Everton vs Burnley

Anyway, what a bizarre season it's been. Not as bizarre as last season, of course. Some highlights and some low lights! Looking forward to next seaons. I have higher hope's than this time last year.

Let's finish on a high. And Everton to win are the last in my week's accumulator!! Don't expect any changes to the predicted line-up. Coyb.

While at this point it is still mathematically possible to get seventh spot, it would take a catastrophic run of results for Wolves and Watford, which I doubt very much will happen.

If we don't qualify, I can't help but look back at the points we should have had earlier in the campaign, but 'water' and 'under the bridge', won't change that. I also hope that it won't affect any recruitment during the Summer Transfer Window.

Hope the fans give Zouma a rousing farewell, which will convince him to stay, but as discussed many times on here, there are so many factors involved with that possibility.

I expect we will break them down, keep a clean sheet, and bag 3 points. COYB.

From what I have read, no there is no extra spot. We would just have 2 teams in Europa League and 5 in Champions League.

That apart, I would like to see us win 10-0. I don't think we have won 10-0 before. That would be a nice boost.

If you look at the remaining fixtures, only Wolves would have to seriously slip up...

Wolves
Fulham (h) - need a big slip up
Liverpool (a) - you would expect them to lose

Leicester
City (a) - you would expect them to lose
Chelsea (h) - you would expect a draw

Watford
Chelsea (a) - you would expect them to lose
West Ham (h) - close, but could grab a win.

Looking at these fixtures, if we beat Burnley and draw with Spurs, we would only need one fixture to go against what would be expected to finish 7th.

Even if Leicester beat Chelsea and Watford grabbed a draw against them, we'd still be above them both with 4 points from our last 2 games.

Big ask – but certainly not impossible.

Then it would all hinge on our friends across the park's final game with Wolves. It is possible and I would love that to happen mate, but for fear of repetition, 3 matches spring to mind where we have blown probable points away.

Huddersfield at home where we had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1, Brighton away (poor side but we allowed them to beat us 1-0, and then the obvious suicide mission at Newcastle 2-0 up then 2-3 come the final whistle. Just thought of another one 2-0 up at Bournemouth only to end up with a draw.

I know bemoaning those results will never alter them, but it is annoying that without those glaringly poor results we wouldn't even be in this position, fingers crossed though, we may just do it.

Firstly - I think it's a big ask to get 4 points.

Second, I don't think Wolves will lose.

I was just saying that it doesnt need a catastrophic run of results, it just needs one to swing massively in our favour.

The pursuit of real success will always be driven by the amount of money we have to invest in new players. The youth system will always produce a few squad additions, but I'm disappointed that Usmanov hasn't been recruited, as that would give us our best chance of building a new ground as well as adding the quality needed to compete at the highest level.

Without that kind of investment we will just tread water in 7th to 10th place for the foreseeable future, I think we have to be satisfied with that as long as we play some entertaining football along the way and hopefully have a few good cup runs with a chance of picking up some silverware in the domestic cups.

Yet Marco seemed to treat the Cups this season without much commitment, going out with a whimper against Southampton (Carabao Cup) and even worse the away game at Millwall. (F A Cup)

Hopefully sign off tonight with a good win and then work on rectifying the problem areas for next season.

It's been a frustrating season but one that will leave me with good promise for next season given Marco Silva's general enthusiasm abd the players togetherness and the way he has us playing currently.

Obviously we need to find more goalscorers next term, we can be grateful that Richarlison and Sigurdsson have both scored 13 because nobody else is even close to that tally.

We need to improve our away form next season too as if we could only transform two of those draws into wins then instantly we are closer to that top six.

I foresee a frustrating game, unless perhaps we can get an early goal or two which might then force Burnley to come out a bit more.

I'd really like DCL to get a goal or two tonight. His play in general over the last month or so deserves it. I wonder if he'll consider giving Davies the nod over Schneiderlin, the Frenchman has been very solid since returning but against a defensive Burnley I think perhaps Davies' superior energy and attacking qualities might fit the bill.

Worrying about getting in the Europa League is like trying to understand the Universe and where it ends and what is the other side of the wall. Playing good football scoring lots of goals and defending like SAS troopers is a good place to start hoping.

Although things seem to be looking up now and I'm more optimistic for the future than I have been for a number of years, I still have lingering doubts about Silva. Hopefully he will prove to be better than I think and tonight his team will provide a good performance and result that will make us long for next season to hurry up and start.

