City prevail at Goodison to reclaim top spot

Would have preferred the directness of Richarlison and the unpredictability of Lookman on the wings, but can’t have everything.

I hope it’s Gomes playing from deep and Gueye and Davies closing down The City midfield.

We have to break at pace today and get them thinking about our wide players. If we can get through the first 30 minutes unscathed and our wide players have made a nuisance of themselves on the break, we might see one or two City players holding back when they usually join attacks. Might give us the momentum we need.

Never shows them practicing how to defend a set-piece, which is a shame really.

I posted a week or so ago that we should just solve one thing at a time. Hire a defensive coach and resolve this terrible set piece defending.

I won't talk about formations, selections, tactics, or any of that crap. There's no point when we're conceding from basic set pieces every week. We've lost before we start.

That's really cruel. Our first half performance didn't merit that.

Vastly improved performance - and fight! - on recent performances.

The young 'uns all playing well.

We looked to have created a great scoring opportunity in the very first minute of the game with DCL's charging run down the right and cross into Gomes.

Not sure if Bernard's tripping of the City player was deliberately, or just one of the accidental clashes that occur.

Some pride restored.

And I still want us to win!

0 shots on target again, ah well at least the young uns are playing well 🙄

The 'usual crap' is coming from you, not the team.

Spot on

Plucky unlucky Everton doesn’t wash (or shouldn’t wash) any more

Pat on the back for the effort but failing to score again and another game against a top six club without winning.

Basically the effort should be there every week and it isn’t so why applaud them for tonight?

Our striking options are atrocious and will NEVER be good enough for a club with top 7 aspirations.

Another winless game on Saturday no doubt at Watford before two blank weekends

Some of our “fans” sum up our club - applauding mediocrity - one of the many reasons our club is a laughing stock at the moment

I apologise for causing upset (not intentionally) but like everyone on here am entitled to an opinion ( especially as I pay to watch my club)

All I said was “usual crap” - a statement of fact as many I’m sure will agree

However . Jay is perfectly entitled to his views, many which I agree with but some I don’t

That’s how it goes and is how frustrating supporting Everton is

No offence intended

Praise for battling performances but Crystal Palace went and won at the Etihad scoring three goals, then mighty Newcastle beat them 8 days ago.

Everton fans are meant to be content with losing 2-0 at home.

Our last five home games, we’ve lost four of them.

And can we please bench Michael Keane. Hes like something from a zombie apocalypse film.

Get rid of that zonal marking nonsense and theres a team in there.

Much improved.

There’s no chance this pile of shite will be even scoring against Liverpool let alone winning.

We won’t be winning at Goodison again now until May, at the earliest.

Conceding a cheap free kick around our own penalty area in the final minute of the half and then conceding from it.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I could only laugh at the second one.

That apart, I enjoyed the game, even though we lost.

The final scoreline flatters City who themselves were happy to run down the clock as much as they could from the 80th minute onwards.

This was a vastly improved performance by the manager and players alike.

Silva was bold enough to radically change the line-up, formation and tactics, even though the opposition was the best team in the league.

There was fight and resilience throughout the team which we simply haven't seen in too many games since early December. There was no little skill either, going toe-to-toe with the players of City's quality.

A modicum of pride was restored tonight, even in defeat.

Silva and his players have some foundations from this game on which to build on.

He has sent out a message that no-one is any longer guaranteed their starting place and that he will play the young 'uns.

We lost to the reigning champions and champions-elect tonight.

But that sort of performance repeated against the majority of teams in the league will garner us points.

Now Marco, get the defending against dead ball situations sorted.

People are clutching at straws to mention the noticeable upturn in effort, it should have been there all along.

What is still missing is anything approaching football ability. It could have been so much worse but for Gana making trademark interceptions around our own box, we offered nothing up front.

Walcott has been garbage apart from a few early games and Bernard so far has offered nothing all season.

Bright spark was Kenny ofc; caught out of position numerous times but never less than 100% from the kid - he'll keep improving.

Most of the others are a joke for footballers.

Failure to win either of those heading into the derby then it’s probably his job gone, regardless of what Moshiri says.

Better tempo, but once again we concede at the worst possible moment.

Have we broken the world record for the most goals conceded in time added on yet ? those two tonight and the one on Saturday were the result of shocking shocking game management. You wont beat the lower sides let alone the top sides if you keep doing that

City have performed below par against our peers, and lost and drew. They played below par against us and won 2-0.

What do you mean, other than running around a bit and putting in an absolute basic amount of effort?

That infernal, damn it to the innermost circle of Hell, zonal marking is nothing to build on, nor is the inability of a winger to beat a man let alone put in a decent cross, nor is the total lack of creativity, the inability to make a short pass (Gomes again!) or get some efforts in on goal.

What does Silva have to build with?

The effort was much, much better. I thought Davies was very good this evening in particular.

But the set piece concession, the way it appeared City never got out of second gear the entire game, I dunno.

We're on the road to no where. Pisses me off.

The fact is, our form is befitting of a team in lower mid-table right now and the fact that we aren't shows how bad everyone around us in this league are. 7 defeats in 10, 4 home defeats in 5, with the next 5 I don't even bear thinking about. Silva needs results v Watford and Cardiff otherwise he's finished, vote of confidence or not.

"Not really much of value to say; Everton truly are a shit football team."

Succinct and sadly very true

Usually, when a team suffers such woeful levels of form, it is littered with 'unlucky performances', phrases like 'played well, just not going for them' and such.

Not us though. We don't deserve a single point from any of these 7 defeats, except maybe the Derby.

Walcott was so incredibly awful tonight. Why in the world did Silva keep him out there as long as he did? He was so, so, so poor. Another "big" signing we are stuck with on stupid wages.

Our management team needs to ask themselves, "Are we better with this aging player, or would we do just as well with a younger player on half the wages?"

We have to stop signing players like Theo. They don't offer enough, they cost too much, and selling them on is almost impossible.

JJK, Davies, Gana, Gomes & Bernard must be retained for Watford away. The rest of them? I looked to the above mentioned because they showed some guile and fight tonight.

I would give Virginia a go in nets as well. Pickford needs a kick up the arse.

I can see a few draws in our remaining fixtures, but I'm finding it difficult to see the wins even with performances like tonight that have show a bit more effort.

Points against Watford and Cardiff are crucial - what a sad fact !

We still can’t defend set pieces and we still don’t look like we can ever score enough goals and we all know at Vicarage Road on Saturday it will be another half interested performance when the players can’t get up for it.

