Poor Everton beaten by struggling Cherries

We have had no attack at all yet this season; it needs to be fixed next week. The fallout from Koeman's diabolical transfer window is still toxic and lingering.

One attacker will not fix the problem – we need 2 or maybe 3.

McCarthy and Bolasie still not sharp enough for the first team but hopefully will improve in the very near future.

We will get smashed on 5th January.

We're about to hit a tougher round of games. Of course we don't have the distraction of playing on a Thursday... but I think our patience is going to be tested.

We need far more quality going forward. I'd go as far as saying we need a complete overhaul of our attacking options – there's no pace and no power; the few who do have a bit of pace just don't have any end product.

This squad has so many gaps and a huge lack of quality. More worrying is the replacement names being put up look no better.

We seem to have gone massively backwards from a time when Moyes could pick a player, but no bloody money to buy them with.

Today we made ridiculous defensive errors. The second half changes did bring about some improvement, but there is still a long way to go.

Negativity is not due to Allardyce. I still think that Koeman brought about the total chaos we see today. Unfortunately he made the worst and most expensive signings ever. Everton need to be sure they don't do the same thing in January.

After seventy years of supporting I still say, "Once a Blue always a Blue". But lately it is a very frustrating and difficult challenge.

The squad both Sams have inherited, but to play the starting line up today with three ultra defensive MFs, showed too much respect for AFCB, whom couldn't win in the last three months, and as ever gratis magna all, EFC, stroll up and make their day by surrendering feebly.

We all feel the pain and the supporters whom went today should be refunded for every outlay they paid to watch this today.

It's Sams inherited squad, he picks the team, but surely now playing DCL, in solo mode is finished as it's like playing in space and the ball gets close but never arrives..

I live in hope but without the best EPL keeper again playing out of his skin, we'd have been stuffed by at least 5. In all my time watching 45 years, the last 3 years have been the worst in terms of playing style and lack of conviction and drive in the club, made worst in some ways by seemingly being in our must lucrative position in history in terms of finance and trading capability in the xfer market.

I really hope the Sams do well and the club prospers, but there's some very tough games the next month, and I hope and pray we turn up and play with belief and have a go against Manure and in the FAC away match at our old ground next Friday.

It seems RK really didn't have a clue but since the home loss v Sunderland at Chrimbo 2013, the rot started and a few flashin the pan unbeaten runs but without ever beating the rivals away, the demise has been constant.

New year and fresh hope and for all of us let's home, EFC picks up, with genuine plans and intent.

Now for a month of miracles for the forth coming games...let's hope we start shooting at least... Living in hope..

He's not good enough at this level but it's not even worth blaming the lad , he's tried but it should never have been down to him to shoulder the burden , if Koeman had his way Niasse would have been sold an hour before that August deadline day too, just what the hell was that Dutch fool thinking???

Then you have a rookie right back filling in for a man who broke his leg in March .

A free agent average at best right back (Cuco Martina) filling in at left back because we failed to replace our ageing 33 year old regular left back Leighton Baines.

It's just descended into a total farce.

Koeman, Walsh , I don't know who was in charge of transfers last summer but they failed the club drastically.

Too much time (and far too much money ) spent on Sigurdsson, who for the fee he commanded just doesn't impact games enough.

A combined 48 million quid wasted on Schneiderlin and Klaassen, truly horrendous management that was.

The only roaring success has been Pickford .

The seeds to a poor Everton team were sown in summer , not sure what we can expect Allardyce to really do with the shit available.

While successive managers are now counting their winnings after screwing the club and fans we continue on the path of total mediocrity and hopelessness for the coming future.

I see a lot of our fans are bemoaning a lack of a good striker. Here's a question: If we do land a half-decent striker or two, who the hell is going to feed them? The lack of creativity in that midfield is diabolical! It's pedestrian, bereft of ideas, and – worst of all – lacks the one ingredient vital in today's game... Pace!

