Head. The 4% or so that think Hippo Head should stay should lay off the crack pipe. He needed sacking for giving Williams the armband ffs.

The guy has been here just over two months and almost got us safe. He's brought in Tosun and Walcott which is a statement in itself, especially if Tosun is the player I think he's is. I am prepared to give him a chance with his own players.

You're right, it's a mess... but you can't blame Sam. Frankly we have been lucky the Premier League has been at such at low standard this season, probably a result of too many foreign managers like Silva in the lower clubs.

Just my opinion but happy to be called a few names –it goes with the territory these days. COYB

If survival is your ambition then Allardyce is your man.

I want more.

Pickford
Kenny, Jagielka, Keane, Martina
Rooney, Davies or Gana, Sigurdsson
Vlasic or Lookman
Calvert-Lewin, Niasse

There's a few options there. I think that team may have got the odd pasting from the top sides (we've had that anyway), but would have been good enough to get more wins than we've had.

Imagine a team like that playing regularly, then strengthened by Coleman, Baines, Bolasie, Walcott and Tosun?

"Attacking" and "attractive" in comparison to the teams Allardyce chose to select, you mean?

Piece of piss.

I would simply have omitted two of Gueye, Schneiderlin and McCarthy, instead of fielding all three against fucking Bournemouth on December 30th. Any two of Rooney, Niasse, Bolasie, Lookman, Davies, Sandro and Vlasic, who were all available to start instead, would have injected a little more attacking impetus from the off in comparison to the triumvirate of defensive Daleks Allardyce decided to 'dig in' with from the first whistle that day.

Regardless, Peter, ever considered there may have been few takers to your 'challenge' because the question itself is complete and utter queef? What exactly is the point you are trying to make by posing it?

Forget hypothetical team selection. Are you seriously suggesting it would have been impossible for any line up Allardyce (actually) named and sent out, prior to January, to have offered greater attacking threat, or played more joined up stuff, if operating under completely different instruction from a more adventurous coach?

I just hope our board are as emphatic as our fans on this point, despite the dross that has been served up I think our fans have been very tolerant. There was no demonstrations or banners against Koeman and the same under Allardyce. But surely the board can be under no illusions as to the wishes of the fans.

Attacking football is more a mindset-issue than it is a playerquality-issue. We beat Leicester at home playing pretty good attacking football, then reverted back to defensive-minded negative football the awaygame after. It's a mentality brough on by the manager.

Sure having Martina at left back isn't optimal, but he could have chosen Garbutt for instance who is way better at attacking. Regarding Williams, he's not a player I deem having enough quality to play for us, but if we would have played a more possession-based football with an attacking mindset, he wouldn't have been so exposed as he have been. The defensive setup have had us pegged back and allowed teams pinging in crosses from left to right. No defender will look good in those circumstances. And this against teams we really could have beaten.

There are teams out there that don't have as good players as we have, but are playing with an attacking mentality, and they are doing pretty good, based on their squads. Bournemouth and Watford spring to mind. Can you honestly tell me you think those teams have better squads than us?

There are a lot of games this season that has been there for the taking but that we have drawn/lost because of Allardyce's negative setup. We won't win every match with an attacking mindset, but at least we will give it a go. I'd rather see us try to win, than not try to lose.

Allardyce out now!!

However I agree totally with you... We should appoint a foreign manager, just for the reasons you described in your earlier post. Fonseca would be my choice!

Allardyce out now!!

My Mrs is out and so is everyone else. I don't remember laughing so loud when I`ve been on me own.

.

In all my fifty-odd years supporting Everton, I have never experienced such a juvenile and ill-informed response to matters. I've no idea what Michael or Lyndon make of it but for me it somehow dilutes the level of the debate to such a degree that I find if difficult to connect or respond to such diatribe.

I used to consider ToffeeWeb a cut above the usual platforms but recently my appetite to tune in and get involved has diminished somewhat. Somebody here referred to Allardyce as the “worst manager in Everton's history”. That, frankly, is just plain silly. Evertonians on the whole have always been acknowledged as an educated football audience. If this behaviour is typical then sadly, no more I'm afraid.

