Allardyce interview fail

The reason I have brought this in, is, there is a distinct analogy between those 'going through the motions Engineers' and the squad we have at Everton at the moment.

Every one in four or so, are worth keeping; the others deserve the Order of the Boot, along with a plethora of backroom staff and Board Members.

Right – the soap-box is back under the stairs... tiĺl next week at least!

Why he picked Schneiderlin is a mystery to me, coupled with your allusion to playing people out of position, or in incorrect roles, is equally baffling.

Let's just hope that Allardyce has effectively signed his own Death Warrant (metaphorically of course) and dispelled any chance of him remaining anywhere near Everton beyond this season.

It never ceases to amaze me, Paul, that these managers are on immoral earnings, yet the fans can glaringly see the shortfalls in team selection and tactics.

City were from a different footballing planet and, if the current status quo remains, then Everton will never get back to the top tier where they once so proudly strode.

I wouldn't have given any of them that started that match more than a 3.

Why would you give ratings to players that for 45 minutes simply stood there looking at Man City players and admiring them?

The sooner it's all over, the better and the best thing that can happen is multiple sackings and resignations... hopefully followed by the right appointments, because, if they aren't the right ones... we'll be looking down the road at Sunderland and Leeds, to name but two...

He made tackles and interceptions in the second half? Did he really? I must've been watching a totally different game to you! So you give him a 6 for doing what you say in 45 minutes? Correct me if I'm wrong but the game is 90 minutes?

Schneiderlin strolled round that pitch yesterday doing fuck all! I think many people would agree with him on the pitch it is like playing with 10 men!!! The rest of them yesterday would struggle for a 5! The 2 interceptions he made you're on about, he gave the ball straight back to them! And you think he's worthy of a 6 for that? Come on, lad, are you messing?

Calvert-Lewin... I'm really not sure what he offers to the team or what he was supposed to be doing yesterday? With Sigurdsson missing, I'd have been tempted to play Vlasic, especially after he scored 2 international goals midweek, as our 10.

Was "stand back and admire them" our game plan?

Look, we have been total crap this season, from the owner and chairman to the management and players, and we have managed to keep our place in the top flight for next season.

Can it get any worse? I don't think so – the only way for us next season is up. The changes should start now – give a new manager some time to work with the players and staff for the rest of the season (nothing to lose now) and a full pre-season. Hopefully move on some of the not-good-enoughs and get in a midfield general, playmaker and decent centre-back.

We will be back stronger next season but it needs doing sooner rather than later.

I'm baffled as to what plan evolved in Allardyce's mind as to how to play the game. Baffled because everyone knows City damage you by finding space between your back line and your midfield line. We also are all aware that City will hold the ball and pass it around until they eventually outnumber you down the flanks. So what plan did we have to counter and contain these things? Clearly we didn't have one. Instead we gave them the freedom of the park, we left both full-backs exposed, and, critically, we just looked on as Silva and co wandered at will into the space between the lines.

So, that's what we get for ٤m a year? This management game is easy.

Absolute folly, of course, as Burnley and Palace have shown recently against Man City – if you put the hard yards in, you might get something. But no, them cowards who don the blue shirt just sat back and went "Oooh, Kevin, that's lovely!" ... "Oooh, David, that's great!" Cowards, the lot of them... and expect more of the same next week.

Pickford (5) – Our best signing but still has lots to learn.

Baines (6) – Got forward.

Jagielka (4) – The best central defender we have which really says a lot about how rubbish we are.

Keane (4) – Surely we have to offload this lad, he's hopeless.

Coleman (3) – He will be having nightmares about Sane; first time I've ever seen someone roasting Coleman for pace.

Schneiderlin (2) – The manager is to blame for playing him; no-one in the ground was surprised at his performance, he spent the first 20 minutes running around in circles. At one point both Rooney and Schneiderlin were actually shouting at him in his face, not sure if that was on TV but it was right in front of me in the paddock.

Tosun (6) – Very slow but excellent effort; I don't know how you can give someone 7/10 for effort, they have to do more.

