Rooney grabs first Everton hat-trick as Blues thrash West Ham

But nevertheless – COYB!

An Evertonian through and through.

We will win this. COYB.

Rhino's final team talk.

Hopefully Rooney will play on the left and support Martina, Siggy demonstrated on Sunday that is a weakness.

Thank god Schneiderlin is not playing. His performance on Sunday was woeful, he was not interested and should be shipped out, if we can find anyone to take him, asap. Same applies to Williams but presently we do not have an alternative.

Pleased to see Besic on the bench, I would like to see him on early in the second half.

Mirallas constantly yo-yo's between starting and not even making the bench. Sandro isn't given an opportunity to build on his decent display against Atalanta, even though Niasse is suspended. Baningime is singled out as MotM against Atalanta, then doesn't start either of the next two matches.

Williams at centre back or Fat Sam as manager?

Well done, David Unsworth. Even if we lose this, you have been a true Evertonian. Let down by gutless players and custodians of the club who have no shame.

Rooney showing he should be club captain but Pickford not claiming crosses is reminding me of Howard and it's worrying me.

2-0 up against a crap side and I'd still almost take a draw... Koeman must be our worst ever manager, he's chucked £100 million away, we couldn't give some of them away on their ridiculous contracts, and taken us backwards about 5 years.

Unsworth's undoing. Why could he not have figured this out beforehand? Maybe it shows he did not have the needed managerial/tactical ability.

Get liability Willy off for anyone. We need to react, come on Unsworth.

ps: Anyone is NOT Schneiderlin who shouldn't be on the bench.

Vlasic for Williams. Kenny to stay back in a back 3.

Siggy stay deep and long pass it to Vlasic who's fresh.

Beni for Davies to keep 11 men on the pitch.

Who... Fuck Off, Fat Sam

I got a vibe at the end of the Atalanta game he'd win us the next one on his own. The body language. But of course he didn't feature against the Saints.

Well past his best, but still comfortably the best footballer on the pitch. He's our captain really isn't he?

How bad is Joe Hart though???

Big lift for the whole club tonight, enjoy your drinks before Sam takes over.

Also, props to Lyndon for this tweet – "The Board's going to agree terms with Allardyce just before the game, and the team's going to beat West Ham 3-0 aren't they? We'll wonder what the panic was about but be stuck with a manager no one wants. #EvertonThat"

PANIC BUTTON PRESSED TOO SOON!!!

Even called the score to today's game at 4-0!

Nah I'm just fuckin' around.

What a game! Unreal.

Please, please play Rooney centrally and deep as much as possible Sam.

Wonderful.

Great to have the win and, even more, with a clean sheet!

Hope they put salt in the wax of the seal on the contract with Big Sam! (for those who know the origination of the term "yours sincerely")

Give Allardyce a chance, we are due a nice surprise instead of the usual hope followed by chronic disappointment.

Latin: sincerus... pure / clean.

Good game, good result, thanks to Pickford, and get prepared for Rooney to be nominated as captain and several players to be shipped out. We increased our chances of a victory by playing 11 v 11 with Schneiderlin not in the team; and it paid off.

And that's all this old game is about. Results. Not the moralizing posturing nonsense that I have read on these threads for the last couple of days.

Was that performance tonight Inspired by the fact that Sam Allardyce was looking on. Or was it tactical genius from David Unsworth. Or was it (as I suspect) simply because West Ham are just not that good. Anyhow i don’t really care. Its a win. Now lets do the same against Huddersfield.

Hope all you want away "supporters" are getting back on board for the ride. It could be interesting.

Giving up Everton. Naw. Not for me. That is never an option. Take more that Big Sam Allardyce to stop me supporting this team.

Last points Good luck to David Unsworth. His day will come. I have no doubt. He just picked a few baffling set ups. And relied on a few dud unreliable players. Those players put in a mini performance tonight. Shame that they did not turn up about a month ago.

And finally. George McKane enjoy your winnings. Four nil I believe was your bet. Well done sir.

Up the Toffees Big Sam's Toffees. Now chew on that people..

That is the position you and I discussed Rooney playing in last week. He is worth a run in that position and 4-3-3 formation. In that position the onus is on his brain rather than his running power.

People, stop slagging Sam, we've had some awful managers over the years. Clean sheet and no Baines, coincidence?

The win puts a much happier look to the League Table and now its over to Mr Allardyce. Let's get behind Sam now and judge him how he performs as Everton manager.

Now we are into a whole new experience with a manager for whom most of us have little respect. But perhaps, just perhaps, his time with Everton will see his redemption on and off the field.

Can we sack Williams? think I'd rather see Lennon play centre-back.

Get in there!!!!!!!!!

Fair to say that those talking about relegation as 'inevitable' may have been overstating it?! Such panic has issued in our new firefighting manager.

What is done is done. Onwards.

More organised, more disciplined, and it even looked like the confidence was returning near the end. I was screaming for Rooney, to be subbed, and then I was cursing him, for all the years he spent away from us!

But tonight is not a night for looking back, it’s time to look forward, and I’m also delighted for Unsworth, who has just had the weight of the world lifted from him. A very good night indeed!

BTW long may it continue. Work still to do.

Enjoy paying £30+ a ticket for that shite.

