Niasse: I'm settling in very well now

If we will still be raving about him this time next season is another question. Best of luck though! Still awaiting Koeman's apology!!

Anyone looking forward to the next game? I just feel numb and can't be bothered.

Him and Calvert-Lewin did not combine very well in the last match, often getting in each others way and not making space for the other. If they could work on and improve markedly on that then I see no reason why they could not contribute 20+ goals between them. That is better than nothing until we get the top level striker that we somehow completely failed to get this Summer – despite all the time in the world to plan and supposedly with the new financial resources to compete.

Meanwhile, on planet Earth...

The fact that he seems to be our Lukaku replacement is an absolute disgrace.

The mess we now have at Everton FC is all down to the board and the management. Is it any wonder players want out or are unhappy. Since Koeman arrived at the club the list of players who have been cold shouldered or are being badly treated is bigger than this season's points total.

Niasse, Mirallas, Barkley, Lookman, Baines, Dowell, Garbutt, Sheedy, these are the ones we know of who have had run in or been totally omitted from the setup.

Surely Kenwright can see a pattern emerging here? How long before Koeman fires Unsworth for stealing his thunder. Nothing surprises me any more at this Mickey Mouse club.

ps: Anyone on here thinking of putting money on Everton to beat Brighton on Saturday – keep your dosh in your pocket. It won't happen under this clown Koeman. We couldn't win away when we were playing half-decent last season.

I go Brighton to win easy. Sorry, lads.

It speaks volumes that so many other players with far more ability have not a fraction of that passion or humility. Indeed if we had a manager that had, or could instill it...

No, Oumar may well not be good enough, but he has had a raw deal from the club / Koeman and there is a basic fairness about how we treat players, fans – in fact anyone at the club because we are Everton. At least I like to think they are the standards we adhere to, but I doubt that applies across the board or player management.

We (the club and by default the fans) shamed Oumar after a dismal start but there is NO excuse for how he has been treated as a senior player by the manager, none what so ever. Playing or not, he deserves respect and that has been non-existent until recently.

The Daily Mail in an article posted on ToffeeWeb recently, highlighted that when Oumar was eventually picked to play, he had no player's suit, no locker to put his gear in, I dare say now that little "oversight" has been remedied, it showed Koeman and the club in a poor light. Irrespective of his 1st team involvement, every player we buy deserves the same respect, facilities and treatment by the club and its management.

He didn't get that; we know it, he knows it, Koeman knows it and lets face it, people from Liverpool KNOW when something is not done right. That's why we smile wryly when he stuck those two goals in the other week.. it was more a case of two fingers at Koeman than a statement of what a fabulous player he is.

But he has proven he can score and has a kind and generous heart. (How many would put up with the treatment he has had?) Whilst he may not be the next Ronaldo, or Lukaku, for his time here, if he keeps sticking the ball in the net, then he will be just fine.

When his time comes to go he will have earned that little place in many hearts because he will have joined the ranks of the triers who warranted our respect as a person and for their passion for Everton.

Didn't the Stracq once get a massive ovation when he was subbed? I think he punched the air.

Tony, you can delete Sheedy from that list, There was an article in the papers a couple of weeks ago in which he stated that he had received an offer he couldn't refuse and that he left Everton on good terms. After he lef,t people on here were queuing up to slag Everton off, apparently without foundation. Plenty of "My mate knows someone at Finch Farm" shite.

I actually posted a link to this article to Michael and Lyndon on the hope that it would appear in full for all to see but, for some reason, it was not taken up by ToffeeWeb. See link below.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/exclusive-ireland-legend-kevin-sheedy-on-why-he-quit-everton-and-his-new-life-in-saudi-arabia-36156195.html

I agree that we need to work with him in training in partnership with Lookman and Calvert-Lewin as if we decide we need new striker, it won't be until January. I agree that he has his limitations but his pace and enthusiasm can make up for that if he is made fully aware of his role in the team. A lot of our problems stem from players not really knowing what they are supposed to be doing.

I also think the same applies to Sandro who given time will prove to be good.

Anybody agree that another mistake was to let Valencia go? Koeman understandably wanted to keep Lukaku but his attitude over the last few games was awful. Enner was the only real threat at Arsenal and won us a penalty. He has pace and frequently changed matches coming on. it was clear that we were desperately in need of a striker so why was he allowed to go?