What does that impostor Schneiderlin have to do to be dropped? A complete average footballer and the biggest waste of money in the club's recent history.

Ditto Sigurdsson. I thought he was starting to show signs that it was going to turn for him but no; he's morphed back into the player that was shocking under Ronnie boy. Another one with a distinct lack of pace

I'm expecting more of the same against Man Utd, which is a shame Because, let's be fair – they can be got- at. Bad day all round.

The Echo is rarely right, but it is on this occasion. And to be fair Sam has said as much too. He tried to be more positive in the second half, but we're shit. The best we can hope for this season is avoiding a relegation scrap. I'm not sure this transfer window will do an enormous amount to help us, but perhaps Coleman returning will, and Baines too to a lesser extent.

Sam is undertaking a salvage operation.
Good luck to him.

In the next month, Everton can buy Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, or any top level forward and it will be useless. With the disastrous manager that we have he will also put them to defend.

Decent comments

He has no intention of playing offensive football. He has form, gets a nosebleed above 10th place; out of his depth and comfort zone...

I don't blame Sam as he did not buy any of this rabble but he needs to get players in and get some out as quickly as possible because we are anti-football at this moment in time.

1 shot on target? Along with 3 against WBA make that 4 shots on target against 2 of the bottom 3.

Can't wait until this season is over. Koeman et al left us is a mess but I never wanted Sam, still don't. Now you see why. After the honeymoon period of playing a couple of shite teams at home has truly gone after 4 dreadful performances. If this guy is still in charge next season then I'll be on an even longer hiatus.

Fucking dreadful.

We sadly I have to say are playin alehouse and We need miracles in abundance for the next month..

I'm seeing 100pc , at the long term damage that RKs term did.. The heart and soul had been lost by a massive amount. Steve Walsh must be on double OT rates now to last, as we are in my view on the ropes, just off the floor. 3 and at least 4 top signings needed and a proper club captain who will lead by example , aka Rooney in his prime.

Happy New Year to All Evertonians.

I fully expected us to park the bus against the big 6, but that means being more expansive against the rest!

We can blame the likes of Koeman/Martinez all we want, but Sam is not even TRYING to win games with his tactics!

Someone thought that this man should be our coach. That Sam Allardyce and Everton should be linked. Sad days.

This will probably go through in late January after he's injured himself playing tiddlywinks.

We still need about six players – the only player worth keeping is Pickford; the rest are not good enough.

Hugely disappointing game I think everyone's said the obvious and I've been droning on about Sneid and gana playing in the same team, but 3 managers have a paired them together with predictable outcome. SA is suppose to be this statistic and tactical genius and he can't see that?

I cannot see the confirmation on any single news outlet?

I understand your sentiments regarding entertainment and I'm just as frustrated about today. Especially setting up with 3 defensive mids.

I can't forget where we were 4 weeks ago though. We were doomed. If we hadn't have acted decisively by bringing in a manager who would tighten us up we were starring survival in the face. We have somehow managed to get ourselves clear and up to 9th but we are hardly pleasing on the eye. The reason? Poor squad of players who deserve to be no higher than they are. The problems at the club are not recent there has been a steady decline for many years with poor recruitment and not replacing players early enough.

I'm not a big Allardyce fan but I really haven't got time for Martinez or Koeman who have got us to this place.

Performance is the best indicator of future results. The performance here was every bit as shit as the others that have yielded results.

As for the game in isolation, why the hell we didn't just put it out when Martina was injured I don't know. Instead McCarthy aborts a pass that the 'stricken' Cuco was blocking and instead tries a suicide pass. Cuco can get fucked too - there was nothing wrong with him and he should have been up and helping the team.

Just a horrible game to watch. Par for the course with us.

This game was the first one where I really didn't understand the tactics. Schneiderlin, Gueye and McCarthy as a central three was absolutely criminal. Not one of them has a forward pass in them. I can accept it from Gueye as he is wonderful in other areas. Schneiderlin is the current whipping boy, and for good reason. I can't decide if he can't be arsed, or if we are just witnessing the absolute collapse of a (formerly) good player.