Rooney (2) – Embarrassing was just watching the game going on around him; basically we had no midfield. I can't remember him doing anything to help us at all... he might has well have been playing for Man City. He must be killing himself laughing at the wage we are paying him.

Bolasie (5) – He isn't much use really; I give him 5 for the goal but he missed a sitter, doesn't create much and rarely scores, which means he shouldn't be playing in the position he is. Total waste of money.

Walcott (4) – Didn't notice he was playing.

Calvert-Lewin (3) – Tries hard but totally out of his depth; offered zero.

Davies (6) – I agree with you, he was our best player... but you can't give him 7/10 because he just pressed the ball. He didn't really win the ball or create.

Baningime (5).

Niasse (4) – Tries his best

Fat Sam (0) – Clueless... stood there trying to think of ways to limit the damage, totally one-dimensional, worse than Moyes who actually would press and play high tempo football when playing better teams at home. The one good thing is we are nearing the end of this nightmare and he will be gone soon. Just embarrassing to think that someone like him was ever associated with Everton Football Club.

Thanks for keeping us up, Sam; that was by no means certain when you were appointed but it's time to move on.

If Silva was the first choice in the Autumn then he should be appointed shortly after the season ends.

But he won't be putting his hand in his pocket for another 𧶨M, if he did for the first. In the end, even Sky money can't keep up with that level of expenditure... it will have to come from somewhere, by various means and sources... aka, club debt.

Back to square one.

This attitude of "let them have the ball because we can't match them" is absolutely poisonous, and we have spent 𧶲m over three seasons to get here. It's fucking scandalous!

Letting Lukaku leave and bringing Rooney back as our highest paid player sums up our club. Who sanctioned those transfers? Would any of the top six clubs who we aspire to join have made that move? Not a chance; Man Utd couldn't wait to see him out of the door, they knew he was spent. Of course, the current dross isn't all down to Wayne, the lad tries and has scored a couple of great goals, but his legs have gone.

Until someone gets a grip at the top, we are destined for more of the same. Mercenary players who don't give a shite about this club. Allardyce said himself that at least 5 players wanted out at Christmas, a sad indictment of the leadership and non-existent team spirit. Get rid of all these ex-players robbing a living. Get rid of Walsh. Get rid of Allardyce and start again. Otherwise, what's the point of next season?

City are far more pacy and athletic than most teams – never mind a very slow ordinary Everton side.

John G, you're right about the athleticism, but Kev is correct that we should at least match every opponent for effort and generally fail to do so, a result of the manager-instilled inferiority complex. Having a midfielder with the intensity of a basset hound playing the full 90 doesn't help either. (A 6, Paul? Really?) We weren't going to beat City on our best day with what we have, but it would have been nice to see a real fight.

I yearn for Monday, May 14... six weeks from tomorrow. This lost season will have ended, and I fervently believe that's the day this dysenteric manager will be kicked down the road and the long process of recovery will begin.

I agree with Kevin's point about the lack of effort from some of them.

The man was never nor will ever be an Everton-standard manager and his appointment was a disgrace.

Whether that comes from Allardyce, the media or the key figures within the side – it is definitively unEverton.

It's 11 v 11, professional footballers who should be on a level par in terms of fitness. City kill most teams with their first time passing, their pass and movement, their one-twos, their movement off the ball. City have destroyed better teams than us this season, so why should yesterday have been any different?

If we had shown the effort and commitment yesterday, then I guess most of us would have accepted it. I think it's that lack of effort and commitment that most are not happy with.

Rooney's legs have gone. Walcott and Schneiderlin never put the effort in.

The whiskey is now out and I am rocking slowly back and forth again. Thanks John, bloody thanks.

We will all be alcoholics the way it's going.

Probably that's the reason why we made it so easy for city yesterday. Didn't want to injure any of their players before the first leg. (Only joking about that before any smart-arse thinks I'm being serious.)

I totally agree with what you say about one thing though, John. We just could not get near them. You try and close them down and they Just pass you to death. You try and tackle and before you know it the ball has gone. City like to keep possession.