And by the way he didn't play a 4-3-3 lineup he played a 4-1-4-1 set up, and that's why Tosun was isolated again.

So please stop giving credit were it isn't due

I respect and share your 'old school' values, without intending to be patronizing at all. However, probably sadly, times do change. At the start I was very against Mr Allardyce as our manager for a variety of reasons; genuine shock that Unsy was replaced by such a character, primarily his bung expose and his obsession with defend at all costs approach.

However, I took an early stance that Sam and Sam should be given some time and to my surprise their early impact was extremely fruitful. However, when the team lost their way after Christmas, the Lookman and Schneiderlin debacles, I was extremely pissed off. Again however, there was never, and nor should there ever be a resort to personal insults. But it has to be acknowledged, his gum-chewing and spitting it out (onto the field of play observed on one occasion), and his style of delivery coupled with his insufferable ego do make for an easy target for mockery and abuse, whether unmerited or not.

I posted a comment on another thread a couple of days ago querying how much (or little) do we actually know about the operations of the staff and players behind the scenes, and it could be that Allardyce is actually performing miracles in a genuinely toxic work position that we do not see? For example the performances of Tosun and Walcott look to becoming seriously good business compared to last summer. It could also be that Klaassen works his way back into contention to contribute to the closing games? Martin Dobson could be a positive to the departure of Joe Royle from the Club (great loss whatever the circumstances) and so on.

However, I am still looking forward to seeing Allardyce replaced in the early summer and a new manager who is the complete package taking center stage. Perhaps it's just a sign of the times; less patience, aggressive electronic communication, lack of the human touch, more emphasis on image and wrapping and so on. Whatever it is I don't think it is unique to ToffeeWeb.

It is also interesting that, however expletive-driven (including myself on occasion?), most ToffeeWebbers have been consistently accurate in their concerns over Allardyce's general management decision making such as too defensive, Schneiderlin, Lookman, Williams, Martina, etc. and seriously low aspirations in getting the team to play on the front foot.

Keep the faith. With Premier League status looking more certain, I think there is a lot to be learned from this season, not least how and where to prune and improve an already skillful squad and how to manage their game time to improve team spirit and results.

COYB

You both must have snow on your barnets looking down on us mere mortals. Anyone can type what they want and i'm sure like you put it John, if Lyndon or Michael thought it was unacceptable they would do something about it? They don't need anyone digging them out like you just have so we all conform to how you think is the right and proper way.

Get a grip! If you don't like these names Huge Head is being called don't read it, that tends to work.

I am interested in what Lyndon and Michael think because they rightly consider themselves as serious commentators. I wasn't asking them to censure anything.

Also, why do you infer that I am taking some sort of moral high ground – a ridiculous conclusion to make just because I don't engage in personal insults to make my point.

As it happens, for the record, I am not Sam Alladyce's biggest fan either but I stopped calling people names when I was about 13. To conclude, yes I probably will stop reading these pages, which is a shame really.

Is it?

If so, my apologies to anyone that may have been offended, including yourself.

Like I said before get a grip shit happens not everything is the way we want it or think it should be? Is it really that bad that it takes you away? Has someone died? Is anyone seriously ill? For fuck sake John lighten up everyone is different, if a post is not to your liking skip past it.

Have dialogue with people of your ilk you don't have to read my posts and others like it? Just like I don't have to read yours but it wouldn't take me away because of a bit of name calling of are manager with the fucking massive head.

I think you'd find we by-and-large agree with you. The name-calling is rather juvenile and pathetic. But the challenge in this day and age of free internet expression is the speed with which punters will scream "censorship", and the practicality of imposing limits on such things that becomes very arbitrary. So we are not inclined to do much about it.

The name-calling reflects mainly on the name-callers, at least that's the way I'd want it to be. Part of our reason for wanting real names and working emails is that posters take personal responsibility for what they post. But we try to enable most people to post who want to and can express themselves to a fairly minimal level of literacy.

We set a pretty low bar on here to minimize the posting delay and workload from message review, but Lyndon raises the bar somewhat on his 1878 Magazine pieces ostensibly to promote a better class of respondent.

Which model would you prefer?