What about the rumours about Bas Dost, is he any good? He looks good on YouTube but a lot of his goals are nicely set up for him; we ain't going to do that for him, are we!?!

I've seen quite a bit of the U23s and can honestly say Sambou, Henen, Dyson, Broadhead etc are still very much works in progress. When Niasse played, to be fair, he stood out, as I expected at that level he would.

I'm not suggesting Niasse is suddenly top class but he's above the current U23 crop.

I actually posted an article about that but the usual naysayers claimed he was just toeing the party line.

Not what I heard regarding Sheedy. There were reports of on going problems between Sheedy and the boss.

Tell me, Ray were is Sheedy now? Were is this amazing offer Kevin could not refuse? Has Sheedy packed his bags for a manager's job? Has Sheedy won the Euro millions? Where could Sheedy possibly go better than here and we not know about it???

just follow the link, Ray is not making this up

Link

Stop listening to and reading gossip. It will burn your head out.

I think the article, and direct quotations from Sheedy, reduce "what you heard" to the usual barroom gossip. Have you read the article? If not, then read it. Knowledge is understanding and maybe the knowledge you glean from it may help you to understand where Sheedy is at right now.

I don't know how old you are, Tony, but have a look at the following link and marvel at one of Sheedy's contemporaries from our great 1980s side.
It might even put a smile on your kipper. Or is that too much to expect...

It might also help younger fans understand who Big Nev was...

https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/he-tweets-he-saved-the-very-best-of-neville-southall

I know all about Sheedy and big Nev, I remember Dave Lawson and Dia Davies. Seen all the shite over the years. I know plenty of people connected to Everton but won't get in to that. I sat in the Joe Mercer lounge for over 20 years. Please Ray don't question my credentials as an Evertonian. I have forgotten more than most will ever know.

Again were did Sheedy go that was so irresistible??

I understand the women are very mysterious, but they are at least now allowed to drive.

Where on earth has Ray ever questioned your credentials?

He merely responded to an inaccurate statement in your posting. If you want to hand it out, you've got to be able to take it, especially when you're wrong. Please read his original link before you make yourself look even more silly.

Bad shout, mate. We all did the Chicken Run, Fulham Broadway, North Bank, Seven Sisters Road etc etc.

I'm no better Blue than anyone because of that. And neither is anyone else.

Did you have the pleasure of Kenny High Street, by the way?

I don't have a problem with the debate. I took it as my age being incorrectly assumed therefore rendering my knowledge of Everton not valid. I merely stated my long connection to the the club.

Ray asked me to go read a book to find out who certain players are? I know full well who they are. I know full well the shit that goes on at this club. Like I said, seen and heard it all over the years.

Yes, Micheal, Saudi Arabia to coach a youth team? Is that worth leaving Everton for or is it financial, I wonder?

I don't know. You claimed to have great credentials and inside knowledge, why don't you ask them? Or do you think he's the only Brit to ever take a well paying job in the Kingdom of Saud?

My original point was Sheedy left for a lesser job in a non-footballing country because he had had enough at Everton. He left with pride intact and kept his mouth shut but you can't tell me Al Shabab youth is a better career opportunity than Finch Farm and EFC.

But people still steer the conversation toward conspiracy. Unless you have a quote from the man saying he was forced out, just don't. Don't muddy the waters with unsubstantiated claims. Stick to clear evidence.

I understand your frustration Tony, it's part of being a Blue. It shouldn't be but it is.

I heard Sheedy left because he wasn't happy any more. Not sure why but I can hazard a guess.

Many thanks.

Would you trust them with your pension fund?

Kings Dock, Destination Kirkby, 30 years without a league title, over two decades without a single trophy, failing to buy a striker after selling our star striker, the Ross Barkley fiasco, the Gary Speed fiasco, the "McCarthy is family" joke of last Summer, the Niasse treatment...

Destination Kirkby was stopped by the Public Enquiry because they judged that an additional retail outlet wasn't needed in the area; the club tried for a new ground and thank heavens they failed.

Not buying a striker? The only sin would have been not trying but they tried big time; the reality was that they couldn't get the quality that they demanded... nobody could.

The Ross Barkley fiasco? For this, I'd blame Ronald Koeman but he doesn't run the club. Ross wants to leave, nobody but Ross knows why. The other two items are really scraping the bottom of the barrel I'm afraid.