The season has completely derailed with 4 wins from 15 matches and it doesn’t look like improving any time soon with our problems at both ends of the pitch so clear.

If you're not happy that some of us are happy about that, tough shit. We have every right to be happy that our local rivals are faltering, and hopefully won't win a damn thing!

4 wins in 15. Says it all.

What scares the bajeezuz out of me is what happened to Silva's team at Watford before he left. They were in free-fall, and this seems eerily similar.

Are we watching a broken record play the same thing over and over, or should we be patient with the "project"?

One minute I want him sacked. But after the effort I've seen this evening, despite as you correctly point out losing does nothing really, I think maybe we should allow Silva time? My beef has been the lack of effort and industry. I saw effort this evening.

Everton make you bi-polar I swear to God.

I'm still getting my head around the idea they played "well".

Newcastle beat City with a mere 24% of possession - it just requires a bit of luck and a game-plan, something the likes of Benitez can concoct and Silva obviously can't.

Did we threaten them at all, for all the scant breaks forward we made? Or did Walcott cross to nobody, Bernard run into a tackle and DCL fail to reach a throughball, every bloody time?

These guys can't remember what it is to play "well".

Thank god Carnaval is on its way here in Brazil and I can totally forget about football for 20 days.

Catuaba and Cachaça will bring less of a hangover than any Everton performance over the next month, I expect.

I'm not surprised you're going to be distracted while spending your time appreciating very nearly naked Brazilian beach queens samba past you!

Lucky Boy!

I'm not feeling overly confident about the derby.

The moment we went out of the Cup to Millwall then only game that really mattered was the derby but we won’t win that because this Everton team doesn’t have what it takes or know the feeling of beating a top six team.

January 2017 our last victory against a top six club, that’s an utter disgrace.

I never thought we were going to score and when you defend like that, yet again, for the goal then the problems are obvious and we really could do with a win on Saturday.

At least they tried for the manager and that's a big plus.

Guess what? You wanted a lack of attacking potency. You wanted to put your blind faith in DCL and Tosun so you got what you wanted

I’ll keep banging this boring drum because Everton management and large parts of our fan base are similarly aligned in a complete lack of genuine ambition

DCL & Tosun forwards that give Premiership defenders sleepless nights

Another game, another loss and another set piece goal conceded

I am so frustrated. So bored. So upset. So distraught at how genuinely crap we are

We don’t play with attacking verve. We don’t score goals. That is blatantly not entertaining. Hence we don’t entertain. And we don’t win

What do we do that’s positive????

Oh, we ran around a lot tonight! Okay. Well done unlucky plucky Everton

It's a sad day if that is deemed acceptable – even against a side of City's quality.

Expecting more of the same in the next 4 home games and wondering where the 5-6 points we need to sleep easy are coming from? Answers on a postcard please.

Thought all the lads put in a shift tonight and showed some quality.

Yet again we were undone by Marco's kamikaze system of defending set pieces and some poor refereeing.

In particular if JAgs was sent off by this same referee why was Fernadinho still on the pitch in the second half having made at least three diabolical challenges and why wasnt Laporte booked for poleaxing Walcott.

All we can achieve in the remainder of the season. given the squad inherited by M&M, is to battle as we did tonight and hope to meld some sort of resilience and purpose from the squad.

In addition the remainder of the season needs to be used to resolve the horrible habits developing in zonal marking and the concession of unnecessary free kicks that, until we begin to sort "zonal", are like conceding penalties.

Thirdly we need to sort out the centre forward problem, and then lose vast numbers from the bloated squad.

Erm, reading that back to myself it means we're in a hell-hole of a mess.

And, for once admittedly, I haven't even mentioned Kenwright.

Oh bollocks!!!!

Where we go from there in the summer I really don’t know but we are absolutely desperate as fuck for a proper Premier League proven or top European league proven striker.

Will Silva still be here? I don’t know.

Is Silva going to be good enough to turn this mess around? I really don’t know that either but I’m doubtful.

Moshiri can’t keep making mistakes at the top either that much is crucial.

He’s tightened the purse strings now just before we managed to sign a truly threatening attacking player so in that way he’s sold Silva down the river.

We will probably finish 10th or lower so that’s going to be a major overhaul needed in the summer to rectify this wreckage.

We lack cutting edge and know-how in the final third... feels like I’ve been saying that for 15 years bar when Lukaku was here!

Gana played well given his dream move fell through - some great last ditch tackles. The young lads played well too.

I’m optimistic that we will beat Watford.

If you answered "well, yes!" Go see your doctor tomorrow or ask your nurse to up the medication.

We have brought some decent footballers in last summer. Richy, Bernard, Mina and Gomes (if he stays) will all be more consistent next season. Lucas Digne has shown a decent level without being outstanding.

We must go again in the next window and try to fill the gaps. Not easy when the list of unwanted players would fill a rugby union pitch. Tonight was night and day compared with recent outings.
No end result but signs that we're not completely dead.

Sack Silva? For whom and where do we start? More excuses, more ins and outs more patience required. As long as relegation is not looming I think two more transfer windows then load the gun.

Mr. Moshiri doesn't have the cash to keep international managers on premier wages. Marcel Brands needs to help out too. Players need to take a look in the mirror and ask "am I giving everything"

Where was that pragmatic approach when the train was steaming off the rails?

Moshiri via White says play the youngsters, a day later the kids get rolled out? Smells like self preservation?

The lads ran around, and stuck a finger or two in the dam to stop us being routed. We as a result negated any attacking options we might have utilized.

I heard something today that expectation should be to get Silva through the season without being sacked .

We are nowhere, absolutely nowhere.

Have a look at our next 10 fixtures, where are the points coming from those games!
Confidence on and off the pitch has nose dived.

Just got back from the game and although I was not happy about losing, I would like to commend the players for a much better performance after Wolves. I thought Tom Davies was outstanding tonight and has been playing well recently. Kenny was also good tonight as was Gueye.

As usual, the zonal marking let us down but I would just say this: how did Pawson manage to find another minute at the end of the 1st half. Did I miss an injury? If this match had been played in Europe the referee would have blown for half time at 45 minutes.

Also 7 minutes at the end seemed a bit excessive given there was no cat this time. I think 2-0 flattered City but overall they probably deserved it. Everton have set themselves a benchmark for the rest of the season and they need to play with this much passion in every match no matter who we're playing.

Sort that, and we’ll be sound .accept the set pieces of course! Not sure if it’s true, but lad who sits next to me said that we’ve now conceded more set pieces than any other team in PL history!! Beating the record set by .drum roll; Silva at Hull and Watford.