On Sam Allardyce. The criticism on here is based on what. Everton contacted him, twice. He has come to the biggest club of his career and with money and quality we already have, top seven is still possible. I trust him to buy the right players and organise us better. Sam Allardyce at other clubs has got the best out of all players he has managed. Yes, he has had bad moments at clubs but who hasn't.

I wanted Silva but my second choice was Sam. On Sunday evening I couldn't see tonight happening, who could? Something to build on with the experienced and youngster players. I'm not kidding myself. January may require spending the summer budget to climb the league. Fine, staying up and building the confidence for next season is what the manager was brought in. The expectations fellow fans have over the type of manager to bring in was pie in the sky. Fighting relegation takes a different sort of manager than Champions League and winning leagues with a pot of gold.

Sam won't settle for battles at the bottom. He sees Everton as a big club underachieving. This is his last club to achieve at the top. Give him a chance.

Strange and exciting indeed. I am weirdly curious to see whether he will resort to his modus operandi or show us something we had expected. I actually think his coaching team looks useful so have a small glimmer of hope left...

But enjoy your new hobby, or shopping with the missus or whatever else you're going to do now you've thrown a hissy fit.

West Ham were dire but we actually made them look good Never 4-0 of a difference but who gives a shit the only thing that mattered was 3 points.

To be quite honest they had us on the ropes after half time Had the shot gone in rather than hit the bar or the pen gone in we would have folded because you could feel the panic in the players.

Great result even better 3 points but so much work to do with this team I do not envy Allardyce.

Great that the fans sang his name as he has conducted himself very well over the last 5 weeks just a shame half of senior pros didn't perform for him.

The Rooney selection puzzled me as Unsworth hasn't fancied him in the starting 11 yet he is captain and centre mid to boot. I just wonder if Big Sam had any input at all.

Good performances all over the pitch. Roll on Saturday. Good West Ham support tonight singing "You've got Sam Allardyce!" then at 3 - 0 down singing "We need Sam Allardyce."

COYB

Rooney though was imperious even hat-trick aside. Guess what – you play players where you are supposed to and look what happens (with a little application). Bit of a wobble at the re-start that could have gone differently but Pickford's save turned a slowly grumbling Goodison Park back behind the team.

Great atmosphere – Uncle Sam appeared for a nanosecond on the big screen and I thought a heard a low, very short chorus of boos – but perhaps not. Sammy Lee was serenaded with a traditional ditty and I suspect that his tenure may be a little uncomfortable at times. Great result but more to do. COYB.

After that they settled down and scored a beauty thanks to a great run by Seamus, oh. sorry I meant Jonjoe.

As expected West Ham changed things up after the break and Everton looked unsure again but a great penalty save by Pickford boosted the Blues and they finished in style.

I was happy that Carroll, Antonio and Sakho didn't start this game as things may have unfolded differently.

A small step back but it was only West Ham who are in the doldrums too and we need to build on that by beating Huddersfield next so they may have better optimism for the RS game.

John Joe Kenny had a good game he done almost everything right.
Sigurdsson had a quiet spell 2nd half but was great everytime he touched the ball. Gana looks better without Schneiderlin and Tom Davies who has had me doubting him never drops his head and deserves great credit for that.

Nice win for Unsworth to end on and so glad the fans showed appreciation. To be fair West Ham are dreadful and their good supporters I spoke to before the game told us we would win 3-0. That seemed a long shot at 7 o'clock.

And Rooney's 3rd was sublime.

Onwards and upwards now. Get behind the team.

What we witnessed tonight was a bunch of smug, shameless, professionals turning in a show for two reasons:

Out of decency, integrity and pride they owed it to David Unsworth. More importantly, though, I think they fear the boot of the fat man being buried unceremoniously in their overpaid arses.

Personally as long as its winning football I'm not overly concerned what style it is.

After all we haven't had much success playing the usual top 6 teams at their style have we, surely a good manager changes his style in individual games that gives you the best chance of winning.

Does not mean you have to play the same against every team.

We have had a ponderous season, clean sheet, goal of the season, great team performance, just enjoy the moment and take in the result.

Take each result as it comes, how anyone can still be pissed off after the goals and performance is mind boggling.

Whatever the reason was tonight, whether it was the big Sam fear factor or doing it for Unsworth and the fans, they did it tonight, no hiding place now for those players, they will have to deliver or face a rollicking.

We've got some excellent players; somewhere in that bunch is a quality team. Allardyce may be the one that brings it out.

I've always rated big Sam but would never have wanted him at Everton and would never have expected a top 5 club to take a risk on him.

Can't be a hypocrite though. I would have said to any team that wanted to finish between 7th and 10th that Big Sam would be a better shout than most and that is where we find ourselves.

Maybe Martinez wasn't there absolute shower of shite that everyone called him out to be. Maybe we did lose a lot of points at home from having a hostile crowd due to unrealistic expectations. Maybe John Stones and Ross Barkley didn't deserve to be shouted down as cunts when Stoke battered us at Goodison. Maybe Lukaku did carry the team. Maybe Ronald did need more time. Maybe Rhino will be more than the next Craig Shakespeare.

I think what we've learned is that we're not a top 6 club, despite the expectations raised by David Moyes that we can finish high without spending. Perhaps top players won't even consider coming here for the money and perhaps we'll be lucky to have a manager like Big Sam.