Let me offer the big sin that the people who run the club committed and it's really only one. They didn't have money to invest themselves and they couldn't get it externally as nobody could post 2008 – but wait!! The people who run the club eventually got investment that clubs outside of the top 4 could only dream of: debts restructured, a new ground planned and big spending in the transfer window. I rate that as The Board 10, Armchair Critics 0.

Let's discuss these issues, please. For far too long, people on here seem to have accepted a fallacy-based alternative reality to what has actually happened at the club. Of course they have made mistakes, as those who run any business will, but always with the benefit of 20/20 vision and overdoses of tittle tattle. It's about time that reality reared its ugly head.

John, definitely not mate.

Tony, you have misunderstood. At no time do I question your blue "credentials"; I posted two links, one to show that Sheedy, in his own words and not those from someone "in the know", left Everton by choice to join up with Mike Newell in a very well paid post in Saudi Arabia.

The other was posted because I thought, as an Evertonian from that era, you might enjoy watching some tremendous footage of Southall in his prime.

In post #40 you also say "Al Shabab youth is (not) a better career opportunity than Finch Farm and EFC." No, it probably isn't... But, at Sheedy's age and with the health problems he has endured, the chance of a big pay day would no doubt make up for the lesser post he has taken. And do you think his CV needs any improving? I don't.

You also say that I "asked me to go read a book to find out who certain players are". No, I didn't. I asked if you had read the article in which Sheedy clearly states his reasons for leaving. If you had read, it you would not keep regurgitating your ridiculous claims.

Clearly we have both watched some garbage over the years; my match-going started in 1959 so, like you, I would love it if we could see the glory years return. But I'm not holding my breath.

Darren, sorry if I misunderstand you but Everton fans were on the North Bank at Highbury first game of the 1970 Championship season. I know because I can still feel the whacks around my head.

What made it worse was the same happened again walking down Warwick Road after beating Man Utd the following Wednesday evening. Me and my brother got set on by around a dozen United fans, but just when it looked as though we'd had it, a bunch of lads ran out of a local pub and gave the United fans a bit of their own medicine.

I posted about the experience on here very recently... and it was 1969, by the way, not 1970 – it was also long before segregation

The only time "we" filled the North Bank was in 1984... so not sure how we all, err, "did it"

Perhaps you were one of those people who did the chicken run? If so, what did it entail? And did you get kicked out for it? Were "we all" headless?

Oh and how's your knowledge of tube stations?

Then I left Merseyside and watched from Tyneside and keep moving and now won't give my cash to a Premier League scam.

So first games approx 1965. I've seen loads and can bore fore Britain with some tales.

Now just turned 57. All that makes my view better than new or young fans? Nah. It just has a different, and not necessarily more useful perspective. How I use it, I guess.

And to many fans who are new, young and the future, about as useful probably as a Brexiteer warbling on about the Empire... or a red yelling "Five!"

In a time though, when the PR section is fast out of the blocks with distraction feel-good pieces after poor performances or contentious issues, and with the many organized celebrations and support that exists for ex-players, the lack of anything from the club for a notable ex-player and long time club servant is very telling. No words of thanks, no good wishes for the future?

Whatever it was, something happened.

Maybe he'll surprise us all, and massively improve.

Upton Park was one ground I never went to see Everton. Coming from Northwich, most of my mates were Man City or Man Utd fans and they always got battered there, even United with their mass following.

Niasse scores goals – what else do you want? Pirouettes with handstands thrown in!

As for the team... well, if they could just get a whiff of his enthusiasm and positivity, who knows. Still, most of the players today no longer breathe the air we all breathe every day.

However minority and majority views changes in the fanbase and occasionally on here.

Thank God for being fickle. Mike and Lyndon would have no site otherwise.

No problem, mate. Whatever we said, it sparked an off-thread debate which I have enjoyed. I loved football in the 1980s even the times we were shit.

Much more of a level playing field back then and no foreign mercenaries.. Grounds were empty and shit but it was more of a togetherness. It was still a working man's game. Now it has gone way beyond Roy Keane's prawn sandwich brigade. We're at the caviar and truffles stage now... I hate it.

I also had some scary moments at St Andrews and the Victoria Ground, Stoke but have to agree that Elland Road was probably the worst.

By the way does anyone remember the FA Cup tie away at Notts County in the 80s when we outnumbered (at least very close to it) the home support - we won 2-1?