Did you notice when they kicked off for the second half, they played about 12 to 15 passes between themselves before we committed a foul. The ball hadn't left their half. When we kick off, it's played back to whoever, who lumps it as far as they can and we immediately give up possession.

I'm guessing you are kidding us when you say Everton will show “effort and commitment” in a Merseyside derby?

Every time we play a top 6 team these days, it's just a "lay down and have our bellies tickled" mentality.

A lad in front of me repeatedly called the Everton players "shithouses, cowards" in between "just fuckin hit them".

We couldn't get close enough to them to hit them. We could have done a few of them with late tackles and got our players sent off.

The likes of Baines, Coleman, Jagielka, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun and Bolasie put plenty of mileage in but could not get within a yard of them before the ball was moved on.

We were completely demolished by a great football team.

I may be wrong but I can't remember his Everton rolling over so easily. However, with so many cheats on the pitch and so many referees not up the job, getting stuck in or Dogs of War days are a thing of the past. The game has practically become a none-contact sport because of players feigning injury to stop the flow of the game or just blatantly coning the officials. For me it's just as bad as the cricket-ball tampering.

Not taking anything away from City – they where allowed to play a poor side (maybe not that good) off the park. I hope the board noticed the half-empty ground towards the end... better do something quick or it will be like that at the start!!

Yes, they can; they develop.

"Players not putting 100% in is fuck-all to do with Al-lard-arse."

I think you may find that, at the very least, getting effort out of staff is one of the most basic requirements of a manager in any field.

It has long been acknowledged (by some people) that Everton is one of the true powerhouses of European greatness.

Accordingly, authorities on mainland Europe have recognised the irrefutable geographical argument surrounding the future of our current manager.

Following this progression: Martinez >> Belgium, Koeman >> Holland – there is only one conclusion. Accordingly, Sam Allardyce has been identified as the next manager of the German national side, and is expected to take up his position as soon as possible in order to prepare them for the forthcoming world Cup in Russia.

We wish you well, Sam. Under the circumstances, it would be best for all parties if this change is effected immediately.

Helmet Showin the 2nd

So it's 3s all round with 2s for our midfielders. They actually had a chance to do something about it and either didn't or couldn't.

We know what Sam's about by now. We know his formula for 'success' (by his own metrics, survival equals success).

Don't bother against the big teams. Hope for a draw away to the rest. Have a bit of a go at home to the rest. He hasn't shifted from that once this season. I'll give him credit for consistency and conviction in his methods.

40 points on the board hasn't changed that mindset. We had people saying his appointment was his last chance to change minds... but he didn't. We had people say that assuring safety would give him an opportunity to change his approach... but he didn't.

What really is the point of enduring any more of this now?

Completely unsuccessful tactics. Guardiola saw right through them.

What is the plan? Do we have one? A manager with one year left on his contract won't do. Let him go and get a young manager with Premier League experience. Why? Well at present we are in boom and bust mode. Spending 𧶲 million and we have to get a manager out of retirement to steer the ship north is telling us something is seriously wrong. Our wage bill must be frightening and relegation would have been to much to consider.

A younger manager given a plan with input of player purchases and sales. The aim must be to attain a top six finish within three years. Top four is beyond us at present but realistically top six is an achievement. If Arsenal and Chelsea are struggling to make the top four then let's give the next manager realistic targets.

Choices available for next manager. Silva or Howe from Bournemouth stand out. A coach from abroad with no Premier League experience or knowledge could mean calling Sam again in November. The biggest plus we must give our next manager is time and support. We are not one or two players short of Champions League but rebuilding areas of the team.

With all due respect, by your rationale all players will evolve into Maradonna. Regardless who the manager is, the only person responsible for effort is the individual. You have obviously never played football... and if you have, did you need a manager to tell you to try?

For the first time ever, I am thinking seriously about whether I want to watch what he is doing to our team.

Clueless & Classless.

He will accept this and dismiss the booing as half a dozen internet malcontents while the intellectual titan that is Rio Ferdinand will describe inexplicable gross incompetence in all departments before asking, without a trace of irony, why the fickle fans are unsatisfied. He will then think about having a bit more of a go against Swansea, as they represent a statistically better probability of not losing before conceding a late goal and blaming an individual...