Bolasie is not even 60% fit. How the hell can he be? Has the bloke even had 90mins for the U23's? One of the worst injuries a footballer can have, particularly when you are such an explosive player. Shocking decision to include him instead of Lookman or Vlasic.

Martina is trying his best, but he is going to go down as one of the worst Koeman signings, and that's saying something. Doesn't a leftback, generally, have to be capable of kicking the ball with his left foot?

One thing I'm sure of...it's not going to take much for Everton fans to turn on Allardyce.

Of course the football isn't going to be pretty, we lost a battle today, but I'm confident we will win the war. Allardyce is on an 18 month contract and looking at some of the other candidates for the job, Silva for instance, he is the best man for the job.

We have much bigger problems than Sam Allardyce as manager.

Quite simply our players are not good enough and it is going to take a major overhaul of the squad before our expectations can be met.

With our current board and owner this would take many years and to be honest I do not have much faith in them doing it anyway.

Has anyone heard if The Chief Exec has been struck dumb he is the "operations manager" for Everton FC and the silence from him is deafening he should be assuring those who have invested their hard earned in Season Tickets and Everton Merchandise instead of insulting them with his total silence.

Look all clubs rotate players during this period but to play McCarthy and Bolasie is bordering on desperation.

So again he chooses to leave out our best defender in recent weeks Mason Holgate, who in partnership with Williams have looked our best pairings. So back comes Keane, now I know many have complained about Klassen and Sandro being bad buys but for me Keane is the worst of the 3. His positional sense is awful and once an attacker has got him turning its like watching Bambi on ice. for their first goal yesterday a truly awful pass from McCarthy but Jagielka had the man marked now all Keane had to do was look behind him to see were the danger was. But no he stood there in no mans land ball watching which gave their lad a simple tap in.

I know Man Utd are not playing well but if we sit back as we probably will with 10 men behind the ball, then they will probably find a way to score against us. Then its our nemises in the FA Cup I dread to think what might happen in that game.

Sam has already stated a number of times that he believes we do have creativity in the squad but insufficient quality strikers to benefit from it. I think we need to be patient and see how he sets up once we have more quality upfront.

1: Schneiderlin – just ain't good enough. If he played as good as he talks he would be a fucking world beater.

2: Baines – been a great player over the years but age has finally caught up with him. Not even worth a squad place now as he is hardly ever fit.

3: Jagielka – like Baines, he's been great for us but he is just too slow now and has dropped too many bollocks the last couple of seasons.

4: Williams – Never got our money's worth out of this player.

5: Ramirez – Seems to be way out of his depth in a very poor Premier League. Not had many chances, yes, just doesn't seem to have the quality he showed in Spain. Big shame though.

6: Mirallas – Should have got rid 2 seasons ago when we could have got a few quid for him. Too inconsistent and a fucking big baby.

7: McCarthy – Massive injury problems for this lad who had so much promise. I fear an early end to his career for this fella. A luxury we can no longer keep.

8: Klaassen – It's obvious this player has struggled since we signed him; he looks lost everytime he takes to the field. I don't think he will make the grade here. Take a loss and put him and us out of our misery.

9: Besic – Like McCarthy, hardly ever fit. Shown great promise when we first signed him but everytime he plays, you think he isn't gonna make it through without seeing a red card. Not good enough.

So, 9 players I would like to see gone in the next 2 windows. I don't want us to replace shite for shite, so Steve Walsh had better start earning his fucking money as of now, because this far he has been as big a waste as the Dutch prick we have just got rid of. Excuse the French & have a good New Year, fellow Blues. Let's all hope 2018 is gonna be a lot better than 2017.

If we manage that I trust that everyone will rave about how good we were.