Kenny played well, despite being up against the frightening Sane. Calvert-Lewin led the line well, winning headers and putting in effort. I just wish Walcott tried to get on the end of the flicks and into the box.

It’s still not good enough, but it was better. A lot better. The consensus in the ground was where was this effort for the last 6 weeks or more.

The players I wanted to see on the pitch, were largely on the pitch. Lookman excepted (injured?).

If we can name the same team, with maybe Lookman in for Walcott (if fit) and the play with that level of commitment then I’ll be happy and we should get 3 points. We just need to turn that corner and improve things in time for the derby.

The second half we were not as good but keeping City
from any real goal threat, although there was some unecessary panic moments.

The substitutes didn’t improve us one iota, although Walcott had to be replaced, looks like he doesn’t want to
be here, to me, and has looked that way for quite a while.

Another stupid foul at the end provided the chance for
their second goal and that was that.

I could see a much improved performance and a some plan to our game, if they continue to play like that in the remaining games I can see them getting points that I couldn’t see before, hopefully starting at Watford.

The likes of Wartford and Cardiff etc will welcome an Everton team that come to graft & battle, it's what these teams do week in week out, they're still basically championship sides surviving in the prem.

We'll still need that bit of flair to unlock them, that flair for us is just not doing its thing.

That's why we have to match the graft first and our superior quality will come through. We need to play with that intensity every week and earn the right to play.

Good idea to concede a set-piece outside the box just before half time. What could possibly go wrong?

I thought Tom put a decent shift in, but God we are so slow. We seem incapable of playing an incisive first time pass.

I thought I'd be split over the result, but like all fool Evertonians the minute I got into the ground I only wanted us to win.That reassured me a bit at least!

He had to find the é in André and Sané, the ü and the ğ in Gündoğan and finally the ü in Agüero.

Now if only Lyndon dexterity and accuracy on the keyboard was matched by the players in their ability to pass the ball - the magical 118 points a season would be on.

Well done Lyndon. You deserve some praise.

As for marking set pieces - just watch how they did it. zonal plus 3 players picking up runners. just do that!

Walcott might even be better as an impact sub. Work hard and press the opposition and tire them before sending on flair players to finish them off.

Easier said than done of course, but surely today’s game had to give you some hope?

Why can't Moshiri admit he's balls it up AGAIN and hired a dud. We're now seeing relegation form under a relegation manager and all the nice people are saying 'he needs time'.

Well I'm sorry I don't see it that way. He's had 7 months to at least sort out the defence if nothing else, yet we see the same errors each and every week. Even if we bring in new players in the summer does anyone, truly, hand on heart, think or believe that Silva will suddenly be able to to deliver a defensive masterclass? Doesn't matter how good the players are, (and most of our current defenders are internationals), if the manager /coach is shite then they are going to produce shite.

Our record at conceding from set pieces is now on a par with Silva's record at Hull and Watford and in a week or two it will be the worst ever in PL history.

Is this really what Moshiri wants for Everton? If it is then I'm sorry but after 60 years supporting thus great club, I will be forced to turn my back on football altogether. I could never support any other club but I also don't want to be around when we make the drop into the championship, which is the only place I can see Silva leading us.

Even bloody Allardyce did better than this charlatan. Last year's 8th place is suddenly looking like a fond memory. It could be a long time until we see such heady heights again. I wanted Sam out of Everton and said that nobody could do worse than him, but it looks like I was wrong, because, hey ho, along came Silva!

I take it you've got no faith that Silva is going to get us in to the Europa places by the end of the season then?

Moshiri does!

I also said about dropping Pickford. He’s a liability who turns over possession way too often and makes the most ridiculous mistakes. Yes he’s a fine shot stopper sometimes but that can not mask all the mistakes. Virginia all the way for me these people need to know they are not undroppable

Once again defending set pieces let us down and we didn’t offer much going forward either. It looks like Silva took a more pragmatic approach - keep it tight at the back and try to nick one. If we’ve played this game 10 times we’d probably win 3.

City weren’t at their best and didn’t need to be. Other than Walcott, I cant say anybody had a bad game really. Davies was fantastic at times. In particular his anticipation and decision making has been much improved during his last few performances but it really stood out tonight.

At the end of the day it’s City. Avoiding defeat is extremely difficult. I’d wager tonight’s performance would be enough to have beaten many other Premier League teams.

I think to regain the attacking balance he needs to go 3-5-2. Retain the numbers in the middle, that is a significant source of our problems and let the wide players be the outlets.

I’d let Digne be part of the back three to give it balance and someone who can pass.
I even think Richarlison could play wing back, it suits Kenny too.

You can mix and match the wingers into midfield because the numbers are there. Sigurdsson would be better for me without the midfield burden and as genuine split striker with DC-L.

I guarantee players and a formation that protects the middle without the ball, is more compact, will keep us in most games and give us options later in the match.

Just bend to the players you have until you buy better ones, otherwise it’s not hard to see us lose the next three too. That I believe would end it.

It was a game we anticipated losing. Performance was better than the preceding two games. Kenny impressed and Davies again showed why he merits time on the pitch.

Need to pick up points from somewhere unexpected as home games are nightmare. Really don't fancy an end of season struggle with some of those players in the side

Let’s be honest Sigurdsson is just as likely (if not more likely) to score goals in the striker role as DCL
and Tosun, arguably a better chance of scoring than either of those who virtually never score when starting matches.

Three of the best players tonight were Calvert-Lewin, Davies and Kenny. It's no coincidence, they have played together for many years in the youth system. Why was Gomes substituted?

With things the way they are I can't think any reason why we shouldn't do it (other than his pace), DCL is another Anichebe.

Him and Tosun might cause trouble as a tradtional pair.

I'd like to see Lookman in the 10 role, he invites so many fouls just like Arteta did we might have a few more opportunities with him on the pitch.

I'm as upset as anyone but let's get things in perspective. The 3 subs City brought on would probably be starting for any of the world's top clubs.

Both players have had their chances and had exposure and neither has proved to be good enough for regular starts.

Disgrace that this area of the pitch is still being a massive problem.

But playing three in midfield worked well for us, as we did not have to accommodate Sigurdsson. His goals and assists keep him in the team, but the adjustments we have had to make to play him are just not worth it when they dry up. We do need more size and athleticism in midfield as against other teams we are simply out-muscled.

