Continuing the Cull in January

And as to the contention that selling our youngsters significantly boosts our income, give me a break. As far as I know the allegedly remarkable, whilst he was with us, Liam Walsh has sunk without trace at Bristol City under the caveat of the ever-opaque "undisclosed fee".

Still, Kenwright backs Unsworth, and Ferguson, and Jeffers and all, so where does the problem lie?

Answers on a postcard please.

Merry fucking Christmas TW'ers!

As if.

I have no doubt, in the long run, Brands especially – and maybe Silva – will get the squad right... but, until not their contracts run out or we take big hits on their transfer fees and subsidise their wages. We are going to be nothing more than a mid-table team who one week might match it with the big boys, but mostly get taken to the cleaners.

We have missed the boat in terms of catching the big six; look at Liverpool last season as theirs are the only stats made available – they reportedly made £75 million from being in the Champions League last season, so you would say they would make around the same this season, so that's £150 million in just 2 seasons. If you say the top six are in the Champions League 2 out of every 3 seasons, Moshiri's millions can never keep up with that alone... Then you figure in money for Premier League position and cup wins and runs.

The best we can hope for in the next 3 or 4 seasons is we stay ahead of the bottom half because, once they start catching us up, we are in big trouble. Realistically, at the present time, we are a mid-table team who might spring the odd surprise.

I don't care what anybody says you really have to appreciate the job Moyes did with a limited budget compared to managers since him. You could see players walking off after the Spurs game... what seemed to be having a joke and laughing with the opposition. That does not sit well with me and nor does Pickford's continual use of Everton's games as training sessions; he should be playing the percentages and should be dropped but Everton can't do that to the current England keeper.

Cull of players deffo and a mentality and mindset change is needed.

Serial collapses in big games and no back bone, means we are an easy game now to the so-called top six and most of this league as we've struggled against the so-called weaker teams of this league this season.

This is an issue that needs a psychologist, but that's only my view, but the players hide and don't show any guts, and it's a default trait.

Let's hope Burnley have an off day tomorrow.

Happy Christmas folks!

Don’t let the blues get you down. Some things are bigger, like friends and family, and you should enjoy Christmas with them as you never know what’s round the corner.

All the best.

Best wishes to everyone on here – apart from the character who was using the most dreadful language on the Spurs live forum and abusing others
– hopefully his Happy New Year will be elsewhere!

May 2019 bring us the hope of a revival which we all crave. Even competing to be part of the top 6 would be a start and progress. Hopefully the Spurs result is a turning point.

As I said, the rest of them have barely figured so I don't see how any blame can be cast on them. Maybe they should be moved on but I doubt, other than releasing their salaries, it would make much difference to the club at all. The Under-23s set up is an entirely different question. This is something I posted a week ago in another thread.

"Really it brings into question whether the U23 system is working at all. It just seems to exist on the off-chance it may burp out the odd Rooney from among the endless stream of bog-standard dross. Is there a better way of producing top class youngsters than this?"

It does seem to me that, if you are still in the Under-23s by the time you actually hit 23, and no nearer to the 1st team than when you were 20, then really you are probably finished at the club and it's time to move on.

We could try re-booting Seamie's mojo by trying him at right midfield where he's played before and in a similar role to what Milner has played for that lot, both defensive duties and getting forward when he can. Theo just ain't cutting it right now.

I don't think (as some TWebbers seem to feel) that Coleman is done. He has had an horrific, near career threatening injury, his attitude has always been exemplary, and he will, in time, get to his previous levels, but maybe not this season. Merry Christmas all, and may we have a little joy from Turf Moor by 5:00pm tomorrow, God willing.

Football is football, but your loved ones are everything.

Savor the day – and every day.

Hi Dave [11], I have never visited the matchday forum, I was advised to avoid it. In a recent response to a post I submitted, the phrase ' Sensitive Old Souls' figured quite strongly, and while no names were mentioned, I took it on to myself to adopt the 'If the cap fits, wear it', adage. If you're not careful, you may find yourself a fellow member of the SOS!

Hi Mike [16], If anyone has the right to pass comment on this issue, then surely you have to be in the running, and I consider it a privilege to have met you, and that promise of a few old matchday programmes still stands.

Steve, well said, sir!