That's all we are. A poorly run club with a great history, who have needed hard working honest managers and players to cover over the cracks and make us feel like we're only a couple of players away from the top 4 when in fact we've only ever been a couple of players away from relegation since the 90s.

Sigh

Much to be happy with and for Allardyce to work with???!!!...

In context of the season so far the performance was good but lets be truthful here had we played a half decent team we wouldn't be celebrating right now.

3 points right now is everything and is all that matters, hopefully another 3 on Saturday but if we play like that against the RS then God help us.

We still have a long long way to go.

Onwards and upwards, enjoy it!

Let's hope we can push onwards and upwards.

As Raymond Fox #77 states, as long as it's winning football who cares too much about the style right now? However, I have a feeling many will be pleasantly surprised.

A first win at Anfield in 18 years would be a great start (but one step at a time).

Landed on his feet if he wins. Master con man if he loses.

Let's give the man a chance.

What has gone on so far – with huge investment – has been pretty underwhelming.

Okay, West Ham were very poor in contrast, but let's not take too much credit away, we still had a passenger at left back, the useless Martina.

Rooney, playing a deeper role, dictated the game, and took his goals well.

I am not however getting too carried away, and It's back to business on Saturday, let's see how we move on from tonight.

Tonight was wonderful, the first time this season we have seen a team play... a great way to repay Unsworth, I really felt he deserved that as much as he has struggled, he deserved every minute of that game and it will stay with him forever I hope,

Rooney? Class tonight, sheer bloody class... left back, midfield, striker? That goal... sweet... I wonder what all his detractors are saying tonight?

Whereas, Rooney, you could see, was itching to get on. His experience and calmness would have been way more valuable. He may not have changed the outcome, but it would have been a smarter choice. I wonder if that's what Joe Royle may have been telling Unsworth. Regardless, I wish Unsworth continued success with the U23s. I am so pleased for Wayne (and Unsy) today.

So one good result and the panic is over I guess. Guys, I love ToffeeWeb, but we have to be a bit more realistic in our responses from game to game. I know that following Everton is very demanding and very hormonal, but don't panic Capt. Mannering!

Obviously the credit will go to Unsworth, but the real transformation from 'suicide watch' to easy winners, must have had something to do with the fat guy in the stands.

Why? Because that kind of confidence hadn't been there all season until tonight.

Once the media pigeon holes you, it sticks sadly and everyone believes it to be gospel. Sam is more than just long ball. He's practical in his approach but he knows what it takes to deliver in this league, in this day, and thats a lot more than just punting it forward. Just my opinion.

The secret is to maintain that over the next run of games.

He put a shift in and threw in a couple of decent crosses in but if Rooney doesn’t score three does Sigurdsson still ‘look good’?

Impressed with Siggy, his best game by a country mile. Davies and Gueye also much improved.

Great ovation for Rhino too.

Lots of work to do but plenty of proof that there is a half decent team there too.

Well done blues, much better

I wasn't surprised by how well he played there, and I think that, if we don't go for the old Sam Solidice game (Sam insists that the ball has to have solid ice on it when it comes back down), then Rooney could nail that position for a couple of years.

Rooney deserved the MotM for his hat trick, maybe even his third goal, but Kenny and Lennon were great for me along with the running and graft of Calvert Lewin, Pickford for his clean sheet, Gana and Davies for their energy, although Davies needs to calm down and start jockying players instead of running right at them.

West Ham were woeful except for the start of the second half and we have to continue on Saturday with another victory, it will not be as easy as tonight, but let's savour our win tonight for the next few days.

Glad David Unsworth finished his spell with a good win.

Great result and the least Unsworth deserved.

Funny game football. It's very possible that if this result had come one week earlier he'd have been offered the job full-time.

He leaves the club 5 places better off than when he arrived. Beat Huddersfield at the weekend and we should rise to the top half.

Panic? What panic...

Plus surely Sam will have a pot to buy some top defenders and a couple of strikers in January.

It looks a damn site better now than it did Sunday afternoon.

Superb Unsworth. You bow out with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats. 6 games, 10 premier league points. A win ratio of 50%. A points per game of 1.67. Now it's over to Mr 34% and his 1.2 PPG.

And to all the people who said I was complacent and we are in a relegation scrap. Sure we are. And when we beat Huddersfield, on the back of Unsworth's good work, unless Big Sam tries to stamp his own mark over it all and fucks it up, and we move into the top half. Then ask yourselves, what the fuck have we got Big Sam for?

Why did we panic? It's still only November. And we should still finish in the top 8. And we still have a shitload of money to spend. But now we have dodgy Allardyce in charge and every signing he makes you will question whether they are the best signing for the team, or the best for Allardyce's bank account.

Counting the days until he fucks off.

We have won 4-0 and it wasn't pretty at times.

Allardyce must be able to get us some more ugly wins surely?

They should hire me and you to be managers John!

I've pointed out Rhino's 50% win ratio on the other thread. Funny to think the guy who "is simply not up to the job" is "clueless" and "totally out of his depth" has a better record than any of the previous jokers and a much better record than the guy who replaces him.

Funny old game

BTW Steve I suggested Rooney play deep lying midfield role months ago to you when we were discussing Sliding in and Gana.