The youngsters were fantastic- DCL, Davies and Kenny shone for me - so add Lookman to the team when fit and then play them through the rest of the season. Nothing to lose and given it’s Moshiri and Brand’s stated policy let’s see it happen.

As for the summer clear out, add Walcott to the list as I am massively disappointed by his zero threat in attack and lack of effort in supporting his full-back.

As everyone has seen the obvious .We haven't got a clue on set plays and we have a goalie who is incapable of picking out a ball in a crowded penalty area. Have any fans got a comment about the young stopper in the under 23 team.

Jonjo mostly took Sane out of the game and still had time to get forward and was there to put important blocks in when necessary, Tom Davies had his best game in years and DCL won most of his aerial challenges and kept them occupied on the ground with little support.

Digne seemed to be a little bit off colour (injured?) but Zouma was a giant at the back,

At least the setup 3-5-1 was right even if the damn zonal marking system was still in place.

Lets hope he has learned he has to beef the MF up even if he cant find a solution to crosses into the box.

The question is will Silva be brave enough to drop another vast under a achiever in Pickford?

The City defenders knew they were in a battle last night. The cameras caught them blowing out of their arses on more than one occasion.

I've seen multi million pound superstars struggle to get a look in against City, but Tom Davies was in their face all night showing some fantastic composure, skill and tenacity. This was an apprentice manfully doing a mans job against world superstars.

Mane destroyed Liverpool recently . . but he got very little change from JJ last night - This kid plays with the attitude of a supporter and will get better and better.

Brands was bang on the money. These kids ARE the envy of other clubs. between them they could save our club a fucking fortune over the next 10 years or so. Those who say they are not premier league players are denying fact. They are right there, right now, ALREADY

I don't worry about the kids Rhino sends up. I'm far more concerned about people like Keane, Mina, Sigurdsson Walcott, Tosun and Slidingin. 300M quids worth of dross. These people should be mentoring our youngsters, not being lead by them.

Sigurdsson, Mina, Richarlison, Tosun are all considered to be top internationals in their respective countries, They should hang their heads in shame that they couldnt get a start against the countries best side. We've shopped all around the world for this lot, but the boy form Kirkdale is demonstrating a better attitude than the fucking lot of them

Up front 4 shots during the game with only one on target, and that was the 30 yard shot from Gana, tells an all too familiar story.

Like the old school report cards used to say ' can and much do better in the future ' about sums it up. I was pleased that more effort was being shown, maybe Moshiri's words have been heeded by the players, but I still think Silva hasn't got a clue, in persisting with his Groundhog Day tactics.

He looks a very good young keeper but it would be very risky to put him straight into a PL first team. I would imagine he might go on loan next year to get first team experience in league one or possibly a lower championship team. I agree Pickfords inabilities at coming for crosses are a real issue.

Them kids are not the envy of other clubs – far from it. They probably are not that well known outside of our city. Though I've got to agree with you, Jonjoe Kenny does play like it hurts when we lose and in the last 3 games, there are signs that Davies is becoming the player he looked when he first broke into the side.

Calvert-Lewin, for all his graft and endeavour, just lacks the quality to make it at this level. Yes, you're right, the service was poor and he fed off scraps all game but he's never gonna be a 20-goal-a-season striker, which is what we are severely lacking at this time. Be honest, do you think any of the top 6 would take any of the 3 players I've mentioned? My answer to that would be a resounding No.

Other clubs envious? Most definitely not.

Stuck record but man on each post, fast player on half-way line, and mark up big for big — will be hailed as coaching genius by the first coach who brings it back. I don't understand the Pickford bashers.

Yes they were not at their best last night but still too good for us, amply aided by the Zonal defending at set pieces which has proved to be an Achilles Heel, yet that arrogant, pig-headed fool of a Manager insists on employing it, is there no end to his pomposity?

It will be interesting, to say the least, against Watford with whom we have a wonderful relationship, I'm sure they will welcome us with open arms, we will reciprocate with an open defence and a toothless forward line.

There is no way out of this without massive upheaval again, much as the club cannot bring itself to admit that. Brands in the great hope here that he has recognised and is planning behind the scenes and being thankful for this season at least, points gained to date and the paucity of the league will be enough.

I was 'lucky' enough to be able to view the match last night via IPTV, and I observed the massive amount of staff that Silva has on the benches with him. The question is what do they actually do? Apart from add to the massive wage bill!

Sorry guys but my patience is almost depleted with Silva, he was never my choice, but I was prepared to back him whilst he was in the 'hotseat' that misplaced support has worn so thin, it's close to breaking altogether.

I feel that I am not alone in that respect either, we are all human, and to err is human, but to keep making the same errors over and over again is simply 'madness' and utterly unacceptable.

Sigurdsson is the issue. We have not played consistently well since we bought him. For me, the issue is him in the No 10 role... or in fact just Everton with a No 10 role. Sigurdson is too slow and spends most of his time with back to goal which kills off any forward momentum we have.

Starting with 3 more orthodox midfielders last night helped. It allowed us to maintain momentum when breaking forward.

We did NOT play (as suggested above) with 3 holding midfielders. Davies was in very advanced positions more often than not. A bit like Cahill used to be for us.

I would like us to maintain the shape from last night in the long term but perhaps replacing one of Gomes or Gana with someone more positive. Someone like a Ross Barkley or Doucoure, I'm sure Brands will be able to identify someone much better than I can. Even give Sigurdsson an opportunity there to see if it improves him. Most of his goals for us are from range or have been from arriving late in the box. Starting deeper in a box-to-box role might allow him to be more of a threat.

1 holder and 2 box-to-box is the way forward for Everton. Or in a perfect world, we would have 3 box-to-box midfielders who took it in turns to break when the opportunity presented itself, as long as they were disciplined and knew one of them must stay back.

We have done this No 10 thing to death and it just doesn't work for us. Time to give something else a try.

Those bemoaning our one shot on target, City only had 4 on target. Not a massive difference, one of them was in the 47th minutes of the first half, and one in the 98th minute. That means they went the full 90 minutes (barring injury time) only having 2 shots on target. Yes we didn't create much, but we limited a vastly superior team to two injury-time lapses of concentration.

Playing the 4 kids for the rest of the season is definitely the way forward and, in Davies and Kenny, we have 2 potential captains for the next 10 years.

I thought Tom Davies at 20 had an outstanding game considering he was playing against some of the best midfield players on the planet, and possibly the best club side. Gueye was not far behind him either and Kenny justified his selection with a tough display.

Hopefully the same tactics for the rest of the season Mr Silva.