I wish they'd put a cap on the number of foreign players you can field. Lookman, Davies Dowell etc could all benefit from that sort of thing and, although I am not bothered about England (London FC), the national team would probably benefit as well. And maybe the caviar and truffles would lose out to fish and chips from the Goodison Supper Bar.

God knows the options are limited at the moment and he should start at Brighton alongside Calvert-Lewin.

On the scoring stakes only Swansea (3 goals) and Palace (0 goals) have scored less then Everton. If that isn't a sad indictment of Koeman's management, I don't know what is.

His only pluses really are getting in the box and his shooting. He would probably take a clear chance but is not the long-term answer.

He took the goals against Bournemouth well but IMO he's still not a premier league player and some of the things he did against Burnley support Koeman's assessment of him, though not the treatment he received.

Is he good enough? IMO, no!

Reminded me of Ian Hutchison, the Chelsea player of the early 70s, Ray.

As many will remember, He would run up to take a throw in as if he was tossing a caber. He would launch these wild throw ins over his head that had everything to do with distance and very little to do with control. He would then spend five seconds doing a double windmill trying desperately hard to make sure his momentum didn't take him over the line.

He did it in front of Goodison road one time and it was headed back out over his head. A little scally (couldn't have been no more than 6 or 7) obviously hadn't seen him do it on MotD before, retrieved it from behind the wall, threw it back to him and shouted in an incredulous tone "What the fucks all that about?" ... Still makes me laugh as I type it nearly 50 years later.

A truly bizarre sight, made even more difficult to understand by the fact that he was a very decent player who could hold his own in a very decent Chelsea side.

Remember having to walk behind the Chelsea to get to our section and we got no police escort at all to do that – 'if you're fucking hard enough to come down here scouse then you're hard enough to walk through them'.

The worst thing was Ronny Corbett -– remember him the blue who went everywhere and was the spitting image of RC – slumped on the platform blood pouring out his eye, he'd been stabbed.

Does anyone remember Indian Joe aka Charlie Bronson, he was a hero that day. And then they made us walk to Euston without much going off if I remember... although am I right in remembering, as we got to Euston, Tottenham fans coming off a train from Manchester?

There were Newcastle lads on the train home; they had been at Millwall, I think it was Newcastle. Good bunch of lads.

It was a nice feeling to get home to Lime Street and straight over the road to the Crown.

The November 3-2 was another hot one! Never seen so many lads in the enclosure.

Funny that some of us were at Kenny Road that day; might have said a word or two to each other!

Everton XI v Chelsea 19 August 1978: Wood - Darracott - Lyons - Higgins - Pejic - Dobson - King - Nulty - Latchford - Walsh - Thomas

Nice goal from Andy King: 1-0.

As I mentioned earlier, to go to the game in them days, you had to deal with the inevitable welcoming committees from the Chicken Run, Northbank etc. Horrible walk from the ground to the Seven Sisters, up the Seven Sisters Road.

Anyone who went to the game had to negotiate their way up that road,another naughty one was the walk back to Fulham Broadway, a short distance but they would pick you off and as you say no police to be seen.

Didn't stop us going back next season though, eh mate.

A wonderful night; we filled that end. Neville was magnificent, Tricky was sublime. Seven Sisters was a sea of blue although we no longer wore colours. Ta, great memories.

Oh, hairy days, can I chuck in a vote for 'Boro away in the FA Cup 1978 and Man Utd the 3-0 League Cup win at their gaff in winter 1976 – my first ever away match!

I was at the old Trafford game with my older bro, got right through the knuckle draggers until getting on the coach my bro used his training at Theresa's Boxing to good use when confronted by a manic wile trying to get me on the coach.

By this time hardly a window left intact. I thought it was our year and went to the semi at Bolton and the 3 finals until daft arse Lawson and Darracott made sure Bill's legacy started long before him. Although, as the Latch says in his book, we were only a goalkeeper away from being champions, usual nearly men.

Anyone claiming to have gotten a hard ride from people who called themselves the "chicken run" is just embarrassing themselves. The chicken run was a terrace which generated an incredibly hostile atmosphere because it was so close to the pitch and was populated by thousands of your archetypal mouthy cockneys., it was so called because of the wire which ran down the length of it. To suggest you "did it" is like saying you did the Bullens Road... doesn't make sense.