It was sad BT Sport and some others took credit away from Unsworth and gave it to our new manager.

Stick that up yer jacksy, grooners and RS!

It's only fair.

We need a passer in the middle, and as Schneiderlin has been absolutely dreadful then Rooney deserves a good go. Sigurdsson was better again today. He's improving and he's much better with Rooney deeper. They didn't link up as much as I would have hoped but when they did it was class.

The debate over Allardyce has been very divisive. I do wonder about some of the comments posted here in the past couple of days.

So-called high moral principles can come across very easily as low-grade bigotry.< ‘Fat', ‘conman' I wasn't sure if people were referring to Koeman or Martinez.

Michael (#114),

That's not fickle or disingenuous at all, is it?

Many on here though Unsworth was out of his depth regardless of who replaced him.

Your bigotry against Allardyce is obvious.

For the record, I'm amazed we've had to recruit Allardyce. But we had to.

Your “one swallow makes a spring” view of tonight is just the kind of short term, knee-jerk thinking you will accuse Allardyce supporters of.

I think delivering Barkley on a new deal will go a long way to getting Allardyce off on the right foot.

Long live the king and all that.

Allardyce has been offered a walk in the park compared to Rhino.

The stick Rhino took last week when injury to Baines forced to him to reshuffle an already cobbled together defence was unbelievable. We ended up with five regular defenders missing, a young right footed kid playing left back, a winger at right back and a 35-year-old captain who was so exhausted he could barely stand on his feet... but the manager was to blame because he chose the wrong options.

Still, a new man at the helm now. Let's see how he does.

Rooney was on the left, Gueye on the right and Davies in the middle. Rooney was often the furthest back and often covering Martina at left back. Second half there was a switch for a bit and Gueye dropped deeper, in that 15 minute spell as Moyes tried his old tricks to wrestle control of the midfield and get back into the game. But after saving the penalty and riding the storm out we got back to even and it was a flat 3 again.

So in essence, very much a 4-5-1, but with Sigurdsson in particular and Davies on occasion, getting right up there.

One player who nobody seems to saluting, who I thought was fantastic today was Calvert-Lewin. Didn't really get a sniff of goal. Didn't get the rub of the green, expect for winning the penalty, but he ran hard all game long. He was often isolated and he just did not stop.

Fantastic performance and I think Allardyce will have seen a Kevin Davies type performance in him, he's about the same height too.

"If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!"

Kipling.

It is indeed disingenuous – that was my point. It is disingenuous and hypocritical to expect Unsworth to have transformed the team into a winning machine within 5 games, while giving Allardyce the requisite time needed to effect such a change.

In reality, Unsworth should have been given time to turn our fortunes around. But since he hasn't, and according to some that means he is useless and not ready for the Premier League, Allardyce should be judged according to the same measure.

Whether he will be remains to be seen. But I expect that if we are not winning every week in 2 months from now and still playing quite badly, the "give him time" and "Rome wasn't built in a day" calls will be thrown out like nobody's business.

Baines is our best penalty taker. If not Baines maybe Siggy.
Rooney is still a quality player.
Calvert-Lewin, Davies, Gana and Kenny should play every game. There young enough and fit enough to do so.
Who ever the manager / recruiter is we need LB, CB, LW/LFwd, CF/Striker.
We do have a good squad although missing a few quality first teamers.
Schnides will not be missed.
Neither will Williams, move them on.
It's far easier to win when keeping a clean sheet.
It doesn't matter who the manager is, teams will struggle if you don't play players in their best position.
It's far too easy for poor teams to create chances against us.

What I learnt.

Andy Carroll's injury won us the game.
Moyes is still an Everton fan.
Not to start Antonio with no Carroll wax criminal, thank you David Moyes.
We have had incredible luck this season with teams hitting the woodwork and penalties saved, both at crucial times.
We can keep a clean sheet with Williams playing. Wow I didn't think it possible against anyone.
Sigurdsson and Rooney can play in the same team, against limited opposition.
Unsworth has given it his all. Simply not experienced enough at the top level.

Well done but what team will show up next?

Despite not because of Williams, perhaps? The penalty...

Fine. But applying hindsight after a 4-0 win is easy.(i'm Not saying it was hindsight, just a possibility).

Did you take the stance on Unsworth prior to this?

Or were you an advocate of the Unsworth option only when Allardyce became the unpalatable alternative?

Genuine question.

By the same token as your post, were you taking a Koeman Out stance?

I raise this point because i'm Not interested in the personalities, just EFC.

Rooney was incredible. I had him as scoring double figures this season, wondering if it might be as many as 20?

Which led to all the "chopping and changing" he was so criticised for. People forget to mention the relentless schedule he had of two games a week for the entire period. Look at the rest of the Premier League, did Saints not change 5 players from the side that thrashed us? Is that not chopping and changing? is it not necessary to do this to keep players fresh? Is it also not necessary to do this to try to find a combination of players that work and around whom he could build a side?

However, the single and most important point for me, as that the schedule meant that he had no time at all on the training pitch and so he would not be able to effect changes.

Today, we saw a much improved defence. Kenny and Holgate know Unsworth well and it showed. Holgate was good. Actually he was very good but had a couple of bad moments that knocked his performance down a notch. But for me, the much maligned Williams put in his best performance of the season. Holgate and Williams seemed to work as a team. Williams bossed the youngster around and coached him through the game and used his legs to supplement the lack of his own. However, the lack of pace for West Ham helped. My point is that with 2 of the back 4 who know Unsworth and his systems, the defence looked very solid.