Zouma was great – strong in every tackle.

I'm not sure if it's a lack of effort or players are just not good enough. There must be people at the football club who know the answer... are they just not bothered?They just take the money and go home at night...

Gueye was hunting as usual and Gomes got forwards more than usual. It was 3 box-to-box midfielders. If they appeared deep on your TV, then it would have been when City had us pegged back.

Still lots to work on, and we must create more chances, but I feel, with more time and a few good signings in the summer, Silva will have us challenging for the top six before long.

I can't see bar injury how he can change the line up for Watford. Will it make our so-called big transfers play better and be more committed, in future games, this season?

I sense we were more focused to a degree but the same old free header syndrome as is every game now. The club must get some defensive coaches in soon, as we are giving away freebies every game, and living off crumbs of chances upfront.

To win any game with our current squad is gonna be tough as the general style of cohesive play from front to back isn't there.

We didn't get hammered but City always had the edge in guile and ability albeit, dirty cynical play stopping antics engaged again last night, which is a trait they have, when they lose the ball.

The referee was inconsistent and the standard of officials this season is the worst in memory. But that's no excuse, and now to see if the squad can be motivated for a real battle at Vicarage Road.

Let's see the roll call for whose fit and whose not and will Mina be in consideration for Watford?

At the end of the day EFC, played and tried their best and lost to the best team in the Premier League. This should not be a one-off, these are professional athletes, and paid incredible wages to do so.

Do they provide good value for money for Evertonians this and the past 5 seasons?

Which Everton team will turn up at Watford? No well done to Kenny, Davies, Calvert-Lewin, for showing some heart.

Anyway, good to hear we had some fighting performances in the team. This is a minimum requirement to have a connection with fans and to get us through the downturns.

On Bernard though, he's getting tackled trying to take a man on and create, would you be having a go at him if he passed backwards every time he faced a defender? We all know Evertonians hate those backward and sideways passes!

Calvert Lewin, do you not think that some of those through balls might just have been too heavy even if it was Usain Bolt chasing them!! Name me a striker who latches on to every or even 50% of through balls every game?

We've had nothing to go off for weeks and weeks so forgive people who want to pick the positives out of a game that we were ultimately unlucky (in my opinion) not to get at least a point out of it in the end.

It's hard to see we're the next victory will come from playing the same way and Silva doesn't seem to have a plan B that makes any difference, even when we change personnel. Maybe Moshiri has already decided to go with Silva for next season come what may, if so Silva will be lucky to last until November, unless we sign a player who can score 20 goals a season, that might give him more time, it's a million to one shot though, his tactics look fataly flawed.

It would be the absolute final nail in the coffin for me getting beat by Watford – yes, that will mean more upheaval and more payoffs but this guy hasn't got a clue

I don't know how we have fallen for it again but we have...

We haven't got the team to go toe to toe with the likes of City. Tactically I thought Silva got most things right. We didn't pass it around at the back for the sake of it. Kenny looked to pass forward but had little or no help from Walcott. On the counter we did turn the City defence a few times but the lack of quality showed.

Walcott is a shadow of his former self, he wanted to play up front for Arsenal though hasn't once uttered a word about it at our place. He just isn't offering enough.

Another set-piece conceded goal. This is the area that can be immediately improved upon. You bet your life Allardyce would be defending these set pieces better with the exact same bunch of players. Fundamentally whatever Silva is trying is flawed. City defend set pieces similar but what I did notice last night was the body checking, grabbing and pulling from their smaller players on our bigger men, whereas we don't do anything like that.

I know I need to change the record but I thought the ref was poor again last night. It's like playing against 12 men at times playing against the big boys. The overall standard in the Premier League is dreadful.

It will be Interesting to see if Sigurdsson or Richarlison start on Saturday. For me, there is only Walcott's place up for grabs.

Davies and Gomes did get forward a little but nothing like a natural box-to-box midfielder. So to say that we played 3 box-to-box midfielders is total rubbish in my humble opinion. If that were the case, then might we have expected to have more than one shot on target?

If you think it's progress to have 3 defensively minded midfielders then there's no hope for you. Even Walter Smith's teams showed more heart than this lot — and that's saying something given how crap they were. Moyes, who you love to slate, never used 2 let alone 3 defensive midfielders.

I'll wager there's a lot less impassioned debate on say the Man City, or Chelsea fan pages. Oddly, it must be quite boring debating how good your team is, patting yourself on the back and not having anything to get riled up about. Us Evertonians are bloody good at it, possibly one of the best groups of supporters around at complaining. If we were as good at football as we are at complaining, we'd win the lot!

Bottom line is this – we're not as shit as we were 20 years ago, but we're not as good as we were 30 years ago. Supporting Everton is a mix of good & bad from week to week, we're the Jekyll & Hyde of the Premier League, and a completely bi-polar club which is confusing and maddening for all of us.

What we require is stability, and I think Moshiri has realised this, hence why Silva won't get the sack this season, and will be given some time next to get things together. I for one think that's the right way to go, we just have to suck it up for the next 13 games or whatever it is.

Anyhow, Moyes used far more defensive midfields than that.

I am going to take that advice. No more “how to get better” posts from me. I am just going to call out any player that doesn't put a shift in from now and praise any player that plays well.

We are in a stoush.

Any lower division side will put in a shift but a so-called Premier League team should be able to have a chance of winning, which we never looked like doing.

Don't tell me Walcott put in a shift, or that Keane wasn't his shaky self, and although Calvert-Lewin tries his best he never looks like scoring. For me Gomes was having a decent game but he brings him off for the passenger that is Siggy.

And all this "we are definitely safe from relegation" is just wishful thinking. In my honest opinion, of course.

Bernard and Calvert-Lewin are not prolific scorers and Walcott is in poor form. They are not the right combination and will not give us goals. We don't have the right combination.

Everything else can be dealt with if there is a core desire. There is no question that the performances of Davies and Kenny showed the bite and spirit that we have been so lacking.

That gives Silva a new platform and I don't think he will waste it.

And as for you rating Moyes, well that's the first time I've heard you say that to be honest. You're possibly right that Moyes wouldn't have taken us to higher levels with unlimited funds, we shall never know but what he put out on the field was far more entertaining than anything we've seen over the last few years.

And no, I don't want him back, as I've said many times he had peaked by 2009 and we should have parted ways then. Instead, Kenwright stuck his head in the sand and did nothing until Moyes chose to leave and now made shocking managerial decisions since and look at the mess we are in, probably only marginally better than when Moyes first took over.