You could tell who the West Ham "firm" were by the fact they would be either side of the away support screaming abuse. They still do it.

Same with the North Bank – a vast terrace mainly populated by ordinary fans. The "hard men" as in most grounds back then, would congregate either side of the away fans in the arl scoreboard end.

Personally I preferred a bevy. When going to Spurs, we used to go change trains, get off in Haringey and straight into the Irish Centre. I never saw any trouble.

As for Fulham Broadway? Always, always lots of bizzies. I never missed a game at Chelsea for years and not once did I see any trouble, straight off and an easy stroll to the Fulham Workies. Never any trouble in there; always popular with Evertonians, it was about 3 minutes stroll to the away end.

As Paul Ferry points out, these were hairy times, you had to have your wits about you. Nowhere was safe... but to find trouble at all the London grounds you will have had to have looked for it. Either that or you've read too many Green Streets.

A pity we didn't have the benefit of advice from a worldy wise little scouser. We could have swerved it.

Boro away a naughty one. I recall parking by the greyhound track at Leeds one year and walking into a gang all dressed up as Clockwork Orange. Another eventful night.

As you say mate, different times.

Not all the police behaved as they should back in those days, either. If anyone reading here was in the group nabbed by the cops at Bramall Lane in '74, they'll know exactly what I mean.

This could help avoid trouble in London games Will.

Available for an Ayrton Senna.

I also think Mr Ferry is spot on. There were some very nasty hostile places to visit back then, but I think those who seem to have found trouble everywhere either looked for it, or are now trying to show their "credentials" by wearing it as some sort of badge of honour.

I always tried to find a nuclear away from the ground. A few pigs then off to the game. Bottle and glass gone a few times, kicked in the orchestras a few times, but a price worf paying.

So anyone who chose to avoid these moronic cowardly Knuckle dragging charges that infested the game in the 70s and early 80s and chose to enjoy a beer instead, is to your mind a "Benghazi"?

Interesting notion from somebody who claims to have done the "chicken run". Assuming you are in you are late fifties/ sixties and you did this chicken run, why don't you try explain what it entailed and how brave you had to be to do it, rather than try to hone a hard man image and embarrass yourself with some very iffy Rhyming slang

Hone a hard man image? Hardly.

The rhyming slang wasn't aimed at you.

Whether he has the ability or not, he certainly has a better attitude and work ethic than most overpaid prima donnas in our Club and other clubs.

Tony #79, it was like a bog snorkelling scene or something from Glastonbury – hilarious.

Did anyone go to Newcastle away one Boxing Day in the mid 80s (sorry I am rubbish with dates)? I went with a mate in the car and neither of us had been before so we had no idea where to go and there with a few minutes to spare.

I had a flash of genius and stopped the car by the Gallacher End to ask which end was away. Should have heard the insults, I don't think I have ever driven so fast through a crowd of people in my life.

At the end of the game which we won 4-0 and really took the piss, we had to work our way through the home support to the car parked in a grassed area about a mile away. We somehow managed it in one piece.

Burnden Park in soaked but happy away end, Mackenzie missed a penalty which would've eased nerves, the only game I seen where pin shoulders Lawson was inspired. Boss cross from Goodlass for Latchford's goal. Same night I think Red Shiesters beat St Etiene in a European Cup semi-final (nothing changes).

The Boxing Day 4-0, I was there and Tricky was unplayable with Inchy, title year 1987. We only had maybe two thousand there, Paul Power opened scoring. Happy days waiting the blue dominance for years to come...

Enter Everton real mentality, plus the Heysel ban, plus Carter selling Lineker as quick as he could while Red Shiesters chairman Robinson refused to sell Rush until proper replacements where in... Ring any bells???

Good post. Nicely put to bed.

Could help you out hopefully mate. 👍

Importance of Sleep

This then of course means that you are getting a lot less sleep every week, and it means that you are getting a lot less time to relax as well. Immediately then you are getting sleep deprivation to an extent and that's on top of the fact that you won't be able to sleep as well once you do try and get your sleep.

This then means that other than the social effects of not getting any sleep you will be dealing with the effects of having far less sleep and these are many. Below are just a selection of those side effects:

• Lack of concentration
• Confusion
• Low mood
• Short temper
• Headaches
• Low immune system (more common illness)
• Memory loss
• Hallucinations (in extreme circumstances)