The only weakness came from Martina. I won't criticise him. I think he did the best he could do, and gave 100% effort. However, the lad has no left foot. How can he be expected to play left back? Each time he had to come back inside and moves ground to a halt and lost all momentum. The blame here is Koeman for buying him, and for registering him. If we hadn't bought him (and factored Holgate / Kenny was the right backs until Coleman came back), then we could have signed a left back on a free, or registered Garbutt, or even not sent Galloway out on loan. Instead we registered Martina and it's cost us dear.

Have to say, as poor as West Ham were, Kenny and Holgate deserve a mention as youngsters and so does Martina for playing left back and getting forward so readily. It was actually a team performance!

I am not being facetious or anything, but when there is something positive to post about, there seems an awful lot less posts!

Just like against Watford and Palace, the gods favoured us, but this time we deserved our good fortune, and played with energy and, at times, with some flair and composure. And we finally managed to get a clean sheet. About time to...

Rooney deserves all the praise, of course, as does Pickford, but I'm getting more and more impressed by Kenny. A determined and resolute player, who can also play football. And Holgate was much better than in his previous games.

Uncle Sam won't have as difficult a job now, I suppose.

I agree entirely with your post, almost!

Unsworth was on a hiding to nothing and had very little support, time to train the players and hardly any Premier League home fixtures. His record in the Premier League is actually pretty good! Let's not forget we had the top scorer suspended too!

Fine.
But applying hindsight after a 4-0 win is easy. (I'm Not saying it was hindsight, just a possibility).

Did you take the stance on Unsworth prior to this?
Or were you an advocate of the Unsworth option only when Allard became the unpalatable alternative?

Genuine question.

By the same token as your post, were you taking a Koeman Out stance?

I raise this point because I'm Not interested in the personalities, just EFC.'"

I was fairly indifferent to Unsy until I saw that people were judging him unfairly and according to different standards than the likes of Koeman, Martinez, etc were judged. And I am wondering if Allardyce will get the same grace period as those managers got (and Unsy wasn't) simply because they were permanent appointments.

But I don't see why it matters who I'm rooting for. What I've asked is simply for some consistency in assessing our staff. Doesn't it point to somewhat of a strong bias in favor of Big Sam that his advocates refuse to let him be judged by the same measuring stick as Unsworth was?

Without Calvert-Lewin chasing down, Rooney doesn't score a 60 yard goal I'll never forget.

Calvert-Lewin is due credit for that wonder-strike as he played the pivotal part in creating the opportunity for Rooney to shine.

Now, I'm absolutely not saying you turned out to be wrong on old Ron... that's history... but Unsworth made no better fist of it, overall, simple as.

He also publicly slated the 'senior players' while leaving Rooney kicking his heels on the bench! Now that turned out to be a top idea, didn't it?

David Moyes has lost all five of his Premier League games against Everton since leaving the club, with an aggregate score of 12-0.

Looking back at Unworth's team selection over his 6 Premier League matches, he has made 2 changes, 3 changes, 3 changes, 2 changes and finally 5 changes for tonight's match so we can ignore this "chopping and changing" criticism from pundits who presumably wanted him to field his best team in the now meaningless Europa League.

The new manager could relieve the pressure of the relentless schedule by sending Unsworth and the Under-23s to Cyprus so that he has a full week with the first team to prepare for the derby match.

On the subject of Galloway does anyone know if he can be recalled. Pennington scored in the last derby match so we should recall him as well.

P6 W3 D1 L2 F13 A10

Not bad is it? With the squad we had and him taking over 2 pretty bad teams, that reads well. I am discounting the cups, but all things considered, what was he supposed to do with such a weak squad of aged players and kids? Rotation was always on the cards.

He wasn't that out of his depth considering the time he had and the state of the squad mentally! The 2 league losses were away and we haven't won away since January I believe!

Just a thought!

I said before the game that I thought West Ham were shit and couldn't understand why posters were so nervous but I have to say lady luck stayed with us tonight. 2-0 and cruising relatively speaking and then we sit back and get nervous again and only a crossbar and a brilliant penalty save won that game for us.

I thought Calvert-Lewin and Kenny were magnificent, Rooney showed some class and Tom Davies, Aaron Lennon and Sigurdsson showed a tireless work rate.

Still I hope to see Niasse and Calvert-Lewin in the team at the weekend and really have a good go at Huddersfield before the big one.

Under the lights and that goal. Sumptuous just sexual in the extreme fron Wayne.

His face, his reaction, just like any of us had knocked it in. Tears.

It was really cold, a mate and neighbour who only recently cancelled his season ticket would've come round, loads of wine and Leffe (Aldi big bottles btw!) the drive to the station/soccerbus and after all the sickening defeats we'd just had + Fat Sam as manager? "Why the fuck should I?" I thought..

...But I did!!!

We had an Everton side back tonight. I'm not saying we were great, but this was a side that had bite in the challenge, was on its toes, moving for the ball. West Ham looked a bit like we've looked all season.