This team (scarily) is doing better than it was. Anyone who thinks differently is conveniently forgetting those final games under Koeman and most of Unsworth's as well. Nobody likes watching Everton the way we are but most of understand that we will have to get through it.

Allardyce hasn't inherited a squad he has inherited a group of players. He has admitted that there are too many of them to assess properly and quite possibly saw the Bournemouth and West Brom games as an opportuntity to try things out. Perhaps assuming that the price some of these players cost he thought they should be able to beat these teams.

Until the last two games he played it safe and managed to get some good results. Then he experimented against two weaker teams, if he carries on experimenting against Manure then my guess is wrong, but if he returns to his preferred central defence, plays Rooney and Siggy in the positions that had worked well before Roo got the Flu then maybe he has more nous than some people give him credit for.

This season is all about stopping the rot that began when Moyes left and got out of hand under Koeman.

People moaning that our season will be over if we get knocked out of the FA Cup should be glad, I had visions of our season going right to the wire...whether we stay up or go down. SA has, at least as they're concerned saved us from that already. Personally I think there is still a long way to go but I hope they are right. (Yes I know they were using it as a stick to beat the Big Guy).

I'll still support the boys and I'll accept the dross for a little while longer yet, if it's still the same at the end of the season...then I'll call for a change.

But on to my obsession, Schneiderlin. I've just watched the lowlights on MOTD, and I've looked at their 2nd goal about half a dozen times. Now Schneiderlin isn't the only one a fault, but if anyone's got access to a recording of the goal concentrate on him.

Their player goes past Kenny, who incidentally went to ground too early, then Schnieds fronts him up, and does what can only be described as a 60's dance manoeuvre makes no attempt to tackle or track his run, instead runs or jogs into the box to get back into position.

Holding midfielder? really. Defensive? what would Lee Carsley or Makelele have done in a similar situation. Last year he looked like a Rolls Royce of a footballer, but like anybody who's bought a dodgy car that looks like a bargain on first viewing, the faults don't take too long to show through.

He offers nothing; doesn't defend, can't attack, he's the Claus Thomsen of the 2010's

That sums the Bournemouth match in a nutshell, what the fuck was ole big thinking? He couldn't run at all, he couldn't even out pace the yard dog marking him and he turned like a steam train!

Noticed Davies was meant to come on and he switched to Yannick.

Whatever, Bolasie is no where near fit enough to play more than ten mins, McCarthy, half hour. Stupid fucking decisions that cost us dearly, we made Bournemouth, that team that hasn't won this side of a full moon( could be wrong) and we made their midfield look like superstars!

Plus their pies are shite!

It's been misery but the hope is that in 2018, the club stabilises and builds poisitive momentum...starting Tomorrow and Friday!
(Started 🍺early today as my birthday tomorrow) but every day is a good day.

What we've endured is in Biblibal proportions and it's got to change , as the black humour aside , as supporting EFC should carry a Government health warning.

2018, the start of the “New Age at EFC”?
🙂👍

All The Best to all Evertonians and ToffeeWebbers , they will never stop our banter.

This is a very good indication of how average/poor a squad that was left by Koeman imo.

Lots of posters still dreaming that this squad of players have the makings of a top team. Bringing in 2 unproven players in Lookman and Vlasic which is what most will be calling for, what else is there will not transform them into a top side.

Confidence, attitude and systems can all make improvements to performances but without quality which we severly lack the top 6 is not even close with the bottom 6 being more realistic.

Man Utd drew in the end with Burnley, 2-2.

Wishing everyone a great night tonight and here's to an upturn in our great teams fortunes in the New Year – whoever is in charge!

Sure, he started with three DMs, and if it wasn't for a dreadful back pass from McCarthy, who was immediately hooked, we would have gone in 0-0. But in the second half, two of the DMs were replaced by attacking options in Rooney and Bolasie, so we ended up with one DM on the pitch, and -– in Lennon, Niasse, Rooney, Bolasie, Sigurdsson – five attacking options. Sam clearly got it wrong, because we're simply not good enough to take on a nippy team like Bournemouth in a toe-to-toe attacking game. I'm just hoping he doesn't take that risk again until we've got a better balanced squad.