Next week the fans will turn up hoping for something different and there will be loads of people saying on here ‘I have a feeling' and ‘you never know' based on previous experience when optimism was possible because of the team spirit: the sum of all our parts was greater. But not now, in reality we do all know another meek surrender will be witnessed and the only consolation is the Premier League is beyond them for now.

An alternative would be to get shut now, today, and put Unsworth back in. At the very least, the atmosphere would be better – and he would not play Schneiderlin.

Agree with Kevin (#17) Yes, City play a type of football rarely seen, but to the poster that said we couldn't get anywhere near them, that's because we couldn't cope with their movement, and that's down to poor marking and a lack of concentration.

Citteh have beaten everyone this season but they generally have to win the battles first, as teams such as Huddesfield (who where unlucky to lose to a last minute goal) have a game plan knowing that they can't go toe-to-toe with teams like this.

Standing off great players that are peppered all around the city team doesn't come close to being a game plan. You would have thought that because Lardiola has been in this position with relegation candidates many times, he would understand that.

We are unlucky with injuries to key players in midfield, but that doesn't excuse him playing Rooney & Schneiderlin in central midfield; Rooney can only play in a 3 man midfield in the Pirlo role or not at all-if only he'd looked after himself like that other 32-year-old David Silva.

Final point on Schneiderlin; I've said this before but the only thing missing from his performance was a dog, because if he's going to stroll nonchalantly round the park, he might as well give some poor mutt their daily walk. How is he still wearing a blue shirt?

We played because we love the game. What would we have done to have been a professional, which is every young kids dream.

You would get out of bed on a Saturday or Sunday morning looking forward to the game, and be absolutely gutted if you weren't selected. Luckily for me, that didn't happen very often. Lads would turn up with hangovers, carrying injuries or whatever, but be desperate to play, and would give their all once the game started. Of course, the encouragement came from your team manager and the dozen or so people on the line.

My point being, some of these prima donna professionals of today probably can't be arsed getting out of bed on a Saturday morning. The only carrot dangling in front of them being 㿞k per week.

Schneiderlin was a joke throughout – particularly the second half. Continually backed off and his half arsed wanderings are designed to avoid confronting anyone with the ball.

Too many of them now clearly waiting for Allardyce to go and simply counting time.

I've never been so apathetic going into a derby in 50 years of watching.

In some games when he scored such as Newcastle away he was absolutely dreadful while in other games such as Liverpool in the cup he completely hinders our entire midfield with his lack of movement. Koeman played him upfront and our attack had all the pace of the last days of the Walter Smith era and Rooney himself had no discipline for the role often popping up in the left back position. So as a result we are forced to Justify his wages and reputation by playing him in midfield. Of course pundits aren't allowed to criticise him so don't expect anyone to draw the same conclusions as me.

I remember when we signed Eto'o and he came on against Chelsea and you could see the bloke still had oceans of class and an ability to make a difference, with Rooney he is capable of the odd good forward pass because he still has vision but I'd sooner give Klaassen that chance.

For the wages we are paying Rooney we could have a really top class player. He is one of the major, major problems with Everton this season it really worries me for next season I hope we can somehow offload him.

And when we were due to play them, ‘Sir' would take me to one side and say "You're marking so-and-so who's a schoolboy international and is on (name a top division team) books. Don't let him out of your sight."

Okay, his superior skills would always win out but at least he would've known he'd been in a game.

After the game, you had to run the gauntlet against hordes of Kirkby nutters but that's another story.

My point, like yours, is that, just because the opposition is superior, try your fucking best and hope for the best.

But you also say "In the teams I played for there were 10 others on the pitch, the line and people watching who would let you know in no uncertain terms if you weren't giving 100%".

I think we're agreed that some do need others to tell them to pull their fingers out, to motivate them – and that can include a manager who's also on the sideline.

Will we ever get back to being that top club, I'm really not sure anymore. The dogs of war would have kicked Man City into the stands. No guts, no glory – and that applies to the whole club.