Anyway, what I'm left thinking is – a side without Keane, Jags, Baines and above all the woeful Schneiderlin fought and performed, and it's no coincidence. Crude as he is, Williams walks into our best 11. Tom Davies was immense tonight – support him, don't Barkley him. Gueye thrives on the energy around him in that team. Well done Kenny! COYB!

It was, mate. We can go half each on Sam's wages.

"Well done lads!". Fab win and no goals against!

Let's repeat it against Huddersfield!

But I can't help thinking we scored three with a midfielder and one with a defender. No threat whatsoever in attack which needs to be addressed; until then, a dog fight every game.

Formations and tactics are only part of the challenge for a manager. Having a team committed to the cause will always have an impact. Did Unsworth make some tactical and selection mistakes? Absolutely, but shame on the players who suddenly located their balls, regardless of whether it was because it was Rhino's last game or because they knew their next manager was in the stand.

And shame on the management of this club who put an Evertonian in charge of a set of weak characters without the right backing.

The game itself, well it was obviously much better. Mind you, Williams was still shite and the penalty he gave away so amateurish. What was he swinging his foot at?

I thought Kenny and Sigi were standouts.

Rooney is still class. That third goal will be under-appreciated by those who never played at a decent level, in the same way that his overhead kick in the Manchester derby was over-appreciated by the same people. Such a perfect strike of a moving, bobbling ball. Incredible technique.

Allardyce hasn't even started yet. So your judgement statement makes little sense.

I mainly see bias against him before he's even arrived. In fact, it's more than than – it is out-and-out low level bigotry from apparently high-minded people.

Anyway, he's here now. Time to get behind him as with every Everton manager (at least until he perhaps proves he's not up to it).

Hopefully our supporters will give him the same chance / time they gave Martinez and Koeman. So far, he's smoked a few of our fans out who won't be going to the match while he is here.

I would not want to be in the trenches with them. Incredible double standards to some of these posts.

I said you were complacent. Still think you are. We are not out of the woods yet by any stretch and have got to keep that level of performance up...

Can they? We all certainly hope so... But you sound as if you're trying to take some credit for the win and team selection.

Anyway, seeing as you're not going to be there for the next 2½ years, maybe we'll be spared your expert coaching analysis before and after every game. Hope so.

You are totally deluded if you think keeping Unsworth was a good option and even more deluded if you try to pin the improvement last night on David Unsworth.

Sadly, I think you will find that the commitment and improvement last night was on the back of hiring a full time manager who may just kick the arses of those overpaid players who have been a disgrace to the blue shirt recently regardless of who the manager is.

For the record I think the board handed Unsy a poisoned chalice and any blame lies at their feet.

As someone alluded to early in this thread, a paucity of offerings after such a good win, is TW in danger of becoming a venting tool without hope? I pray it isn't, after all, it's my favourite go to site after X-Hamster! ;-)

Just hope we can build, and Unsworth, can keep bringing our youngsters on. He has showed a great deal of character over the past 6 weeks after a shit storm. Have a great respect for him.

I can understand some of the posters on here showing their displeasure over the last few months, and can't argue with many of the comments. I fail to understand though, those that are talking about not supporting the club anymore. You pick your team and stick with it.

Your stats are selective and misleading as they don't include Europa games, nor do they allow for the abysmal performances that we all (well most of us) saw. But, if you are going to select stats, as MotD said last night, compare the stats of the teams Sam took over, before and after. He improves struggling teams. That's what he does. That what he's been brought to Everton to do.

Unsworth is a great Evertonian, but his short reign has seen some of the worst, must gutless, chaotic performances I've seen from an Everton side in 50 years of watching them. I'm hoping Sam can sort them out and put some pride back into the club. In the meantime, any fan who has some kind of irrational vendetta against Allardyce is welcome to sit the next 18 months out. See ya.

It is clear that the players sub-consciously switched-off as the club drifted aimless for 5 weeks. It shows the need for decisiveness, and that leadership from the top is paramount for the whole organism to work properly.

Special mentions to Kenny and Davies. Both got forward at every opportunity. They were a breath of fresh air.

"Going on to bigger and better things" eh, Moyesy? How's that working out for you? Looking forward to the next game for the first time this season. We've been appalling for 20 something games. How did that happen?

Sometimes the most unlikely things work out? Time will tell and no-one knows, even the experts on here.

Off topic ,I didn't like the smug smile and comment Klopp made about the upcoming derby on match of the day, perhaps he may be in for a surprise?

No 1. Unsies reaction to Rooney's third goal. He went mental. Was it a supporter, a manager knowing the three points were in the bag, or a friend made up for his mate. Unsie, top bloke.

No 2. Wayne's second goal. He bombed up from just inside the half way mark. True, the West Ham defence moved to their left as a unit of very highly paid schoolboys. But Wayne saw the space and filled it.

No 3. Both penalties were illegally saved. We have goal line technology now. Use it to stop cheating goalies cheating (cf Jersey Dudek in the Champions League final).

A ways to go yet but optimism rears its head. Don't fuck it up, Sam.

Although Rooney is in decline he is still one of the best footballers that we have on the books and along with Sigurdsson and Barkley (if or when he returns) to cause the opposition problems. Coming up against the top four might be a big ask but for the other three quarter of teams Rooney should be starting in every game.