We should be aiming to grind out results for the foreseeable, then see where we are come May.

On paper we are on a thrashing to nothing Fortunately we play on grass, not paper. A blizzard, howling wind and sub zero temps would help too

Under Koeman we were in free fall, we could feasibly have seen ourselves in the bottom 3 at Christmas, and down by May.

I wasn't enamoured by getting Big Sam in as manager, but what he's managed in the past 6 weeks with the same terrible squad as his predecessors has been way above what any of us could have expected.

Remember these are the same players that got embarrassed by Southampton, should have lost to Brighton and might as well have not even turned up United, Leicester and Burnley. Of course the football is still awful and there are individual performances that are as bad as I can remember in 30 years, but Big Sam has had to organise a defence that has more holes in it than a slice of Emmental.

Guys, we're still playing Martina, Niasse, Schneiderlin Keane/ Williams, and Calvert-Lewin – do people really think another manager could have got more out of this squad?

We've (sometimes) stopped the rot at the back, and I'd hope there are 3 signings to come in January, otherwise I'll be getting used to more of the same, occasionally beating teams below us in the league and playing for a draw every away game for the rest of the season.

The reason why David Moyes could not win the Premier League – he did not have the same financial clout until recently (and that was squandered by Koeman). That was down to having a chairman and board of directors in the past who believed they were running a fashion shop or a theatre.

Enjoy the end of this one, and the start of the next. Best wishes to all.

Actually whoever was scouting for recruitment did a good one too. Arteta, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Yobo, Lescott, Martyn, Howard, Johnson, Bent, Yakubu, Pienaar, Coleman, Donovan, McBride, even Fellaini and Jelavic (for a while).

All solid hires under financial limitations and only a few costly gambles in Van der Meyde, Krøldrup and probably Bilyaletdinov – that has gone backwards since he left in my opinion.

For some reason, we have been paying a lot more for similar or worse calibre – is it really just the market?

Yesterday's mistakes: Playing McCarthy after being injured for so long, playing 3 defensive midfield players, dropping Holgate, playing 1 upfront, team sitting deep, moving Rooney back to play Bolasie who is clearly off the pace, and then blaming the players for making mistakes! The tactics are the manager's, he seems to be taking out all the youngsters and favouring older players? I hope I'm wrong and Big Sam was just looking at the players in his squad and testing combinations? Or is that wishful thinking?

It's been strange to me the team selections and tactics in the past two games. The teams put out look very defensive, yet the manager bemoans lack of chances created? We play Calvert-Lewin up front on his own with what seems to be a big gap between him and the midfield players. And when we do get the ball upfront and play it into the box, no-one is there? Why? Because the first thought is defensive. Don't get me wrong; I don't want to be playing like those across the road, but our system and tactics need to be a little more offensive in my opinion.

I'm not a Big Sam fan, I will admit that, but I do believe in giving managers time. My support is always for Everton FC and not particular for any one person in it, and as such, I always want and hope for the best, plus I think we Evertonians are the best and most knowledgeable supporters in the land. That's may problem, we are making too many mistakes, basic mistakes at that, and it really is very frustrating for us fans. It's about time we played the best players in the best position, we brought players to fill the perceived weak positions, and we played to win as a team. That's all I ask!

I'm still giving my full support to my club, but let's start applying some common sense to the team selection and tactics please.

In saying this, Everton with the players we have in our squad (if totally committed) should be more than a match for teams like Bournemouth, with all due respect.

Any team may have great players but, if most are not up for it, your opponents have an advantage and Everton just haven't been up for it lately, in my opinion.

Allardyce's first job was to has address the dire defending but he's not happy with what he has got so I wouldn't be surprised to see a signing. Going in to 2018, rumours that Mirallas, Schneiderlin, Sandro, Besic and Niasse have asked to leave in January, and will providing values are met.