Another 4-0 win for George will do me fine... Looking forward to your last home contribution of the season, George.

But everyone sees Everton as 'on the up' so I guess I'd better get in the queue to praise this magnificent manager and his team of stars!

The league has changed since the Moyes era, the teams challenging us for 5th were the likes of Bolton (under Allardyce yes) Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, oh and Manchester City and Spurs were but a dot in the distant landscape, behind us!

You are right, we have been left behind by the clubs in the top six now and that's a result again of more poor management (in the board room) and also low expectations of a minority of fans which doesn't help either that's true.

None of it however is down to Marco Silva.

1. To sign Gomes;
2. To sign Zouma;
3. Gueye to stay;
4. To sign that striker we have all been craving for, whoever that might be.

I would just settle for all those 4 and for Holgate to return. He is good enough for the first team and provides good cover at right back. Seamus has been excellent recently and much improved. He does not need replacing yet.

There have been others of course, but those are the most recent. As others have already said, Silva's substitutions often leave much to be desired and it's no good beating the top 6 sides as great as it is to see, if we can't beat the clubs around and below us. How many poor results have we produced against those clubs this season.

So, while there may be room for optimism for next season, this season on the whole has for me, been a disappointment. We could end up in a lower league position than last season and no way do I see that as anything to celebrate.

History won't say anything about it being a "season in transition" whatever that's supposed to mean. It will simply show the league placings and if we finish lower than the year before people will see that as a team going backwards. We might know different, but others won't view it that way. I include potential signings in that statement. Who will want to come to a club just clinging on to a place in the top half?

I can't wait for this season to be over so I can dream about some real improvement next time round. I'm sure my post won't be popular but it's my opinion and I apologise if it ruffles a few feathers.

1. Quite likely I think. But I personally won't lose sleep if we don't. He's not been hugely consistent and though he looks easy on the eye, his end product (goals, assists, tackles etc) are much less impressive. I wouldn't want to spend more than 㿅m on him; there are other more athletic CM's out there who offer the pace we are lacking in the middle.

2. Highly unlikely I think. He's probably been the best Chelsea CB this season! Plus their transfer ban.

3. I hope so but he's 29 and more than entitled to want his shot at CL football. If I was in his shoes (and not an Everton fan) I'd probably want out.

4. People crave a top class striker. We won't get one. They cost too much and go to CL clubs. We may get an effective striker who adds something (Think Rondon or Callum Wilson at a stretch). Or we might get a young striker with the potential to be top class (maybe we already have one!). This will be Brands hardest task in the summer (as well as convincing people to buy the likes of Sandro, Mirallas, Bolasie etc).

Burnley to park the bus looking for a breakaway or set pieces and Everton unable to break them down or beat them in the air; 0-0 or 1-0 either way. The only change might be if we score early and they have to come out at some stage.

At least it is on Sky. As for the result, it all depends which Everton turns up. Hopefully next season we will be more consistent.

The signings and loans we made last summer were very good. Brands will surely have been working hard to find more gems and to offload those we no longer want. It will take him time but it's undoubtedly underway.

Silva has done okay in difficult circumstances and should be given some time. He still has a lot to learn. He is a world away from the nightmare that was Allardyce.

It will probably be a difficult and tight game tonight, unless we get the crowd on side early, get an early goal, and show we're really up for it – which of course we should be. Finishing 7th isn't as unlikely as some make out I think, though I'm ambivalent over whether it's a good thing or not.

Firstly those weren't our only 3 defenders last season.

Secondly, Allardyce could have done something about that area in the January transfer window but we signed Walcott and Tosun.

Thirdly, with Silva, I feel a sense of hope but with Allardyce I felt absolutely none. Last season was the lowest I have felt as an Evertonian, with the possible exception of the end of the 85-86 season. For me, hope and optimism are crucial and last season there was absolutely none of that.

We will struggle next season simply because our best 3 players may move on...

The deluded will hope and dream of a progress next season... but I personally think it will be more of the same. Highs and disappointed lows...

This coming from a guy that used to be a glass half full...

Happy summer guys n girls of ToffeeWeb that always keep me entertained...

The way or style in which we competed against the Top 6 was admirable, and a world away from Fat Sam, but unfortunately there are only 6 of them. On the flip side, can Silva motivate us against the "ordinary" teams? Some of the "off day" performances were very worrying.