1. We kept our shape all through the game there was little errant movement with the ebb and flow of the defence/midfield consistent and well organised.

2. Rooney bossed the game – you could see this on the pitch but it is more evident when speeded up.

3. Kenny played a blinder both in defence and getting forward but helped by the defence having cover from midfield when going forward which has been a real problem of late. We largely stopped West Ham getting down the flanks and getting crosses in.

4. Rooney sat deep for much of the game including getting back into defend numerous times in the 18 yard box - he wasn't disruptive as he can sometimes be when he plays a conventional forward No 10 and drops deep confusing other roles.

5. The defence held the line much much better and Williams actually did a bit of leadership with Martina (who was the one who kept forgetting where he was playing).

6. We sat too deep at the start of the second half and invited West Ham on – a problem with an overly defensive midfield which better teams punish as the ball keeps coming back at us.

7. Even speeded up, Savage is a prat.

Good performance all around and reminiscent of that vs Man City last season.

Well said sir. Could not agree more.

If we could win at the weekend, new manager, Huddersfield starting to slide, and other results go our way, which if you look at the fixtures could well do (I'd only reckon on Leicester getting 3 points), then we could be in the top half come 5pm on Saturday.

Beat me to it, mate. If we're really going to use meaningless win percentages to compare managers, then surely Sam's 100% win ratio with England is the best one of all... probably.

At best I'll say it was inconsistent, ranging from not good enough to disgraceful. With last night thrown on the top once it was all but over.

For what it's worth I'm not going to judge a man too harshly on two European games in a comp we were pretty much out of and were simultaneously in a relegation battle not of his causing? He sent out experimental teams and we got twatted. It's pretty straightforward. I couldn't care less about those games once it was clear we were done for. Atalanta still left a very bitter taste but ultimately didn't matter beyond damaging already frail confidence.

In the league he won both home games, and returned a draw and two losses away from home. The first win at home was incredibly fortunate. The last emphatic. Away we ranged from honest endeavor but not good enough (Leicester and Palace) to an absolute shambles (Southampton).

Success? Not even slightly. It brought a season low point and highlighted the weak characters in the squad. But even that was an improvement on Ronald's last month.

Prior to that we hadn't won at home in 4 – while Europe still had some meaning. He achieved something didn't he? A few points on the board and called out shithouses like Mirallas and Schneiderlin. In horrible circumstances.

He was the only one at the club who stood up over the last 5 weeks. For that at least he deserved last night.

I have often said on here we do have a nucleus of good players, admittedly light in a couple of areas, and overstocked in others. Hopefully an astute shopping list in January, won't break the bank, but deliver those missing pieces.

The difference last night, apart from the ever hapless Martina, the others worked as a team with drive and enthusiasm. Having said that, West Ham were very poor, and stiffer opposition would have resulted in a different scoreline altogether.

Confidence, which we have lacked for quite some time now, can be all the difference between a run of results and survival, and further downward spiraĺling.

It was no coincidence either that the dropping of Schneiderlin and Mirallas made a huge impact. After the fiasco at Finch Farm, I just could not believe, or forgive, Unsy still picking them for first team duty.

Now let's follow this up against Huddersfield on Saturday, and increase that confidence further before the next away game, against the Dark Side.

Absolutely spot-on. Never expected Unsy to go from U23s to managing the first team in Europe in the space of a few weeks. He stood up and I bet he learned a lot about himself and the players from those poor performances.

Last night proves I know sod-all because how a group of players can do such a Jekyll-and-Hyde over the course of several days really is beyond me.

I walked, or floated, out of Goodison last night on an absolute high having enjoyed a game for the first time in many weeks. I slept well for the first time in many weeks (yeh I know, sad).

But I've woken today, and as happy as I am, there's something there that keeps asking "Why not last game?" "Why not last week"?

There's a constant "if only" feeling there, as in, if only they'd have had the spirit, the confidence, and to some degree the luck, that they had last night in previous weeks.

I'm looking forward to Saturday's game, and hoping for more of the same. We need to score first, and we need to score early and then I feel we'll go on and win well. Confidence breeds confidence and who knows what can happen then.

It's taken weeks to get a decent result against a side that is in deep trouble like us. Last night, I came away thinking there's one worse team than us now.

Luck has played a great part and a great game changing moment from Pickford. Rooney doesn't get that much time and space against a top team and ideally Unsworth is not starting Holgate.

Last week, Rooney doesn't start; this week, he is captain. Unsworth done what he thought was right and ended on a win.

Move on now – the arguments over Allardyce are total pointless. I would take Simeone over Unsworth but I can't. He's here... so, unless you're getting hypnotised or frozen, stop pretending you're not a fan anymore.

Shame on them all for the way they have treated David Unsworth. One thing is certain – the skivers in that squad are not going to be around for very long. I wonder who they could be?

Did I miss much..?

Was panicking and as poor as the rest of them, he is the old hand dictating the game, should have been putting his foot on the ball, slowing them down and having a calming affect on the side, watch him and see how he plays in that period.

Wasn't praising myself at all. Just a little laugh.

Not like you that mate, over celebrated last night?🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

The best thing about it is when I said it to Steve months ago he didn't agree at all... but to be fair I've changed my mind about Rooney playing there. He was okay when he had the cigar out, but even Moyes sussed him out, once they started to squeeze him early in the second half denying him space he struggled to keep possession what a goal though.