We are back to extolling their virtues because we didn't get walloped by Man City. It's bloody heart breaking how far we have fallen in such a short time.

The only change I wanted to last nights line up was Lookman. I assume he was injured. Sigurdsson and Richarlison deserve to be benched on form.

The key thing is that we've set the bar for effort now. That's the minimum required to be in the side and needs to be done week-in and week-out.

Like you, I wouldn't want Moyes back, and I tend to agree that it is unlikely he would have been able to take us any further. But he certainly managed to the best of his abilities, and in the restricted circumstances he brought in some decent footballers. As a manager, Moyes stands head and shoulders above anything we've had since. That doesn't make him the Moyesiah, but I wish we had a manager now with his strength and ability.

Application and effort saved another mauling – but what does that say about the leadership and coaching qualities of Silva? Has there really been no discernible progress in over 6 months? Is there really no system or approach other than hard work and application?

The Football Manager specialists can talk all they want about formations but what the team needs now is what any other organisation needs when in crisis; resilient, confident and assured leaders who have a plan and who can get their “people” to move forwards with them. He needs to work with the players who can step-up and if that means benching a few of the “superstars” then so be it.

I voiced my concerns in August based on what I'd seen and heard and they are being re-enforced. Silva is a perfectly decent guy who (unfortunately) just can't hack it when it all gets on top.

He has to show that he has the leadership qualities to start to affect change otherwise why leave it until the start of next season? Can we really write off this season but then expect him to get everything right over the summer? If this shocking run continues how confident would you be that a few changes in playing personnel will make so much difference?

Perhaps he has half a dozen games to get it right (or at least a little better!) and demonstrate that he can cope with the pressures of the Premier League.

We got fight, we got effort, but when you're playing against a really top team, you also need a bit more luck, and a lot more ability, (take Richarlson's overhit pace to Tosun, near the end as the best example).

Rob @157, your last paragraph stands out for me but, as much as Michael Keane has improved, I also wish we could also replace him.

Martinez bored us all to death by the end and wasn't even winning matches. Moyes may well have overstayed his welcome, but he left on his own terms with us finishing top six yet again.

I wasn't sorry to see Dithering Dave go in the end, but if I compare his period in charge at Everton with Bobby's, it's no contest for me. In fact, I'd say that Martinez undid all Moyes's good work in the end, and we've yet to recover. We've certainly yet to see a squad as organised, fit and motivated as a Moyes squad.

You're right, this should be a benchmark but why should it be necessary to have a benchmark? The players should be putting in that kind of effort from Day One. We can all excuse loss of form but lack of effort week after week is unforgivable. There are very few players that can hold their head up and say they give their all every game. I'm struggling to think beyond Tom Davies, Gana and maybe Kenny and Digne.

We have just gone so far off the boil that it's not even tepid, it's Allardyce cold at the moment and I don't say that lightly given that I was driven to distraction last season. These last few months have been horrible and it's such a chore going to the game again.

The Wolves game was the tipping point for me. Nearly 40k crowd and a hapless performance yet again. Wolves weren't great yet they scored 3 goals off our mistakes. Same week after week, same last night too. There is no end in sight to the incompetent mistakes being made.

Players with ability just can't be bothered, that's why it's worse than Walter's era because they do have ability. Maybe it's my myopic view but the league is poorer now than it was in the late 90s, there seems to be more poor teams now, that's why We are still in the top half, its why we finished 8th last season. We are going backwards.

Regardless of where the bar was set last night, it's not that long ago when we expected to beat anyone at Goodison Park let alone be competitive. Now we are just thankful some actually put in the required effort. Shameful we have fallen this far.

It's more reasonable to expect a performance improvement and then go from there. That being wins over Cardiff and Watford and of course the kopites.

The performance last night means nothing if we don't follow it up. And I'm not happy to lose, I was pissed off, but I try to see the trajectory to get us to where we all want to be.

Funny how many were hoping we'd lose yesterday and yet there's loads sticking the boot in for doing just that last night.

Coleman had a go at him after he gave that goal away against Wolves but he argued back. Bad attitude, time to get rid.

As David says, our line was far too high meaning our defenders have to run towards their own goal at pace then attempt to head the ball back in the other direction. No wonder they are confused. We should be further back and just attack the ball.

I wasn't expecting to win last night and that's the sad thing about Everton Football Club now. I know we have been on a dreadful run which really doesn't seem like ending anytime soon and I'm glad we made an effort last night but why was it necessary to put in a special effort in the first place?

We had a bear pit again a few years ago, hell even Alex Fergusson hated coming here as he knew that Man Utd would have a tough time. Now we are back to the stage whereby Goodison Park is just a place for teams to pick up points.

My points I'm making are general not just specific to last night. I get the trajectory theory and if it happens then I will be the first to congratulate them and say I was wrong but I can't see it happening at the moment. We have isolated games where we think a corner has been turned only to resort to insipid slow dull to boring football. We are the only team it seems that when we break we then stop and wait for the opposition to get set before continuing. This is not happening just this season but has occurred for a while now.

We have no urgency. Even on Saturday against wolves towards the end of the first half, we are a goal down and have an opportunity to get the ball in the box and we just piss around with it instead until the ref blows for half-time.

Most of the players just don't care enough, you can see it on the pitch. They just don't hurt when they lose a goal, they don't press hard enough for equalisers, they are too prepared to go to ground hoping for a free kick rather than stay on their feet to carry on the attack, they play by numbers.

Is There any variation at kick off? Same play every time. Same with goal kicks, throw ins. How many times do we see a free kick in the opposition half and within seconds it's back at Pickford's feet? And people wonder why the crowd is so quiet.

No entertaining football, no risks going forward, no unpredictable play, no players thinking for themselves, no exciting interplay, just side to side passing, making half a dozen passes when one will do.

I admire your optimism, Steve, and as a blue I hope you're right that this is a turning point and the trajectory is indeed upward. Alas I see no evidence that we are capable of digging in and grinding results out and cutting out basic stupid mistakes.

I said after the Millwall FA Cup game that the season is not over and the players should be playing for their futures but it appears that for most part they couldn't give a shit and their season is effectively over. whichever way you look at it, it is shameful.

The ones who tried hard last night are the exception. They do have affinity for the club, Calvert-Lewin may not be from Liverpool, and may have played elsewhere, but that lad is an Evertonian now. On top of that, if the various websites that quote players salaries are correct, Kenny, Davies and Calvert-Lewin all earn less than a tenth of what Sigurdsson gets. I'd be surprised if that's true, but it shows you the difference in pay. Kenny in particular is still on an U23 contract. Davies and Calvert-Lewin did sign new deals recently but were on £6k and £3k (apparently).