As for my managers they were all very strict. One was my dad, who subbed me for arguing that I scored when the ball crashed off the bar and bounced inside the goal line. It wasn't given and I was subbed. Another manager that benched me for 8 games because I didn't put the ball in the net after rounding the keeper.

Unfortunately for me I left the ball sitting on the goal line as I heard a whistle blow, it was from the crowd and not the ref. So he made an example of me.

But these so called pros, they get away with blue murder, they don't put the effort in, their not interested in the fans or even the club which they play for. If you cut me I would bleed blue Everton blood. Next week in the derby, will they give it their all? I believe they won't and it will be another mauling. Sad times a head.

I remember playing against Sammy Lee when we were at school. At the time, he was on Liverpool's books at schoolboy level. This meant nothing to me, I showed him no respect at all as I sent him flying into the air with a crunching tackle. Was it the fact that he was on the RS books, or because he stood out head and shoulders above everyone else, I can't honesty remember, but I was determined to bring him down a leg of two.

Respect... Fuck it! Go out there on Saturday and show them bastards no respect at all. Let them know they've been in a game.

ps: Okay, it probably was the fact that Sammy Lee was on the RS books!

We need to get stuck in and give them hell, but it won't happen, sadly most of players we have, don't have this attribute in them. I just wish I was wrong.

Please Sam just go.

Take Schneiderlin with you.

We played them at U14 level and they were the first school team I remember who played "proper, joined up" football if my memory serves me right.

We played them back in 1968-69 and they were certainly an exceptional side back then. Was that the era you recall or earlier?

Other Kirkby schools I remember playing against then were also very good footballing sides such as Brookfield and Ruffwood.

The best school team I remember around that time though was Salesian College in Bootle. They thrashed us out of sight at the U15 level.

I think you might be correct about Dennis Mortimer, but not 100% sure!

Btw, the manager merry-go-round is beginning to look like an online swinger site. Not that I've ever been on one of course.

Incidentally, I am royally pissed off today; I was supposed to be at the Fans Workshop with Dan Meis but I've been visited by the Snot Fairy and have the Mother Of All Colds and didn't think I should decimate our fan base by passing it on so e-mailed the club and told them to start without me! What a bummer.

Any Everton manager just has to keep Everton in the Premier League. No real pressure there, for any present or future manager.

I read a while back that he has spent more than any other manager at each of the clubs he has been at. Is he the best manager in the world or has the fact that he has had access to shed-loads of money got him to that heady position?

I for one get a little peeved listening to people in the media raving on how great he is and how great Man City are without putting it into a little bit of perspective. I wonder how they would fare if there was a salary and transfer cap they had to work to. Well I suppose we know the answer to that given their previous history.

Whenever any of these great managers hit an injury or two the cry goes out for more money so they can go out and buy another world class player to fill in! I'm therefore a little sceptical. There is no doubt City are playing fantastic football, which is the least you would expect given the players they have bought!

Notwithstanding, we were shameful in the performance put in on Saturday. The likes of Huddersfield and Wigan put in very creditable performances against them. It's an indictment on all at our club (not the fans) that we were so pathetic.

I take it you didn't hear of Rob's tragic end to his football career?

While playing in goal, he suffered a late challenge which necessitated the pyhsio coming on the pitch.

"Sorry Rob, it looks like you've played your last game for the club"

"Jeesus, is the injury really that bad?"

"No, it's because you're shite!"

Now, where did the wife put me boots after she burned them?

Just a few years earlier, mid-60s.

My medals are for egg chasing young Robert. As you well know.

Think I've left you behind there 😎😎😎😎

My old 40/50s coach was a forerunner of Fat Sam. His one and only instruction to me was 'If you get the chance, kick it or him as hard as you can.'

Even at the tender age of 11, I used to think "Surely there is more to the game than that?"

As I was only 10 that wasn't far – and "If you are in their goal area, welly it at the goal as hard as you can."

Then, as no-one else was available, he put me in goal.

Rob and others, Man City are a magnificent team and they will not be thwarted by a dinosaur void of ambition like the appalling Allardyce.