John #17, my dad has Parkinson's which has led to dementia and he went into a care home earlier this year. So, yes your comments relating to a good year are spot on. Funnily enough, I went to see Dad today and told him about the Spurs game – his only comment was to say “At least it wasn't 10-4 son!!!” Strange how the mind works sometimes.

On that note, Happy Christmas to all.

Don (2) makes good points but, at the end, I am not saying moving on Under-23s players will bring in loads of money; only that, if they are not good enough, they should be moved on – even if it's for pennies.

Niall (15), yes, I remember Seamus playing in midfield a couple of times in his early days but I don't think this will work now. I'm not writing him off but I think he has passed his peak and we need to be addressing that now.

As for Niasse, I understand his limitations but I would select him every time ahead of Tosun, I think the only reason Tosun is selected ahead of Niasse is to save embarrassing him.

Anthony Evans is still only 19 and has had a couple of bad injuries which haven't helped his progress, so I'd give him a lot more time.

As others have mentioned, I think Brands will change the way the U23s are run, starting next season.

At the moment this is not the case. What is the point of introducing young players to a frequently struggling team so lacking in skills and confidence? The unrealistic expectations of understandably frustrated fans adds to the problem.

I had a full knee replacement in November... 8 days later, I buried my dad, and couldn't be a pallbearer. I did the eulogy though. He was an RS and we would banter about the game. The last derby was a sad day.

Everton losing a game still annoys me hugely, but hey ho.

Enjoy the festivities and appreciate the people we are lucky to spend the day with – family/friends and loved ones and also a time to reflect those that are less fortunate, wherever they are in the world, and those that are no longer with us, but have touched the hearts of many.

There is little in the world that should provoke such a reaction. I am suitably chastened. There are a million more compelling reasons to get upset. Football is not one of them. Sometimes it just seems like it.

What I read on the Spurs forum was a disgrace to any civilised person but hopefully the culprit will be banned.

I am aware that you have had a rough time this year and I wish you all the very best and a much better year next year.

Best wishes all round, especially to those of you I met this year, it was a joy.

What's Our Name? Family and friends is the heart of the family, and EFC is part of the family, by default.

Now more than ever, we must stand and ride the storm, which is coming from a short walk across Stanley Park.

COYB

We seem to have been treading water for years now, with little or no progress. Can anyone say that we are better off now than the Moyes years?

We all weave different things into our lives, Everton being one thing we all have in common; family and friends being the most important.

Here's hoping for a good, healthy and prosperous year for all. And maybe a decent cup run for us. Happy Christmas to all fellow ToffeeWebbers.

Gradually the Blue tinted blinkers are coming off and questions are being asked.
Questions such as, did the rot set in when Boys Pen Bill and his tax dodging mates took the reins of this once great club.
What is becoming more and more noticable is a growing clamour among T,webbers that everything should be open to scrutiny from our scouting system, academy, entire coaching panel and fitness training.
If that means taking a few lessons from the 'other lot’, so be it.
Mr Moshiri and our long suffering supporters deserve nothing less.

The guy has just played up front against City and Spurs, scored one, had a perfectly good goal disallowed and got an assist. What more do you want?

As for Holgate and Dowell - they’d both be better off going on loan somewhere for half a year. Only at a decent club though.

Walcott - fair enough, but we would need a replacement. We have 4 wingers at the club, that would take us down to 3, if Richarlison is still played at Centre Forward this would leave us with Bernard and Lookman with no options off the bench.

The same could apply to any other position.

Make a serious move for Palace's right back, offer Kenny and Tosun in exchange.

Agree on selling Walcott, if a buyer can be found, and signing a replacement like. One player here in Brazil who had a hell of a year is Dudu of Palmeiras.

I've always likes him, he would be popular as he is tenacious, aggressive, and never stops running. Although he also seemed to lack that precision in the final third, yet this season he was flying, goals and assists from that wide forward role. At 26 just may be the right time to come to Europe.

Whilst from Argentina, Dario Benedetto had a heck of a Libertadores, at 28 is in his prime. Prolific, and scores some Worldies too. And Cristian Pavon is gonna be top player, although not prolific (yet).

This thread makes good reading, and is honest and frank, and the truths hurt, but it’s the real truth.

The club must realise and face these issues as unless the tide won’t turn.

It will be hell today, but let’s hope we win at Turf Moor.

Stepping stone to a long, long, road to better times.

Have a good Boxing Day, TWrs .