“Arteta's influence did not only stretch to attacking set plays, but in defence, where Everton used their own free kicks and corners to get their defenders into City's penalty area.”

Needless to say, Everton are poor on both.

Whether it be through Sky TV Subscriptions or Season Ticket Holders, through the turnstiles, or merchandise, the bulk of it is provided by the very ones suffering each week and seeing little value for that outlay.

You mention the younger ones there being on 'only' £6k/week while it pales into insignificance to the 'senior' players. How many 20-year-olds earn that amount?

I believe that Kenny, Calvert-Lewin, Davies, and Lookman could be very good players and they just need to be given games. If they come up short, it will not be for a lack of effort.

For just 20 mins after we went one down against Wolves, leading up to Gomes's superstrike, we played some great pass and move football, with good tempo and forward passes were given early. Just some little evidence of that again against City.

If it is lack of confidence that is part of the problem, we – the fans – can help more than any manager with that, by getting behind the team and giving them the noise they need at the Grand ol' Lady. I know that's hard when there is little on the pitch to inspire us at times, but COYB fans. I know that won't help with the failure to defend set pieces, but let's at least do our bit to get behind the team and see where it takes us.

Bye the way, has anyone seen my cat? He disappeared last Saturday afternoon.

My main point though, is to those who say we need to get rid of the deadwood. This is far easier said than done. I'm not sure how the process of informing other clubs we are making players available for transfer or a loan deal works, but I imagine it is something like this:

Marcel Brands writes to the other Premier League clubs and maybe championship clubs to inform them that (insert players name) is available for transfer at (insert player valuation), or alternatively a loan deal. 99% of these clubs won't be bothered to reply, and any that do will no doubt say "Thanks, but no thanks"

Any clubs interested in "our deadwood" would immediately be put off by the players wages, so in essence, we are stuck with the deadwood, until they run down their contract, happily picking up their ludicrous amounts. Other clubs are quite happy to take players on loan, knowing they don't have to pay the full wage of that player, and can happily return said player to his parent club if things don't work out.

So, as I say, getting rid of the deadwood is far easier said than done. Of course, if anyone knows any different as to how we can get rid of the deadwood players, I'd be interested to know. (Other than sacking them, which can't be done.)

There's a reason why the likes of RS and Man City are light years ahead and it's not all down to ability. Their respective squads all have the right attitude. Every team will have their bad games but it's how you respond. We don't seem capable of saying that won't happen again because mistakes and bad decisions keep on happening and nobody is pulling them up about it on the field.

As I've said, I think overall it's a poor league and because of that we will stay around midtable. Top 2 (I think Spurs are just not the same calibre of the top 2) then Spurs and the rest are much of a muchness, nobody knows which team will turn up.

We can only hope that Brands has a proper idea about recruitment and the type of players who will make Everton a much better team. The best players don't make the best team. I have no problem with Kenny, Calveryt-Lewin, Davies being on the team sheet as they do put in the necessary effort even if they don't play well, but whichever way you look at it, we are really struggling to put out a team that will play like a team week after week.

The odds are we will boringly finish between 8th and 12th again, with Wolves who were well touted before the season started looking like they will finish above us which is excusable I suppose. If we do finish lower than 8th I think we can say Silva has under achieved this season.

I don't see the point of replacing Silva with another average manager though because that's what we have been doing these last few years.

It's the same on the player front we cant attract or keep 'star' players for want of a better description, slightly above average is what get at best. We would certainly be better if Lukaku was up front and to a lesser intent if we still had Stones and Barkley to choose from.

We are letting in soft goals but a bigger concern for me is we are powder puff in attack, you have to score to win games and we are not even looking like scoring in plenty of the matches.

It's all very well criticising upper management for not recruiting top managers and players but, if they won't come to the club, what can they do.
Its a sad fact that the clubs who are regulars in Champions League have a pull that we just can't match; how we overcome this handicap is the big question. Also to a lesser degree you can then add the London factor.

The only answer I can come up with, is make them money offers that they can't refuse, other than that I'm stumped.

Nobody does any homework on players anymore preferring the so-called easy option of getting Premier League established players. Those lower league players are the ones that bring the team spirit, the never say die effort because they know that they have been given a chance in the top league. Not every signing will be top notch but nontheless it's an impressive amount of signings that made it coming from lesser clubs.

Our problems are at both ends. It's not just zonal marking. Our players are poor in the air, after Zouma and Keane, which other regulars are you putting up against the opponent's big men?

I agree and our attempts at zonal marking are becoming a joke as are the needless freekicks we are giving away in dangerous areas. If we don't have a defensive coach then we desperately need to get one in and with a remit to get back to basics.

Last night's performance was much improved but still way below what we should expect from a club with aspirations on the top four. You seldom win matches with just one shot on target.

In addition to Stones, who is the youngest in your list, we can add Holgate, Calvert-Lewin, Lookman, Galloway, Garbutt, Josh Bowler, Dennis Adeniran, Lewis Gibson, and I think there's someone important in the U23s I have missed.

Are other Premier League clubs signing more lower league players than us?

How tall was Cahill? Around 5'-10" I think, could out jump most, even Ossie could head a ball, remember the goal against Man City when he outjumped Kompany? Seems to be little practice in this area making us very vulnerable in defence and useless in attack.

Downside is (as Leicester discovered) you have simply trained up players for the likes of Man City and Chelsea to cherry pick. But at least you make money instead of squandering it.

Correct me if I'm wrong but, with the exception of Baines and Coleman, I think most of those players were about ready for the first team and nearly all those players played in the same team. They made up the core of the team, the spirit with which we played.

We do have a good record of looking for promising talent but as you know, lots of times the kids don't make the grade. It doesn't even have to be younger players, look how good Distin was when we got him too. Now we have a bunch of mercenaries playing who are the core of the team, they are setting the low bar for everyone not inspiring like the above players did.

If so, there was something done on this on BBC R5 the other day. They focussed on lower leagues. Except for Jamie Vardy, no one comes up from non-league anymore.

I think the conclusion is that a Tim Cahill would be snapped up before he gets into his 20s now. Even if he's just left to stagnate in someone's U23s. Which links us back into the problem of having 24-years-olds in our youth ranks.

By the age of 20, cut them them or promote, if we have to give them another year, do not give them 3 or 4.