The gap between ourselves and Arsenal points-wise is a worry too. Conversely, I liked the way Silva conducted himself when things were going badly mid-season and, more importantly, we and he bounced back and coached his way out of it.

Most Silva Brands signings have been very astute so I am willing to give him a full window and the rest of next season. I think he has earned it and hope he is backed by the board... a top striker is needed.

I suppose I am more optimistic than at the start of the season though, and a lot more optimistic than this time last season!!!

COYB

He has had his full trial season which has not been much of an improvement over previous seasons but there were signs of some good things although nothing to get overly excited about.

Recent results have bee welcomed although that Fulham game still rankles.

The early games showed promise but the mid-season was a washout after that first RS game.

There will be new additions and we all hope they are a big help in getting this team into a top six frame of mind as we are all fed up with being in the wilderness for all these years.

Meanwhile let's finish in style by beating Burnley and Spurs.

That's not a dig at DCL before the easily offended brigade come out in force, it's a simple assessment of us currently being a blunt sword up front.

Take away the goals of Richarlison and Sigurdsson then yes, we likely would have been struggling nearer 16th than 6th.

The summer needs to finally see this area rectified, whilst DCL has done much better since September he's still a woefully bad finisher of good chances, he may get better in five years time, but five years time is not 2019 and we need this sorting out now.

The lowest point was the Anfield derby for me. We genuinely played well in that game but the manner of the defeat still sickens me if I think about it. We then went on a dreadful run including conceding 3 set-piece goals to Millwall and exiting the FA Cup. We bookended our grim run with a spirited draw at home to the RS with an incredible Goodison atmosphere, introduced the siren at the start of Z-Cars. Outplayed Arsenal and Chelsea. The 4-0 hammering of United was one of the best performances I've seen by the Blues in years – every player played brilliantly.

Digne, Zouma and Gueye have been superb on the whole. Keane has improved enormously. Pickford still blows too hot and cold for my liking. I love watching Gomes when he is dictating play but he can be anonymous in games. Bernard has converted me over the past couple of months. Richarlison has talent but I'm sick of his play-acting and sulking. I think Walcott and Tosun have disappointed and I don't think Lookman has done enough when he's been given the chance. I'd love him to have a future with us but I don't see it happening.

Calvert-Lewin has improved and deserves credit but he doesn't get the goals we need to get us to the next level, in my opinion. I like the lad though. Tom Davies has gone backwards this season. Schneiderlin is much derided but has done well when called upon. Sigurdsson has had some quality moments but needs to be a figurehead in our team when we are trailing. We also need to address the penalty taking. I think we've missed 3 penalties in the Premier League this season.

There's lots to work on over the summer.

I just hope Man City can sew the title up and then I can enjoy my summer a little easier.

If we play like we did last week and are just a bit more clinical in front of goal we should be fine tonight.

I am not one bit bothered about the race for 7th, I would be delighted to finish with 56 points and miss out because Wolves won their final two games. Over the course of the season they have been more consistent than us though I would argue that when we play to our potential that we are better than them.

Burnley will not try to play out, they will go long which means we will find them a little more difficult to press. It's difficult to "force" a team into errors when they are simply launching it.

Our defenders have not had their ability to deal with the long ball tested recently. They will tonight. Barnes, Wood and probably at some stage Crouch, will be ready to expose any uncertainty.

Good test for us tonight, but if we can dominate possession and more importantly, take the chance which will come our way, we can send the faithful home happy

Tonight we have to commit their defenders and force them into rash tackles. It is the one thing they wont be able to deal with, Bernard and [maybe Richie or Ademola] running at them, cutting in. I can see us winning a penalty or a 20 yrd free kick tonight which may sway a tight match.

Correct Score ;

Everton 2 Burnley 0

Absolutely priceless coming from a guy who so readily surrendered all the points to United, Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham. . Weeks in advance, even going as far as to put up futuristic stats of where we would be when we lost them all.

Wolves are 4 points ahead with 2 games to play. They only have to get 3 points against Fulham and we cant touch them even with 2 wins.

We just need to look for a good game tonight against Burnley and keep our fingers crossed for their game although I readily admit I would sooner Wolves get something out of THEM than us getting 7th.

I hope we win tonight though with a really good performance. Coyb.

I will be in Paddy O'Taffy's at Malibu Park opposite Aqualand with a few other Blues.

See you there if you can make it. COYB