I lost my uncle last week, and this Chrimbo, ain’t the same, and uncanny the last 4 years, at Chrimbo, a friend or relative has passed.

It puts life in perspective. Everton is in our blood, and that’s great but family and friends, as well as Everton, is life.

Starting with JP, they should hire Big Nev, to get some brutal common sense into the lad, whom could easily fail to reach his potential.

The rest of the team need to grow some, as it’s seriously embarrassing the lack of spine and guts in this squad.

The basics are lacking and you could see every goal happen, on Sunday before it happened.

You don’t clear across the box,it’s Row Z, or kick it out. My gut feeling is some basic game and mindset rules, are missing or not endorsed.

My NYR, yes I'll apply for a coaching job at FF! Seriously no chance, but for the life in me, the club lacks a level of professionalism, in my view and I could be miles wrong, but we see repeat incidents every season.

For all the hi tech gadgets in football these days at EPL, level, at EFC, and I’ve watched the U23s enough, don’t seem to use the video evidence to to learn and improve the teams.

Sobering reality check and this day is a massive one for Everton and MS. I hope we smash Burnley, but I just can’t see us, smashing any team these days.

When was the last time we played for 97 minutes?

Have a Ball TWrs!

However on tuning in to 'ToffeeWeb' today, I've discovered that there are others who have experienced similar losses, but unlike James [24] I wasn't able to attend her funeral. I was in a physical rehab unit, as a result of a recent injury, apologies for introducing a sombre tone to the thread, but to return to the main reason for this post, I hope you can take some comfort from knowing that there are some, proud to be regarded as 'Sensitive old souls' and who are mindful of your feelings in this sad time.

Hi James [24], I appear to have answered your post with my reply to Neil.

Hi Dave [27], as the self-appointed Chairman of 'Sensitive old souls' [SOS], I welcome you to the organisation. I have had a year to forget, but compared to the experiences of others, I regard myself as lucky. Thank you for your kind words.

Hi Peter [28], the feeling is mutual, those two meetings put faces to names, we must do it again soon, but we'll have to take care that we avoid clashing with any SOS gathering.

Hi Paul [43], If you've managed to read through the thread, you'll be able to appreciate that there are others who have experienced your emotions in what is generally regarded as the 'festive season'

In December 2008 we lost our 44-year-old daughter, and she implored me to carry on my life as normal, stressing that as Everton played a massive part of my life, I should continue watching them. So as I hope you understand to some going to the match is voluntary, to me it's also a commitment [It also makes me proud to be a 'sensitive old soul']

We need good management to use what we have properly and gradually fashion us into a winning team.

We need continuity not childish actions.

Today Father Christmas gave us a very nice surprise. Now for Brighton.

Have a great Boxing Day night, TWRs,!🍺👍☘️⚽️

Getting rid of these will free up an absolute fortune in wages, but the income won't be as high as we'd like.

Player Wage Value
Schniederlin £50k £15M
Niasse £50k £5M
McCarthy £ 50k £5M
Besic £30k £5M
Bolasie £50k £5M
Williams £50k -
Jagielka £50k -
Baines £50k -
Martina £40k -
Pennington £15k £3M
Galloway £15k £1M
Browning £15k £1M
Garbutt £30k £0.5M
Tosun £60k £10M

14 players named above should all be dead certs, Baines and Jagielka have been brilliant servants but they have to move on as they command too much in wages to warm a bench.

There are many others who are currently out on loan or playing U23 who could go too. Dowell, Kenny, Hornby, Joe Williams – all need either loan deals or Everton to get into Europe via the Europa League to prove there worth.

Others, like Connolly and Robinson need decisions made on them; imo, Robinson should be back-up to Digne (sink or swim for the young USA international) and Connolly is at a stage where hes ready to be back-up or moved out.

I'm sure one or two others may have escaped my notice, but even at an estimated guess on wages and fees, it's clear how many players are basically weighing the blues down and need moving on.

In relation to the question as to whether an Academy is still valid, I would say that it depends on the club. The likes of Burnley, Brighton, and Cardiff have kept a very tight transfer budget in place. I think all three clubs would love to have our Academy and what it produces.

I think Everton under Moyes in the early years would have really made the most of the players we are producing in the last couple of seasons. Moyes had a minus transfer fund and would have given his left nut to have the production line we have now.