Just 2 or 3 exceptional players in our team would make a world of difference... just imagine Aguero, De Bruyne and Hazard in our team — we would be transformed overnight. Silva would look a good manager very quickly.

I rather think it is incumbent on you as the one making the claim that Keane and the like are 'crap/shite at heading' to offer stats and evidence to substantiate it, rather than instruct me to find evidence to support or counter it. But I'll oblige.

In your latest post you also shift the focus to the other end of the pitch and the poor return on headed goals from set pieces. A different discussion altogether from your earlier posts.

For his day job – defending – Keane is up there with the best in the league, as the Premier League's own database shows.

For headed clearances, he is 5th in the rankings: Link

For aerial battles won, he is 6th: Link

For clearances, he is 14th:
Link

There are other categories I could list in which he is the highest ranked Everton defender, but I don't want to belabour the point.

In truth, I really would prefer that neither Keane nor any other Everton defender ranked so highly in these lists.

Why? Because when you look at the defenders with the best numbers, they are from 'lesser' teams who have to defend more. That Keane ranks so highly in these lists suggests a systemic failing that Everton are under the cosh more than is good for us.

And the responsibility for a systemic failing, Steve, IMHO rests primarily with the manager.

Then you might go on to add that you are willing to pay up his contract partly or in full or offer a percentage of any transfer fee, strictly to cover his moving costs of course.

Some people may see it as offering the agent the chance of a "double bunger" but we could never be so cynical nor believe there is a place for such a person in today's football.

What's that expression about who it takes to catch somebody of a similar profession?

“Promote them or cut them” is fine but the likes of Osman or even Barkley, players whose careers were interrupted by injuries, would have been lost. Some players blossom and mature later than others.

Each player will be assessed individually, as I'm sure you know. Unfortunately, some players are kept beyond their sell-by date and struggle to progress their careers after leaving Premier League clubs.

Problem now is that very few clubs will give them that chance when a South American or Spanish or German or French name is so much more palatable than a Carsley or a Lescott. Let's face it we can't do much worse than look lower down in an attempt to harbour some sort of leadership and team spirit. What we have at the moment is just not working and hasn't done for a while.

To be honest I'm not sure what the answer is but we have to try something different. Raymond, yes, having a De Bryune or Aguero etc would do wonders but they can't do it themselves. The current lot of players are just not durable for a season for most part. Yes maybe a Cahill would be snapped up before he was 20 but let's face it, some slip through the net.

Nobody looked at those players mentioned above yet Lescott and Stones were good enough for Man City, Man Utd wanted Cahill, Baines and Coleman, Arteta went to Arsenal, and Pienaar to Spurs... so it suggests to me that the top clubs just don't look that hard in the lower leagues. We should get a decent scouting system and have a look. I can't believe decent players don't exist outside of the Premier League.

I have never seen an "area of space" score a goal... and doubt that I ever will.

Anyone has played 11 a side footie whether at the lowest rung of any given Sunday league or at a higher level will know that when defending a corner or a free kick that it is going to be launched into the box you make it as awkward as possible for "your man" not to get a header or a shot in.

It seems to be flavour of the month for some managers and didn't Rafa the bus driver try this a few seasons ago with no success and then saw sense and ditched it.

If we lose on Saturday at Watford (wouldn't Sky love that one, eh?) Silva may well go despite Brand's remit of bringing a bit of stability to the Club. Odds for Eddie Howe, anyone?

Yes, it is not Walcott's fault if nobody is in the box when he tries to cross it, perhaps he should look up once in a while.

No, I don't want to see Bernard make safe passes rather than try to beat his man, I just want to see him actually beat the man once in a while.

On Calvert-Lewin and the throughballs, I agree the passes to him were mostly shit and overhit, wasn't blaming him so much as the pass.

All of the above points were made to highlight that the team are not very good at playing football. They just rarely do anything of quality, on top of which they rarely bother trying, hence the euphoria about the effort last night.

Your last point though, is absolute nonsense. 'Ultimately unlucky' not to get at least a point? How would you expect at least a point when not threatening their goal and not being able to defend your own?

When I played (I played in goal), I always ordered man-to-man marking, with big on big, and little on little, and making sure my defenders were always goal-side, thus preventing a free run to attack a free-kick or corner. I also always had a player on each post. It's amazing the number of goals that could be prevented simply by defending the posts.

As a coach can choose any one of his nominated squad, this is absolute nonsense but at least it'll wind up the RS!

Agreed. I note that Liverpool drew a match the other night with only one shot on target, the goal, which should have been ruled out due to an offside. When was the last time anything like that happened to us?

I also don't understand why the likes of Lookman or Bernard go back to defend corners or free kicks? I mean, other than a nuisance value, who are they going to beat in the air?

It gets me when individual players get singled out for criticism when there are clear problems with organising the team as a whole, and players have an uphill struggle given those problems.

Who did you play for? Your name doesn't ring a bell...

Two instances I recall are Mike England, centre-half who played for Spurs, used to start his run from the halfway line and meant he was unmarked when he and the ball arrived at the same time. The other concerns marking which Everton used particularly against big centre-forwards like Ron Davies (Southampton & Wales). Johnny Morrisey was given the job but he was not expected to out jump him but merely to stop him having a clear run at the ball while Brian Labone actually contested the header.

Somewhere there has to be a cross between zonal marking and somebody actually attacking the ball rather than watching because it's not in your zone. We seem to be in the unfortunate position of not having tall enough forwards to pick up those defenders who come up for corners while their tall forwards occupy our central defenders or their small men block the tall defender getting a run at the ball.

Whatever, Silva has to sort something out and perhaps rather than having one plan for all we tailor our system to match that of the opposition.

I remember hearing Allardyce when he was managing Crystal Palace when I think they'd just beaten the lot from across the park, he said; "We watched the videos and they had conceded 6 goals from corners in exactly the same manner. It's 7 now".

That sort of forward would throw everything – including his fist on the occasion you mention – at the ball. Now we see the ball endlessly played back to the keeper when a cross should be put in.

"The aim according to Barrett-Baxendale, who acknowledged the serious challenges Everton face in her maiden address as CEO, is “to win Premier League titles and compete regularly in the Champions League in a world-class, world-renowned football stadium”."

We are so shit now it's beyond a joke. Winning Premier League titles? Worrying about just staying the the bloody league is where we're at right now.

But hey, I have a warm fuzzy glow all over because we've got Denise Barrett-Baxendale as our CE-f**kin*-O!!