I think Rooney could play the Pirlo role in one of the slower paced European leagues, but after last night I know he couldn't do it for a whole match in the premier league.

Still they would make an entertaining double act, Steve's confused tactics and John G's habit of planning a strategy to counter opponents who aren't even playing – Still laughing at how meticulous he was in his plans to stop a guy who was suspended last week.

I have left a message for you on the "Favourites aren't always the best" thread, I feel that you may be giving me a bit of a rebuke also, but I appreciate that we all have our opinions and I will accept it as one Evertonian to another.

You're that obsessed with TW you have even saved your posts to get over the five posts rule. Get a life, young man

You'll not hear back from me on this thread so fire away.

Perhaps useful at home against poor teams where having some deeper lying creativity is useful but I'm not sure about it in tougher games.

I wonder how Sam will set us up. Trying to get my head round his appointment still (a desperate decision in my mind) and hoping he will see this as his (last/only) chance to show that he can get good results without resorting to hoofball, which we are currently ill-equipped for at any rate.

If he wants to bring in some stronger, faster players in January then I'm on board with that. Wonder who he'll target?

I have long felt that Rooney was the only one giving 100% through all this (of the senior players) and he deserves the hat-trick and the credit. He was the midfield general we've been missing. Central mid for him from now on in my eyes.

It's certainly made Sam's job easier by showcasing the true nucleus of the squad through his selections last night.

Kudos to Sigurdsson too, I thought he put in a good showing.

Great win, something to build on.

Agreed that Unsworth was handed a poison chalice, so given the fact that he was handed a poison chalice, then his record in the premier league was okay, and this is what he obviously prioritized.

I posted premier league stats, but also quantified them by putting Unsworth's position in perspective, a poison chalice as you have said yourself!

No time to train or prepare an inherited squad of either aged or inexperienced players, thus rotation was necessary.

Koeman left with us in the relegation positions I believe. Now we are not. Is that revisionism? Were we going to qualify for the Europa knock out stages under Koeman?

And we have also unearthed a gem in Benigme!

That's the kind of bollocks I'm talking about. Now I'm a huge fan of Unsworth, and he deserves every credit for standing up and taking on a thankless task. But statistics can be manipulated anyway you like if you use them as selectively as that, in a desperate attempt to slag off Allardyce.

It was a pretty nifty and dexterous move from the ref I have to say!

Wayne had a good game obviously but the highlights of his game were the second and the absolutely fabulous third goal, now that was a goal only a footballer with a great football brain could score. Unfortunately the football brain is still there but the body can only play in fits and starts.

So you can keep your hair on John G !!!!!!!

I wish I had hair to keep on!

I'm in between Rooney and a coconut nowadays 👍

West Ham having Andy Carroll missing was a blessing, and the crossbar and the penalty miss would have made a different game. Still loads to work on but great result; better coaching for the defenders in the weeks to come.

Getting Niasse back and a resurgent Rooney should get us to the January transfer window in okay shape, then hopefully Allardyce will ship loads out and get some in for a better second half to the season and a good FA Cup run!

Then Heysel fucked us up good style. Then Big Joe gave us a trophy in the nineties. Kenwright and Moyes stabilised us as a run-of-the-mill club that could not compete with the big boys...

Then dross again... so quoting stat after stat to belittle Unsy and Sam does not make any sense. Over the past 60 years plus, we have been in the doldrums more often than not.

It will take a lot more than Moshiri's few bob to get us to where many of you think we should be. Just support whoever is in charge – don't stat him out before he's got the job!

If felt like vultures picking over a dead carcass pre-game. Alot of gnashing of teeth and revolt about the impending appointment.

The game almost a side show. The ale skewers the memory but we were okay, but rode our luck and Rooney’s powers more than adequate to dispense with a truly shabby West Ham.

With the hangover raging and the post match vibe fading, the reality is stark. We now have a manager I’m completely opposed to and wonder why most cannot see the naked ambition in Allardyce. He doesn’t think we are relegation candidates and covets this job. He wants take us on, and this will be the first job he gets to spend properly.

He won’t be gone in six months. Sour times.

Can't remember the last time I got a score update that wasn't Everton 0

Prior to the kick-off, several and me included thought the line up yet again looked completely unbalanced with just Lennon on one wing and no-one in front of Martina on the other.

The bad news first: we beat a very poor West Ham side last night who could not play any worse in the first half, and when they improved in the second, for the first 15 minutes we reverted to type, and again we looked a shambles until Rooney's wonder goal.

The positives: it looked as though the players were trying to impress the new Boss in the stand, and the biggest plus was the emergence of the younger players, with Kenny putting in a great performance.

We have 7 or 8 really good young players in or around the first team and in a few years we could be right up there.

Onwards and upwards!

Ahhhh

We had conceded nine in two games, and kids "playing pairs" on the field, (the streets have gone sadly) have had more help than our entire team, because they've been playing every man for themself!

Suddenly Pickford is in no hurry to kick the ball, the centr-halfs, are not getting pulled wide, and Ghana Gueye, is holding his position, and playing centrally.

All of a sudden it looks like we have had a proper team Talk? Someone to guide the players, instead of pinging them all over the place, and the calmness it produced, definitely showed out on the pitch last night?