Barkley will probably stay until the season ends unless he gets a mega offer from interested clubs – he is the boss now, not Everton.

Happy New Year to ye all.

This is as bad as it has ever been.Not a fucking one of them is fit to sit in Goodison Park.

But there'll be Jam tomorrow.

The real decline came when Koeman was hired, he was unable to acquire good players at a good price, instead over paid on players who are not up to standard, Koeman as well as being a poor motivator and organiser.

Then SA has been hired to sort Everton out defensively and keep Everton in the premier league. But Everton still have no soul until something happens on and off the field. So where Everton go from here, no-one really knows. Allardyce will do what is just needed in the short-term.

On a brighter note Arsenal must be as bad as us, they drew with West Brom 1-1 as well. And Man City couldn't even beat Palace.

Footballs a funny old game.

Major overhaul required.

Dreading Monday and Friday.

Sam Allardyce and his team will only be here until the end of the season, in my opinion.

I agree, he just doesn't fit long term. Like many a footballer, he has quite a high opinion of himself.

I expect Moshiri to demonstrate to all he can be ruthless.

You're spot on though mate. What a fucking mess we are in. The club is in its worst state since I started watching back in 1963.

Happy New Year my arse!!!

We have far better players in our squad and we seem incapable of putting two passes together. That's down to coaching.

My biggest consistent Moan is that habit we have developed since start of season of playing ball back to a goal keeper to hoof it up the field, particularly when his distribution is so poor. We must have done it at least 10 times against Bournemouth. That is a Koemann legacy and will really begin to believe in Sam when I see that habit eradicated
Another moan is that in these threads we have our favourite fall guys Macca, Williams, Sneids, Martina, even Sigs but in the games I watched:
Is Baines any better than Martina defensively,
Is Maccas poor backpass any worse than those of Davies, Gana, only difference is he didn't get away with it whereas others were bailed out by defence.
Would Williams or Holgate have turned their back on shot that lead to goal
Finally can our goalkeeping coach teach Pickford to
1. Keep ball in play from his hoofing of back passes
2. Hold the ball or deflect behind instead of parrying back into play.
Yes he made some brilliant saves but he is not without faults and exempt of criticism.
Happy New Year

The big Sam haters have to accept that he is here for the next 16 months and get on with it. 1 loss in 7 with the bag of shite squad we have isn't bad.

We have a good goalie, a few good youngsters and Rooney. The rest are either too old, injured or very limited and very lucky indeed.

It's obvious we need a couple of strikers and players who can hurt the opposition but so do all teams. We are paying Walsh and co a small fortune to get the players in, let's see what happens in January and if Moshiri bankrolls the signings.

Mourinho is moaning about not matching City in the transfer market. That is an indicator of where we sit.

Blaming big Sam for a shit style of play is naive given the players available.
We have witnessed this type of footy since the purse strings got pulled on Walter Smith. I don't get what people want out of the current squad. We just aren't good enough to play attractive footy.

Under Roberto we had Barklay, Gerry, Lukaku with Jags Coleman Baines and Stones.

Now we have a 36 year old Jags an injured Baines and Coleman with very little else. What style and how do people want us to play.

Did anyone watch us under Koeman or Unsworth and think that we played great and were unlucky trying to play expansive football. Get real.

Let's hope we get a result today against a Man U money machine who play dour percentage football but who sit in the top 4.

Coyb

Rubbish. Name one Evertonian (apart from yourself) who that would suit.

Change the record.

What a pathetic post. What fan wants us to lose 5-0? Maybe losing by that score might suit you but it certainly doesn't benefit any Evertonian. With the tools at his disposal, he's done a great job so far. I just wish people like you would just accept it.

All of them.

I am playing the devils advocate here. Me, I'm just suggesting possible scenarios. A 5-0 win for the Blues on Friday would suit me, and that's a fact.