However, and here is the but, when it takes the form of continually repeated forms in subsequent postings, it goes beyond mere frustration and becomes insulting to the person aimed at and at those who got it the first time around! There is a line to be crossed and that's the one of good taste rather than degenerating a debate to insults. That takes a debate to mud slinging and personalisation of individuals which ends many a good thread.

As a point of interest, Allardyce cannot win – no matter what he does or says, with many in this forum. We win, he is blamed for taking credit; we lose, he is blamed for every incident; he says nothing and condemned anyway. Personally, I find that absurd but it doesn't really matter because, at the end of the season, I hope he will be gone... Right now, I just want to support the team and see the season out.

Having re-read my original comment in light of Paul's response, I can see that I might have come across as priggish but that wasn't my intention in expressing my view. I take your point on where you set the bar and I can see that there is room for both models and that we all have a choice. Come on (all) you Blues!!

May I thank you wholeheartedly for being the voice for us guilty of juvenile,Ill-informed response to matters as was put in a previous post.

I am personally guilty of calling our manager Hippo Head,so in future posts he will be referred to as 'Double-H', so as no one can be offended,that is not my intention.

No animals were hurt in the making of this post.

Once again, Paul, we salute you.

Nero and a fiddle come to mind with with some of the posts.

Sam just makes a rod for his own back with his arrogance and demeanour amongst other things in his character. He makes it extremely hard to warm to him when he just smiles after serving up utter shite.

When we as Everton supporters are getting laughed at by our own manager live on TV, he is going to get it, even if some supporters think it's over the top. On top of that, he just isn't a good manager as his record tells you long before he came to us. Some people on here will try to say he hasn't had a chance or they're not his players blah, blah, blah.

Supporters are just frustrated, John, and taking the piss out of him like he has us is just banter, granted sometimes personal but eh I don't think he is bothered when he picks up his very large pay cheque, do you, John? All-in-all, we just want success for Everton? We are on the same side so no offence mean't, John.

Sorry for getting you into a moral discussion. Michael is of course right about freedom of speech, for now anyway an important part of our way of life and unfortunately name calling is a big part of social networking. I love reading different opinions on ToffeWeb and other sites. It often makes me wonder if I watched the same game.

Just sometimes, especially around Sam Alladyce ,it gets a bit irrational and irritating and, like you rightly pointed out, stifles the debate. I would love to see him succeed; it would be great for all of us and, for some funny reason, I think he might given the support. Just an opinion.

I try to read some of the more rational and a lot of the time very good points and ignore the ones that don't really contribute much.

Please keep reading – there are some good and passionate blues on this site that often results in some great and enjoyable banter. COYB Think we will do Stoke this week.

James (249), no problem mate and I certainly will continue reading as, despite the knee-jerk response, I'm addicted to it!

We are Evertonians, we are passionate and one thing we will not stand for whether it being playing staff or personel is someone taking our club for a ride.

Frustration gets the better of us, but through all that, you allow us all to have our views, others may have a different opinion, but this fans forum allows every single Evertonian to have their views.

Using big fancy words and name calling to make another poster sound inferior does go on, sometimes trying to make a previous poster look he was back in the headmasters office, we are better than that, if we do not agree fair play have an opinion, but cut out the belittling, date time other posters name followed by shooting that poster down.

I myself have posted, then after reading other comments have thought, they have a point there.

But we are all Evertonians, we care about our club, that is why it is great to hear other posters views.

Keep up the good work and thanks for putting up with our odd rant or two.

The Englishman looks disgusted, pushes his pint away and demands another pint.

The Scotsman picks out the fly, shrugs, and takes a long swallow.

The Irishman reaches in to the glass, pinches the fly between his fingers and shakes him while yelling, "Spit itout, ya bastard! Spit it out!"

source: http://www.jokebuddha.com/Spit#ixzz59Wk9L1rx

Although after stating that, Everton still have 4 away games against teams below Everton in the Premier League. That may prove too difficult to get even 1 win out of all of them, which does prove that Everton have wasted millions on the wrong type of players ever since Koeman became manager.

Pickford
Kenny
Keane
Jagielka
Holgate
Vlasic
Rooney
Gana
Mirallis
Sigurdsson
Calvert-Lewin