However, we have, in my opinion, exactly the players to have given it a go. Two players who will press and press, Calvert-Lewin and Niasse. Attack and press them and force long balls. The Juve team with Vialli and Ravinelli did exactly that.

Now, yes, we don't have those two but the success they had was 90 % effort. We could have given City a game. We didn't because there is a backbone missing at our club. We are spineless, complacent and soft, really disgustingly soft. All the money in the world cannot buy a backbone. Not a one of our nice guys have it.

Mike, bring my towels and cutlery back if you are coming over please.

Everton should pay to get you here – you lucky mascot, you.

Really think you need to move from Menlove Avenue, pal. New Zealand batsman out 1st ball.

And yes, Keith my friend, I do recognize the anniversary. (I remember every time I put Christine's silverware in the dishwasher.)

Sorry I couldn't risk my unbeaten record in The Year Of Substantial Sam, but it'll be glorious to see you lads again in December when somebody else is in charge.

You can get me and Butch Halligan a pint on Sat if you're about Ray. Usual tavern. Rob's the one that looks like Boris Johnsons' scruffier brother. 😎

So the seeds for the season were sown preseason and it was clear we neither had adequate replacements or a sufficient quality of players to hold their own in the Premier League.

Nothing has changed because well, we still have the inadequate replacements, and a massive shortfall in quality required. It's almost a total rebuild required with the playing staff because many are over the hill and many of the youngsters aren't up to it. That's a fact of life.

But we are Everton and we fight. Well, we used to. But there are no more Dogs of War to call upon, no one to mix it and no leaders with a damn on the pitch anywhere to be seen.

I think that's the sad bit, because we have always tried to cover our shortfalls in the past with effort. But against Man City, the shortfalls were so big any effort was never going to cut it. The gulf between money and management was there for all to see. Allardyce may joke that its a £350M gap, which is true, but in the last couple of seasons we have lost Stones, Lukaku, Barkley and others and not replaced them. That's down to the club as much as the manager.

Which brings me to Allardyce. We are safe. His job is done and frankly given what he had to work with I am glad we are still in the Premier League. But he is not what we need going forward and I hope to goodness that Moshiri gets his project back on track and finds a replacement in the summer. It's not Unsworth, it's not Allardyce, it's not Wenger, it's not Moyes, no, we need inspiration and hope and a brand new set of players.

I am not surprised by the result against city, not even angry because I knew the players picked couldn't hack it (or anyone tbh) but honestly, out of all our playing staff, who else could we have played instead?

We had half of the contributors on ToffeeWeb wanting an attacking side and go for it, the other half wanted to pack the midfield... which in truth was the way we should have gone... putting Rooney and Schneiderlin in the middle was suicide against Man City – any supporter worth his salt would have told Allardyce that, one is clueless the other is legless and it was embarrassing for Rooney to be put in that position, the manager should apologise to him, to the rest of the team and the supporters.

For me this season is the culmination of something else – years of bad management, an appalling director of football and a succession of poor decisions and a new leading shareholder who made a call to save his investment.

I really doubt anyone could have managed this team and got more out of them, that is NOT to say Allardyce did a good job. More to the point, how poor a group of playing staff we have to compete well in the Premier League.

Next weekend all I want to see is an Everton team fighting for every ball, I want to see every player not giving an inch, I want to feel proud again. I want to see us win – blood sweat and tears.., I don't care. I just want the players to.

Then for me the season is over. Then its bye bye Sam, hello...? asap please and let's get on with the rebuild.

I never wanted this Neanderthal of a football coaching anywhere near our club. Now he has been here, we are tainted, but at least we can remove the stain by removing him. He was awful in 1998, he is awful now.

Koeman would have achieved 9th / 10th. Unsworth probably could have done. Why did we panic and feel the need to have the name of Sam Luddite-ice associated with our club's proud history??

I guess Sam already has his post-match defeat speech written, like, just in case, you know?

Allardyce Out.

There is nothing to stop any team, us included, from taking the game to the opposition, no matter how good they are. Sitting back and allowing them to launch wave after wave of attacks at our pathetically static defence and midfield is tantamount to abject surrender before the ball has been kicked.